Greg Halford

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Greg Halford
Personal information
Date of birth December 8, 1984 (age 22)
Place of birth    Chelmsford, England
Height 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Nickname Popeye
Playing position Defender/Midfielder
Club information
Current club Reading
Number 28
Youth clubs
2001–2002 Colchester United
Senior clubs1
Years Club App (Gls)*
2002–2007
2003
2007–		 Colchester United
→ Braintree Town (loan)
Reading		 136 (18)
001 0(0)
002 0(0)   
National team2
2005 England U20 004 0(1)

1 Senior club appearances and goals
counted for the domestic league only and
correct as of 00:07, 2 April 2007 (UTC).
2 National team caps and goals correct
as of 23:15, 30 January 2007 (UTC).
* Appearances (Goals)

Greg Halford (born 8 December 1984, in Chelmsford, England) is a professional footballer currently playing for Reading.

Contents

[edit] Club career

[edit] Colchester United

Halford started his football career in July 2001 when he joined Colchester United's youth team.[1] He signed a professional contract on 1 August 2002,[1] made his first team debut on in a 5-0 home defeat to Luton Town on 21 April 2003,[1] and scored his first senior goal in a 2-1 defeat at home to Hartlepool United.[1]

Halford continued his progress at Colchester, picking up the Young Player of the Year award for the 2004-05 season,[1] and being named in the PFA League One Team of the Year.[2]

In over 150 games in five years for the first team at Layer Road, he gained the reputation of being a 'utility man' having played in defence, midfield and attack for club and country, his last manager, Geraint Williams, preferring to play him at right back. He also had a reputation for a long throw, with a high percentage of Colchester's goals in the 2005-06 season coming from Halford's long throw. He said "I tried measuring it one time - it was half the pitch, 50 yards[3]."

[edit] Reading

After helping the U's to gain promotion to the Championship last term, Halford handed in a transfer request in August 2006 after interest from several Premier League clubs. Keen to prove himself at a higher level, the England U20 international stated his wish to play in the Premier League, but the transfer request was rejected despite Halford reporting that Colchester had received a "big offer" from Sheffield United. He was linked with a number of Premier League clubs, but on 30 January 2007, Reading completed the signing of Halford for an undisclosed fee,[4] believed to be £2.25million[citation needed], on a contract that will keep him at Reading until June 2010. His debut for Reading came as a substitute appearance in their 0-0 home draw with Portsmouth on 17 March 2007, where he played for the last few minutes on the left wing.[5] He made his full debut in Reading's 1-0 defeat away to Tottenham Hotspur on 1 April 2007, where he conceded a penalty due to a controversial hand ball decision.[6]

[edit] International career

Halford has been capped for England at U20 level, making his debut against Portugal in the Toulon Tournament on 4 June 2005,[7] and scoring his first international goal in a 3-0 win against South Korea on 6 June 2005.[8]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Halford makes rapid return to Colchester to say goodbye to players & fans", readingfc.co.uk, 2007-02-05. Retrieved on 2007-02-05.
  2. ^ "The PFA Team of the Year: Coca-Cola League One", Professional Footballers' Association, 2006-04-23. Retrieved on 2007-02-05.
  3. ^ "Halford looks to get the goals", Football365, 2007-02-01. Retrieved on 2007-02-03.
  4. ^ "Royals pay new club record transfer fee to sign Colchester's Greg Halford", readingfc.co.uk, 2007-01-30. Retrieved on 2007-01-30.
  5. ^ "Royals take a point from a disappointing game against Portsmouth", readingfc.co.uk, 2007-03-17. Retrieved on 2007-03-18.
  6. ^ "Highly controversial penalty decision gives Spurs a narrow victory", readingfc.co.uk, 2007-04-01. Retrieved on 2007-04-02.
  7. ^ "Portugal edge Toulon win", thefa.com, 2005-06-04. Retrieved on 2007-02-05.
  8. ^ "England through to semis", thefa.com, 2005-06-06. Retrieved on 2007-02-05.

[edit] External links


Reading F.C. - Current Squad

1 Hahnemann | 2 Murty | 3 Shorey | 4 Sidwell | 5 Sonko | 6 Gunnarsson | 7 Little | 8 Lita | 9 Doyle | 10 Hunt | 11 Oster | 12 Kitson | 14 Halls | 15 Harper | 16 Ingimarsson | 17 Convey | 19 Seol | 22 Bikey | 23 de la Cruz | 24 Long | 25 Bennett | 27 Brown | 28 Halford | 29 Duberry | 32 Federici | 47 Máté | –– Andersen | –– Bozanic | Manager: Coppell


Persondata
NAME Halford, Greg
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION Footballer
DATE OF BIRTH 8 December 1984
PLACE OF BIRTH Chelmsford
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH
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