Conor Clifford

Conor Clifford
Personal information
Full name Conor Paul Clifford[1]
Date of birth 1 October 1991 (1991-10-01) (age 20)
Place of birth Dublin, Ireland
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Playing position Midfielder
Club information
Current club Chelsea
Number 48
Youth career
0000–2007 Crumlin United
2007–2009 Chelsea
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
2009– Chelsea 0 (0)
2010 → Plymouth Argyle (loan) 7 (0)
2011 → Notts County (loan) 9 (0)
2011–2012 → Yeovil Town (loan) 7 (0)
National team‡
2007–2008 Republic of Ireland U17 5 (0)
2008–2009 Republic of Ireland U19 10 (3)
2009– Republic of Ireland U21 12 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 16:45, 3 January 2012 (UTC).

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 16:00, 2 January 2012 (UTC)

Conor Paul Clifford (born 1 October 1991)[2] is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Chelsea. He is a Republic of Ireland youth international and has represented them at under-17, under-19, and under-21 level. He has been called into the senior Ireland squad but is yet to play.

Contents

Club career

Early career

Clifford began his career with Cherry Orchard and Crumlin United, playing in the Dublin District Schoolboys League in Ireland.

Chelsea

Clifford moved to England in 2007 to sign for Chelsea as a member of their Academy.[2] He signed a full-time scholarship in June 2008.[3] He made 25 appearances for the youth team during the 2009–10 season, scoring three goals. After progressing into the reserve team, where he scored twice in ten appearances, Clifford captained the youth team as they won the FA Youth Cup. He scored the decisive goal in the final as they were crowned champions for the first time since 1961.[4] Clifford joined Plymouth Argyle on an initial one-month loan in October 2010.[5] He made his senior debut the next day in a 2–1 win against Huddersfield Town.[6] "I'm still learning the game, and it's all good experience for me playing in front of big crowds and with these lads," he said. "I just want to keep myself in the team and keep playing well for Plymouth."[7]

His loan was extended in November,[8] and he continued to play regularly before returning to Chelsea in December.[9] Both clubs had agreed to another extension,[10] but the Football League declined his registration due to Argyle's financial difficulties.[11] "What will be will be, but it's a blow," said Peter Reid. "I've got to say that. He's been a breath of fresh air. He's enthusiastic, presses the ball, and has been our leader for such a young man while Fletcher has been out injured; a tremendous character."[12] On 11 February 2011 Clifford signed on a one-month loan for League One club Notts County.[13] He returned to Chelsea on 7 April 2011, having made nine appearances for County.[14] He joined League One Yeovil Town on another loan deal and scored in the FA Cup against Fleetwood.

International career

Clifford was an Republic of Ireland international under-17, under-19 and now is currently an under-21 international for Ireland. He made regular appearances for the under-19s scoring three times in ten appearances, going on to playing for the under-21s where he has currently made 3 appearances.[15] On 10 August 2011, he was called up to the senior team for the friendly against Croatia and was an unused sub for the game.

Career statistics

As of 3 January 2012
Season Club League League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
2010–11 Chelsea Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Plymouth Argyle Football League One 7 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 8 0
Notts County 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 0
2011–12 Chelsea Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Yeovil Town Football League One 7 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 9 1
Career totals 23 0 2 1 0 0 1 0 26 1

References

  1. ^ "List of Temporary Transfers of Players under Written Contract Between 01/10/2010 and 31/10/2010" (PDF). The Football Association. http://www.thefa.com/TheFA/RulesandRegulations/~/media/Files/PDF/TheFA/PlayerRegistrations/October%202010.ashx/October%202010.pdf. Retrieved 23 November 2010. 
  2. ^ a b "Conor Clifford – Profile". Chelsea F.C. official website. http://www.chelseafc.com/page/TheReservesProfiles/0,,10268~900400,00.html. Retrieved 2010-07-31. 
  3. ^ "Academy to take nine full-time". Chelsea F.C. 19 June 2008. Retrieved 5 January 2011.
  4. ^ "FA Youth Cup report: Chelsea 2–1 Aston Villa (Agg 3–2)". Chelsea F.C. 4 May 2010. Retrieved 5 January 2011.
  5. ^ "Clifford pens Plymouth loan deal". BBC Sport. 22 October 2010. Retrieved 5 January 2011.
  6. ^ "Confident Conor". Plymouth Argyle. 5 November 2010. Retrieved 5 January 2011.
  7. ^ "Debut delights for newboy Clifford". Plymouth Herald. 25 October 2010. Retrieved 5 January 2011.
  8. ^ "Plymouth extend Clifford loan". BBC Sport. 16 November 2010. Retrieved 5 January 2011.
  9. ^ "Clifford back to the Bridge". Chelsea F.C. 22 December 2010. Retrieved 5 January 2011.
  10. ^ "Clifford stays a Pilgrim". Chelsea F.C. 21 December 2010. Retrieved 5 January 2011.
  11. ^ "Plymouth Argyle | News | Latest News | Latest News | CONOR'S BLUE". Pafc.co.uk. http://www.pafc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10364~2249501,00.html. Retrieved 2011-02-11. 
  12. ^ "Plymouth Argyle | News | Latest News | Latest News | 'I'D LIKE CONOR BACK' - REID". Pafc.co.uk. http://www.pafc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10364~2249739,00.html. Retrieved 2011-02-11. 
  13. ^ "BBC Sport - Football - Notts County sign McDonald and Clifford". BBC News. 11 February 2011. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/notts_county/9394320.stm. Retrieved 2011-02-11. 
  14. ^ "Clifford returns to Chelsea". Notts County. 7 April 2011. http://www.nottscountyfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10426~2333279,00.html. Retrieved 17 April 2011. 
  15. ^ "UEFA.com – Conor Clifford – Profile". UEFA official website. http://www.uefa.com/teamsandplayers/players/player=1906062/profile/index.html. Retrieved 31 July 2010. 

External links

Chelsea F.C. – current squad