Danny Webber

Danny Webber

Webber playing for Accrington Stanley in 2014
Personal information
Full nameDaniel Vaughn Webber
Date of birth28 December 1981
Place of birthManchester, England
Height5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Playing positionForward
Club information
Current team
Salford City
Youth career
Manchester United
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
1999–2003Manchester United0(0)
2001→ Port Vale (loan)4(0)
2002→ Watford (loan)5(2)
2002→ Watford (loan)12(2)
2003–2005Watford55(17)
2005→ Sheffield United (loan)7(3)
2005–2009Sheffield United107(20)
2009–2011Portsmouth25(1)
2012Leeds United13(1)
2013Doncaster Rovers0(0)
2013–2014Accrington Stanley22(3)
2014–Salford City17(6)
National team
2002England U205(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 17:25, 29 November 2014 (UTC).
† Appearances (Goals).

Daniel Vaughn "Danny" Webber (born 28 December 1981) is an English professional football striker and winger who plays for Northern Premier League Division One North club Salford City. He represented England under-20s in 2002.

Born in Manchester, Webber began his career as a trainee with Manchester United, but failed to cement a first team place and spent loan spells with Port Vale and Watford before joining Watford on a permanent basis. After two years with Watford, Webber joined Sheffield United for the second half of the 2004–05 season. That loan also became a permanent transfer at the end of the season, and during the 2005–06 season, Webber's goals helped Sheffield United to promotion to the Premier League for 2006–07. Three years later, after scoring 20 goals in 107 league appearances for the Blades, Webber's contract was allowed to expire and he was released from the club. He then joined Portsmouth for an injury-plagued two-year spell. He signed a short-term deal with Leeds United in February 2012 and, after being released at the end of the season, was left with no club until he joined Doncaster Rovers in March 2013 on non-contract terms. He signed with Accrington Stanley in July 2013, where he remained for one season before joining non-league side Salford City in August 2014.

Club career

Manchester United

After a number of appearances for the club's youth team during the 1997–98 season, Webber began his footballing career as a trainee at Manchester United in July 1998. After scoring 16 goals in 11 appearances for the Under-17 side, including five goals against Fulham, Webber was rewarded with a professional contract on 28 December 1998.[1] Despite only scoring one more goal between then and the end of the 1998–99 season, Webber finished as the Under-17s' top scorer.

He progressed to the Under-19s in 1999–2000, for whom he scored 11 goals in 14 appearances. He also made his first appearances for the reserve team during that season, playing in matches against Bradford City, Newcastle United and Manchester City. In 2000–01, Webber established himself in the reserve side, scoring six goals in 20 appearances, and made his debut for the first team in November 2000 in a League Cup match against Sunderland.[2][3]

He made a second appearance for Manchester United in the League Cup in November 2001,[4] and then joined Port Vale on a one-month loan.[5] He made five appearances for Port Vale,[4] returning to Manchester United at the end of his loan spell as he felt that the departure of Andy Cole from the club at the end of December 2001 would enhance his first team opportunities.[6] He did not break into the first team, however, and in March 2002, he joined First Division club Watford on loan for the rest of the season, where he scored two goals in five League appearances.[4][7]

He joined Watford again for the start of the 2002–03 season on a three-month loan and impressed Watford manager Ray Lewington who said, "Danny's come down from Manchester United and he has enthusiasm and a willingness to work. He's an absolute credit."[8][9] His loan spell came to an end in October 2002 after he dislocated his shoulder in a match against Sheffield Wednesday.[10][11] He made a third appearance for Manchester United as a substitute in the Champions League match against Deportivo de La Coruña in March 2003.[12] At the end of the season, he was offered a three-year contract, but turned it down in order to seek first-team football, saying "When I was 16, I made the decision that if I was still around at 21 and not in the first team I'd have to be professional and go and play first-team football somewhere else. I was a bit disappointed that I hadn't broken through but there's no point thinking about what could have been.".[13][14]

Watford

Webber joined Watford on a three-year contract in the summer of 2003.[15][16] He made 31 league and cup appearances in the 2003–04 season, scoring five goals, with a shoulder injury suffered in training in February 2004 restricting his appearance for the rest of the season.[17][18] Webber made a good start to the 2004–05 season, scoring nine goals by mid-October 2004, with manager Ray Lewington saying, "He has got mind and body right this year and is showing the potential we all knew he had. He is doing extremely well. And this season Danny is scoring tap ins as well as spectacular goals."[19] However, his season was interrupted by a dislocated shoulder suffered during a match against Gillingham in November 2004,[20][21] and he was later dropped from the first team in March 2005 owing to poor form.[22] Shortly afterwards, he joined Sheffield United on loan.[23][24] Webber scored 12 goals in 32 league and cup appearances for Watford in the 2004–05 season.[25]

Sheffield United

Webber initially joined Sheffield United on loan in March 2005 with Danny Cullip moving in the opposite direction.[23][24] He scored after 93 seconds on his debut in a 4–0 away win over rivals Leeds United,[26][27] and four days later, scored two goals against Queens Park Rangers.[28][29] At the end of the 2004–05 season, he signed a permanent three-year contract with Sheffield United for a transfer fee of £500,000.[30][31]

During the 2005–06 season, Webber scored ten goals,[32] helping Sheffield United to win automatic promotion from the Championship to the Premier League.[33] In the 2006–07 season he played 22 games in the Premier League, scoring three goals, including the winning goals against Newcastle United and former club Watford.

After the "Blades" were relegated, Webber continued to appear regularly but struggled with injuries and an inability to turn appearances into goals. By the 2008–09 season he was in the final year of his contract and hoped to secure a new deal with the club[34] but more injuries saw him drop out of the first team reckoning. After the club missed out on promotion, Webber's contract was allowed to expire and he was released.[35]

Portsmouth

In September 2009, Webber signed for Portsmouth who were looking for attacking options. He signed outside the transfer window as he was a free agent.[36] He scored his first goal for the club in a 3–1 League Cup victory over Carlisle United on 22 September.[37] Webber scored his first Premier League goal for Portsmouth in a 1–1 home draw against West Ham United on 26 January 2010. He was ruled out for the remainder of the season after rupturing cruciate ligaments in a game against Tottenham Hotspur two months later.

Webber remained in the treatment room for much of the 2010–11 campaign, before he made his return to action in a 2–0 defeat to Reading at the Madejski Stadium on 2 April, making a cameo appearance for the last five minutes. His contract was not renewed at the end of the season.[38]

Trial spells

In July 2011, Webber joined Premier League newcomers Queens Park Rangers on a trial basis, who were managed by his former (and current) manager Neil Warnock. He scored three goals for QPR in pre-season, one in a 13–0 win over Tavistock, and two in a 7–0 win against Bodmin Town.[39][40] In December, Webber had a trial spell at Scottish Premier League club Celtic.[41] Later in the month he began training with League One side Huddersfield Town.[42] In February 2012, Webber joined Birmingham City on trial with a view to signing a permanent contract.[43]

Leeds United

Also in February, Neil Warnock was appointed manager of Leeds United, and it was reported that he was interested in signing Webber, who he had managed at Sheffield United.[44] There was also reported interest from Chinese club Guangzhou Evergrande.[45] Webber went to Elland Road on a trial basis, and on 28 February he joined the Championship club on a deal lasting until the end of the season, making him Neil Warnock's first signing as Leeds United manager.[46] Webber made his debut as a substitute in a 1–0 home defeat to Southampton on 3 March.[47] He then made his first start for Leeds three days later, in a 0–0 draw with Hull City at the KC Stadium.[48] Webber scored his first goal for Leeds coming off the bench in the final game of the season against Leicester City on 28 April.[49] On 2 May 2012, Webber was told that his contract would not be renewed and that he was free to find another club.[50][51]

Doncaster Rovers

He went on trial at Brian Flynn's Doncaster Rovers in March 2013[52] and signed on a non contractual basis shortly after.[53] Rovers won promotion as League One champions at the end of the 2012–13 season, though Webber never made it onto the pitch.

Accrington Stanley

Webber signed a one-year contract with League Two club Accrington Stanley in July 2013; he joined Stanley after being attracted to the club by manager James Beattie, his former teammate at Sheffield United.[54] He scored on his debut on 3 August, in a 4–1 defeat to Newport County at Rodney Parade.[55] He ended the 2013–14 campaign with three goals in 23 appearances for Stanley, but was not offered a new contract in the summer.[56]

Non-League

Webber signed with Northern Premier League Division One North club Salford City in August 2014.[57] He made his club debut in the opening league match of the season on 16 August as Salford beat Scarborough Athletic 4–1.[58]

International career

Webber played five times for England at under-20 level in 2002.[13]

Career statistics

As of 3 May 2014.
Club Season Division League FA Cup League Cup Other[59] Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Manchester United 2000–01[60] Premier League 0000100010
2001–02[61]0000100010
2002–03[62] 0000001010
Total 0000201030
Port Vale (loan) 2001–02[61] Second Division 4000001050
Watford (loan) 2001–02[61] First Division 4200000042
2002–03[62] 122000000122
Watford 2003–04[63] 275202000315
2004–05[64] Championship 28122020003212
Total 71214040007921
Sheffield United (loan) 2004–05[64] Championship 7300000073
Sheffield United 2005–06[65] 35100020003710
2006–07[66] Premier League 223101000243
2007–08[67] Championship 143002100164
2008–09[68] 364213100416
Total 1142331820012526
Portsmouth 2009–10[69] Premier League 171403200243
2010–11[70] Championship 8000000080
Total 251403200323
Leeds United 2011–12[71] Championship 131000000131
Doncaster Rovers 2012–13[72] League One 0000000000
Accrington Stanley 2013–14[73] League Two 222000010233
Salford City 2014–15 Northern Premier League Division One North 5321––74
Career total 263511321743028758

Honours

Sheffield United

References

  1. ↑ Butler, Cliff & Ponting, Ivan (1999). Manchester United Official Yearbook 1999. London: Manchester United Books. p. 178. ISBN 0-233-99453-X.
  2. ↑ "Webber won't settle for second best". Manchester Evening News. 15 September 2001. Retrieved 4 July 2009.
  3. ↑ "Games played by Danny Webber in 2000/2001". Soccerbase. Retrieved 4 July 2009.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Games played by Danny Webber in 2001/2002". Soccerbase. Retrieved 4 July 2009.
  5. ↑ "Webber joins Vale on loan". BBC Sport. 29 November 2001. Retrieved 4 July 2009.
  6. ↑ "Danny eyes Cole's role". The Mirror (Trinity Mirror). 31 December 2001. Retrieved 4 July 2009. Striker Danny Webber has quit Port Vale in the wake of Andy Cole's exit from Manchester United. Webber decided to return to Old Trafford at the end of his month's loan because he feels Cole's departure will boost his first team prospects. Webber bowed out with a brief sub's appearance ...
  7. ↑ "Watford sign Webber". BBC Sport. 28 March 2002. Retrieved 4 July 2009.
  8. ↑ "Watford keen to keep Webber". BBC Sport. 27 August 2002. Retrieved 4 July 2009.
  9. ↑ O'Rourke, Peter (27 August 2002). "Watford want extended Webber stay". Sky Sports. Retrieved 4 July 2009.
  10. ↑ "Webber leaves Watford". BBC Sport. 28 October 2002. Retrieved 4 July 2009.
  11. ↑ O'Rourke, Peter (27 October 2002). "Injury curtails Webber's Watford stay". Sky Sports. Retrieved 4 July 2009.
  12. ↑ Silva, Jorge (19 March 2003). "United youngsters unable to withstand the skills of Victor". The Independent (London). Retrieved 4 July 2009. With 18 minutes to play, Giggs and Forlan were replaced by Kieran Richardson and Danny Webber, as Ferguson continued his policy of giving youth a chance.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Atkin, Ronald (9 January 2005). "Webber determined to show he is Premier class". London: The Independent. Retrieved 10 February 2009.
  14. ↑ Nixon, Alan (9 July 2003). "United raise their bid for Ronaldinho to £15m". The Independent (London). Retrieved 4 July 2009.
  15. ↑ "Webber poised for Watford". BBC Sport. 4 July 2003. Retrieved 4 July 2009.
  16. ↑ O'Rourke, Peter (4 July 2003). "Hornets land Webber". Sky Sports. Retrieved 4 July 2009.
  17. ↑ "Games played by Danny Webber in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Retrieved 4 July 2009.
  18. ↑ "Webber boosts Hornets". BBC Sport. 5 February 2004. Retrieved 4 July 2009.
  19. ↑ Fletcher, Paul (13 October 2004). "Lewington praises in-form Webber". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 July 2009.
  20. ↑ "Striker Webber faces long lay-off". BBC Sport. 8 November 2004. Retrieved 4 July 2009.
  21. ↑ Higham, Paul (3 November 2004). "Webber blow for Watford". Sky Sports. Retrieved 4 July 2009.
  22. ↑ Adams, Tom (15 March 2005). "Webber axed for poor form". Sky Sports. Retrieved 4 July 2009.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 "Cullip and Webber make loan swap". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 24 March 2005. Retrieved 9 February 2009.
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 Marshall, Adam (24 March 2005). "Dannies swap clubs". Sky Sports. Retrieved 4 July 2009.
  25. ↑ "Games played by Danny Webber in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Retrieved 4 July 2009.
  26. ↑ "Leeds 0–4 Sheffield Utd". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 5 April 2005. Retrieved 28 May 2009.
  27. ↑ Marshall, Adam (5 April 2005). "Blades humiliate Leeds". Sky Sports. Retrieved 4 July 2009.
  28. ↑ "Sheffield Utd 3–2 QPR". Sky Sports. 8 April 2005. Retrieved 4 July 2009.
  29. ↑ Livie, Alex (9 April 2005). "Gray on the spot for Blades". Sky Sports. Retrieved 4 July 2009.
  30. ↑ "Blades complete deal for Webber". British Broadcasting Corporation. 1 June 2005. Retrieved 9 February 2009.
  31. ↑ Dunn, Alex (1 June 2005). "Blades seal Webber deal". Sky Sports. Retrieved 4 July 2009.
  32. ↑ "Games played by Danny Webber in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Retrieved 19 July 2009.
  33. ↑ "Blades promoted after Leeds draw". BBC Sport. 15 April 2006. Retrieved 19 July 2009.
  34. ↑ "Webber happy to wait for new deal". British Broadcasting Corporation. 22 January 2009. Retrieved 28 May 2009.
  35. ↑ "Blackwell begins reshaping Blades". British Broadcasting Corporation. 28 May 2009. Retrieved 28 May 2009.
  36. ↑ "Pompey pounce for Webber". Sky Sports.
  37. ↑ "Carlisle 1–3 Portsmouth". BBC. 22 September 2009. Retrieved 26 September 2009.
  38. ↑ Jones, Simon (9 May 2011). "Danny Webber looking for a new club after being released by Portsmouth". Daily Mail. Retrieved 25 July 2011.
  39. ↑ "QPR confirm Danny Webber trial". ESPN. 12 July 2011. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
  40. ↑ Murtagh, Jacob (15 July 2011). "Warnock — No Danny Webber deal". Fulham & Hammersmith Chronicle. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
  41. ↑ Booth, Mel (1 December 2011). "Danny gets chance to be a Bhoy". Evening Times. Retrieved 1 December 2011.
  42. ↑ Booth, Mel (24 December 2011). "Don’t take your eye off Jack Hunt and Oscar Gobern says Huddersfield Town chairman Dean Hoyle". Huddersfield Daily Examiner. Retrieved 24 December 2011.
  43. ↑ "Birmingham City: Chris Hughton gives trial to former Manchester United player". Birmingham Mail. 17 February 2012. Retrieved 17 February 2012.
  44. ↑ "New Leeds manager Warnock to snap up free agent Webber". Daily Mail. 20 February 2012. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
  45. ↑ "Webber has Chinese option". Sky Sports. 28 February 2012. Retrieved 27 February 2012.
  46. ↑ "Webber signs up at Elland Road...". Leeds United Official Site. 28 February 2012. Retrieved 28 February 2012.
  47. ↑ "Sole Saints strike seals one-way clash at Elland Road...". Leeds United Official Site. 2 March 2012. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
  48. ↑ "Leeds have still to register a first win or goal under new manager Neil Warnock after they were held to a goalless draw at Yorkshire rivals Hull.". BBC Sport. 6 March 2012. Retrieved 3 April 2012.
  49. ↑ "LEEDS VS LEICESTER LIVE". Leeds United. 28 April 2012. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  50. ↑ "Warnock begins Leeds clear-out as Clayton heads Elland Road transfer list". Daily Mail. 2 May 2012. Retrieved 2 May 2012.
  51. ↑ "Eleven Told They Can Go". LUFC. 2 May 2012. Retrieved 2 May 2012.
  52. ↑ "Doncaster Rovers: Flynn eyes double deal". South Yorkshire Times. 12 March 2013. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
  53. ↑ "Doncaster Rovers seek middle man". The Star. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
  54. ↑ "Danny Webber agrees one-year deal". BBC Sport. 26 July 2013. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
  55. ↑ "Newport 4 - 1 Accrington". BBC Sport. 3 August 2013. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
  56. ↑ Jewell, Dan. "Four to Leave Club". accringtonstanley.co.uk. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  57. ↑ Giblin, Andy. "Four In, One Out as Danny Webber signs for Salford". Retrieved 15 August 2014.
  58. ↑ "Seddon Strikes Secure Points for Salford". Salford City FC. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
  59. ↑ Includes other competitive competitions, including the Football League Trophy
  60. ↑ "Games played by Danny Webber in 2000/2001". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  61. ↑ 61.0 61.1 61.2 "Games played by Danny Webber in 2001/2002". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  62. ↑ 62.0 62.1 "Games played by Danny Webber in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  63. ↑ "Games played by Danny Webber in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  64. ↑ 64.0 64.1 "Games played by Danny Webber in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  65. ↑ "Games played by Danny Webber in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  66. ↑ "Games played by Danny Webber in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  67. ↑ "Games played by Danny Webber in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  68. ↑ "Games played by Danny Webber in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  69. ↑ "Games played by Danny Webber in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  70. ↑ "Games played by Danny Webber in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  71. ↑ "Games played by Danny Webber in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
  72. ↑ "Games played by Danny Webber in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
  73. ↑ "Games played by Danny Webber in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Retrieved 17 November 2013.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Danny Webber.