Darius Charles

Darius Charles

Charles playing for Ebbsfleet United in 2009
Personal information
Full nameWesley Darius Donald Charles[1]
Date of birth10 December 1987[1]
Place of birthEaling, England
Height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[2]
Playing positionDefender / Midfielder / Striker
Club information
Current team
Stevenage
Number9
Youth career
Greenford Celtic
Drayton Manor
–2004Brentford
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2004–2009Brentford37(1)
2006→ Thurrock (loan)1(0)
2006→ Yeading (loan)6(0)
2006→ Staines Town (loan)2(0)
2007→ Crawley Town (loan)6(0)
2007→ Sutton United (loan)7(0)
2008→ Ebbsfleet United (loan)9(0)
2008–2009→ Ebbsfleet United (loan)21(0)
2009–2010Ebbsfleet United55(0)
2010–Stevenage144(13)
National team
2009England C2(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 20:50, 15 February 2015 (UTC).
† Appearances (Goals).

Wesley Darius Donald Charles (born 10 December 1987), known as Darius Charles, is an English professional footballer who plays for Stevenage as a defender.

Charles started his career after progressing through the Brentford youth system and he made his first team debut in 2005. He was loaned out by Brentford on seven occasions and he joined the last of these, Ebbsfleet United, permanently in 2009 in a historic transfer. Six months later, a proposed transfer to York City fell through, after he decided against moving to the city. He spent another season with Ebbsfleet before signing for Stevenage in 2010.

Club career

Brentford

Charles first played football at the age of 11 while at school, for Greenford Celtic.[3] He later played for Drayton Manor before signing for and graduating from the Centre Of Excellence at Brentford.[1][4] He made his first team debut as a left midfielder in a 2–1 victory over Hull City on 7 May 2005; the final day of the 2004–05 season.[5][6] He made his first appearance of the 2005–06 season in the Football League Trophy against Oxford United, which finished as a 1–1 draw after extra time and a 4–3 defeat in a penalty shoot-out, while Charles played as a left-back.[7][8] His first league appearance of the season came as an 88th minute substitute in a 1–1 draw with Chesterfield on 10 December 2005.[7] He went on to play as a 32nd minute substitute in a 3–3 draw with Bradford City on 2 January 2006, which proved to be his final appearance of the season for Brentford, which he finished with three appearances.[7] He was loaned out to Conference South team Thurrock on 3 February 2006,[9] where he made one appearance, in a 1–0 defeat to Weston-super-Mare.[10] He was subsequently sent out to Yeading on a work experience deal on 16 March 2006,[11] and he made his debut in a 2–1 defeat to Eastbourne Borough, before finishing the loan spell with six appearances.[10] Charles signed a professional contract with Brentford on 27 June 2006.[1]

After having made nine appearances for Brentford during the 2006–07 season, he signed for Staines Town of the Isthmian League Premier Division on a one-month loan on 16 October 2006.[12] He made two appearances for Staines before returning to Brentford in November 2006.[13] He joined Conference National team Crawley Town on loan on 9 February 2007 until the end of April.[14] He made his debut a day later after coming on as a 72nd minute substitute in a 2–2 draw with St Albans City.[15][16] He finished the loan spell with six appearances.[15] He played for Brentford on five further occasions, which included scoring the winning goal in the 89th minute of a 4–3 victory over Port Vale, and he finished the season with 19 Brentford appearances.[16] Brentford took up their option for his contract to be extended for another season in May 2007,[17] before he signed a new two-year contract with the option of another year with the club in June.[18] He signed for Sutton United of the Conference South on an initial three-month loan on 2 August 2007.[19] He made his debut in a 1–0 defeat to Basingstoke Town.[20] He was recalled by Brentford in September 2007,[21] after making seven appearances for Sutton.[20] He made his first appearance for Brentford of the 2007–08 season in a 2–0 victory over Chester City on 22 September 2007.[22]

Ebbsfleet United

He joined Conference Premier team Ebbsfleet United on loan until the end of the season on 21 March 2008,[23] having made 18 appearances for Brentford up to that point in the 2007–08 season.[22] Charles made his Ebbsfleet debut the following day as a 78th minute substitute in a 3–1 defeat to Stevenage Borough.[22][24] He started in the following match, a 2–1 victory over Cambridge United, and he finished the loan spell with nine appearances.[24] He made one more appearance for Brentford in 2007–08, in a 1–0 away defeat to Stockport County on 3 May 2008, finishing the season with 19 appearances for the club.[22]

Charles re-signed for Ebbsfleet after joining on loan for the 2008–09 season on 21 June.[25] He fouled Simon Brown to concede a penalty kick against Wrexham on 13 September 2008, which was scored by Brown, as Ebbsfleet lost 3–2.[26] He was sent off for a second bookable offence late into a 1–0 defeat to Histon on 6 October 2008.[27] After his Brentford contract was cancelled he moved to Ebbsfleet permanently on 29 January 2009, after the owners of Ebbsfleet, MyFootballClub, ratified a compensation fee of £25,000, making this the first transfer in football history to be decided by a group of members.[28][29] He finished the season with 44 appearances and was named Ebbsfleet's Player of the Year.[30][31]

Charles playing for Ebbsfleet United in 2009

Conference Premier rivals York City made a £10,000 bid for Charles in June, which was subsequently rejected, with MyFootballClub members voting against the offer with over a 98% majority.[32] Following this, York manager Martin Foyle said it was unlikely they would increase their offer for Charles.[33] Ebbsfleet later agreed to sell Charles and striker Michael Gash for a combined fee of £80,000 to an unnamed club,[34] which was revealed to be York and he was reported to have signed on 29 June 2009.[35] However, the deal eventually fell through after Charles decided against joining the club as he did not want to relocate to York.[36] Shortly after Ebbsfleet received an enquiry about him from an unnamed League Two club, although nothing came of this interest.[37] He later became Ebbsfleet captain and was sent off for dissent in a 1–0 defeat to Tamworth on 21 November 2009.[38] He made 42 appearances for Ebbsfleet during the 2009–10 as they were relegated to the Conference South.[39]

Stevenage

Charles turned down a new contract with Ebbsfleet to sign for newly promoted League Two team Stevenage on a two-year contract for a compensation fee on 18 May 2010.[40] He made his Stevenage debut in the club's 3–1 home victory against Stockport, playing 78 minutes of the match.[41] The following week, he started against Aldershot Town, but was taken off after 38 minutes after struggling with injury.[41][42] Charles returned to the starting eleven on 18 September 2010, starting in a 0–0 draw against Torquay United, Stevenage's first clean sheet of the season.[41][43] He scored his first goal for the club in Stevenage's 1–1 draw with Milton Keynes Dons in an FA Cup first round replay on November 2010.[41] Charles' goal came in the fifth minute of stoppage time, taking the game to extra time and then to a penalty shoot-out, which Stevenage won 7–6.[44] Charles received a straight red card for a professional foul on John Johnson in Stevenage's 1–0 home loss to Northampton Town on 11 December 2010, just ten minutes after coming on as a substitute.[45] He scored his second goal for Stevenage in the club's fourth round FA Cup tie against Championship side Reading, cutting inside and curling the ball past the outstretched arm of Adam Federici to restore parity in a game that Stevenage went on to lose 2–1.[41][46] Charles scored his first league goal of the 2010–11 season with a shot from 12 yards in Stevenage's 2–1 home win against Bradford City on 2 April 2011.[41][47] He provided the assist for Joel Byrom's goal after flicking a right-wing cross in Stevenage's 2–0 play-off victory over Accrington Stanley, a game in which he also hit the crossbar with a strike from 30 yards out.[48] Charles started upfront for Stevenage in the 2011 Football League Two play-off Final, played at Old Trafford on 28 May 2011.[49] Charles' pass through to John Mousinho resulted in the only goal of the game, as a 1–0 victory over Torquay United meant Stevenage were promoted to League One.[49][50] He played 33 games for Stevenage during the 2010–11 season, scoring four goals.[41]

After starting in both of Stevenage's opening fixtures of the 2011–12 campaign,[51] Charles signed a contract extension on 11 August 2011, keeping him contracted to the club until 2013.[52] Two days later, Charles scored his first goal of the season with a close range header in a 1–1 draw away at Chesterfield.[51][53] Charles' appearances were sporadic throughout the remainder of 2011, with the player suffering from a knee injury.[54][55] He made his first start in nearly two months in Stevenage's 1–0 away victory against Reading at the Madejski Stadium in the FA Cup on 7 January 2012, with Charles scoring the winning goal in the first-half with a finish from the edge of the area.[51][56] Charles' season ended prematurely after he suffered a hamstring injury in Stevenage's 1–1 draw with Wycombe Wanderers on 31 March 2012,[57] with the injury ruling him out of action for up to six weeks.[58] He made 34 appearances during the campaign, scoring five times.[51]

Ahead of the 2012–13 season, Charles signed a new two-year contract with the club.[59] He started in the club's first game of the campaign, a 3–1 home win over AFC Wimbledon in the League Cup, playing the whole game at left-back.[60] He scored his first goal of the season in a 1–1 draw against Shrewsbury Town on 1 September 2012, after cutting in from the wing to strike into the top corner to restore parity in the match.[61] It turned out to be his only goal of the season as Charles played most of the season at left-back, making 41 appearances during the campaign.[62] With a year remaining on his current deal, Charles' contract was extended for a further year in June 2013, keeping him contracted to the club until the summer of 2015.[63] He made a goalscoring start to the 2013–14 campaign, scoring after pouncing on a loose ball in a 4–3 home defeat to Oldham Athletic on the opening day of the season.[64][65]

International career

Charles was named in the England C team, who represent England at non-League level, in May 2009, for the final of the 2007–09 International Challenge Trophy against Belgium.[66] He started the match to make his debut for England and they were defeated 1–0.[67] He was called up to the team for a friendly against the Poland Olympic team in November,[68] and he started the game as England won 2–1.[69]

Style of play

Charles' preferred position is centre-back,[33] although he can also play as a left-back, left midfielder or centre-forward.[6][8]

Personal life

Charles was born in Ealing, London.[1] His footballing hero when growing up was Ronaldo, and this was because he could "change any game with one bit of genius".[70] He supports Manchester United, and states that the 1999 UEFA Champions League Final between Manchester United and Bayern Munich was the best match he has ever watched.[70] Charles' ex-partner was pregnant as of July 2009.[71]

Career statistics

As of match played 10 February 2015.
Club statistics
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Brentford 2004–05[5] League One 1000000010
2005–06[7] League One 2000001[lower-alpha 1]030
2006–07[16] League One 171—20—191
2007–08[22] League Two 17020——190
Total 371202010421
Thurrock (loan) 2005–06[10] Conference South 10———10
Yeading (loan) 2005–06[10] Conference South 60———60
Staines Town (loan) 2006–07[13] Isthmian League Premier Division 20———20
Crawley Town (loan) 2006–07[15] Conference National 60———60
Sutton United (loan) 2007–08[20] Conference South 70———70
Ebbsfleet United (loan) 2007–08[24] Conference Premier 90———90
2008–09[30] Conference Premier 21030—1[lower-alpha 2]0250
Ebbsfleet United 2008–09[30] Conference Premier 150——4[lower-alpha 3]0190
2009–10[39] Conference Premier 40010—1[lower-alpha 3]0420
Total 85040—60950
Stevenage 2010–11[41] League Two 28222003[lower-alpha 4]0334
2011–12[51] League One 28441101[lower-alpha 1]0345
2012–13[62] League One 37110201[lower-alpha 1]0411
2013–14[64] League One 224212000265
2014–15[72] League Two 29221101[lower-alpha 1]0333
Total 14413115606016718
Career total 288141758013032619
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Appearance in Football League Trophy
  2. ↑ Appearance in Conference League Cup
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Appearance(s) in FA Trophy
  4. ↑ Appearances in League Two play-offs

Honours

Stevenage

Individual

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2008). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2008–09. Edinburgh: Mainstream Publishing. p. 89. ISBN 978-1-84596-324-8.
  2. ↑ Anderson, John, ed. (2013). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2013–2014. London: Headline Publishing Group. p. 521. ISBN 978-07553-64138.
  3. ↑ Brentford Football Club Official Matchday Magazine versus Hartlepool United 29/01/05. 2005. p. 45.
  4. ↑ Fletcher, Paul (28 May 2011). "Stevenage revel in their remarkable success". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Games played by Darius Charles in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Brentford 2–1 Hull". BBC Sport. 6 May 2005. Retrieved 24 April 2011.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 "Games played by Darius Charles in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Brentford 1–1 Oxford Utd (aet)". BBC Sport. 18 October 2005. Retrieved 24 April 2011.
  9. ↑ "Transfer Season 05/06". Blue Square South Guide. Archived from the original on 16 February 2012. Retrieved 28 June 2009.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 Appearances and goals for this season are taken from:
    "Player Details: Season 2005–2006". SoccerFactsUK. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
    "Player Details: Season 2005–2006". SoccerFactsUK. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  11. ↑ "Brentford quartet are loaned out". BBC Sport. 16 March 2006. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
  12. ↑ "Darius to go out on loan". Brentford F.C. 12 October 2006. Archived from the original on 12 June 2012. Retrieved 18 May 2011.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 "Player Details: Season 2006–2007". SoccerFactsUK. Retrieved 18 May 2011.
  14. ↑ "Brentford sign defender Richards". BBC Sport. 9 February 2007. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 Williams, Mike; Williams, Tony, eds. (2007). Non-League Club Directory 2008. Tony Williams Publications. pp. 64–65. ISBN 978-1-869833-57-2.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 "Games played by Darius Charles in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  17. ↑ "Bees announce retained list". Brentford F.C. 16 May 2007. Archived from the original on 12 June 2012. Retrieved 18 May 2011.
  18. ↑ Bailey, Graeme (26 June 2007). "Bees youngster signs on". Sky Sports. Retrieved 18 May 2011.
  19. ↑ "Sutton borrow young Bees` duo". Non-League Daily. 3 August 2007. Retrieved 28 June 2009.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 Appearances and goals for this season are taken from:
    "Basingstoke Town 1 – 0 Sutton United". Sutton United F.C. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
    "Sutton United 0 – 0 St. Alban's City". Sutton United F.C. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
    "Sutton United 2 – 2 Bromley". Sutton United F.C. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
    "Weston Super Mare 3 – 0 Sutton United". Sutton United F.C. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
    "Sutton United 2 – 3 Maidenhead United". Sutton United F.C. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
    "Eastleigh 1 – 2 Sutton United". Sutton United F.C. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
    "Sutton United 1 – 3 Dorchester Town". Sutton United F.C. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  21. ↑ "Brentford recall duo from loans". BBC Sport. 21 September 2007. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 22.3 22.4 "Games played by Darius Charles in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  23. ↑ "Bees defender joins Fleet on loan". Ebbsfleet United F.C. 21 March 2008. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 18 May 2011.
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 Williams, Mike; Williams, Tony, eds. (2008). Non-League Club Directory 2009. Tony Williams Publications. pp. 66–67. ISBN 978-1-869833-59-6.
  25. ↑ "Ebbsfleet bag Brentford's Charles". BBC Sport. 21 June 2008. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
  26. ↑ "Wrexham 3–2 Ebbsfleet". BBC Sport. 13 September 2008. Retrieved 24 April 2011.
  27. ↑ "Ebbsfleet 0–1 Histon". BBC Sport. 6 October 2008. Retrieved 24 April 2011.
  28. ↑ "Darius on the move". Brenford F.C. 29 January 2009. Archived from the original on 12 June 2012. Retrieved 18 May 2011.
  29. ↑ "Ebbsfleet make historic signing". BBC Sport. 29 January 2009. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 30.2 Williams, Tony; Wright, James, eds. (2009). Non-League Club Directory 2010. Tony Williams Publications. pp. 68–69. ISBN 978-1-869833-66-4.
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 Panting, Matthew (29 June 2009). "Ebbsfleet players Darius Charles, Michael Gash and Neil Barrett join York". Gravesend Messenger. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
  32. ↑ "Ebbsfleet reject bid for Charles". BBC Sport. 4 June 2009. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 Flett, Dave (5 June 2009). "York City unlikely to improve bid for Ebbsfleet defender Darius Charles". The Press (York). Retrieved 14 August 2011.
  34. ↑ "Roberts has eyes on Gash cash . . .". Cambridge News. 26 June 2009. Retrieved 18 May 2011.
  35. ↑ Carroll, Steve (29 June 2009). "York City confirm hat-trick of signings from Ebbsfleet United". The Press (York). Retrieved 14 August 2011.
  36. ↑ "York's Fleet deal falls through". BBC Sport. 30 June 2009. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
  37. ↑ O'Rourke, Peter (2 July 2009). "Charles attracting interest". Sky Sports. Retrieved 18 May 2011.
  38. ↑ "Ebbsfleet 0 Tamworth 1". Gravesend Messenger. 21 November 2009. Retrieved 22 November 2009.
  39. ↑ 39.0 39.1 Williams, Tony; Wright, James, eds. (2010). Non-League Club Directory 2011. Tony Williams Publications. pp. 300–301. ISBN 9-781869-833688.
  40. ↑ "Ebbsfleet defender Darius Charles joins League 2 Stevenage on two-year deal". Gravesend Messenger. 19 May 2010. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  41. ↑ 41.0 41.1 41.2 41.3 41.4 41.5 41.6 41.7 41.8 "Games played by Darius Charles in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  42. ↑ "Late Day penalty save earns point for Boro". The Comet (Hitchin). 29 August 2010. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  43. ↑ "Stevenage 0–0 Torquay Utd". BBC Sport. 18 September 2010. Retrieved 24 April 2011.
  44. ↑ "MK Dons 1 – 1 Stevenage". BBC Sport. 16 November 2010. Retrieved 24 April 2011.
  45. ↑ "Stevenage 0 – 1 Northampton". BBC Sport. 11 December 2010. Retrieved 24 April 2011.
  46. ↑ "Stevenage 1–2 Reading". BBC Sport. 29 January 2011. Retrieved 24 April 2011.
  47. ↑ "Stevenage 2–1 Bradford". BBC Sport. 2 April 2011. Retrieved 24 April 2011.
  48. ↑ "Stevenage 2–0 Accrington". BBC Sport. 15 May 2011. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
  49. ↑ 49.0 49.1 "Stevenage 1 – 0 Torquay United". ESPN FC. 28 May 2011. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  50. ↑ Begley, Emlyn (28 May 2011). "Stevenage promoted to League One by beating Torquay". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  51. ↑ 51.0 51.1 51.2 51.3 51.4 "Games played by Darius Charles in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Retrieved 19 May 2012.
  52. ↑ "Darius Charles extends Stevenage contract until 2013". BBC Sport. 10 August 2011. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  53. ↑ "Chesterfield 1–1 Stevenage". BBC Sport. 13 August 2011. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
  54. ↑ "Stevenage's injury problems mount up". The Comet (Hitchin). 27 September 2011. Retrieved 22 January 2012.
  55. ↑ "Next up: Sheffield United". Stevenage F.C. 4 November 2011. Retrieved 22 January 2012.
  56. ↑ "Reading 0–1 Stevenage". BBC Sport. 7 January 2012. Retrieved 22 January 2012.
  57. ↑ "Stevenage FC 1–1 Wycombe Wanderers". Stevenage F.C. 31 March 2012. Retrieved 6 April 2012.
  58. ↑ Newsletter – Paul Dando – Latest Injury News. Stevenage F.C. 2012.
  59. ↑ Jones, Mitchell (1 August 2012). "Darius Charles signs new contract". Stevenage F.C. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
  60. ↑ "Stevenage 3–1 Wimbledon". BBC Sport. 14 August 2012. Retrieved 1 September 2012.
  61. ↑ "Stevenage 1–1 Shrewsbury". BBC Sport. 1 September 2012. Retrieved 1 September 2012.
  62. ↑ 62.0 62.1 "Games played by Darius Charles in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
  63. ↑ "Darius extends his stay". Stevenage F.C. 11 June 2013. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
  64. ↑ 64.0 64.1 "Games played by Darius Charles in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  65. ↑ "Stevenage 3–4 Oldham". BBC Sport. 3 August 2013. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
  66. ↑ "Fairclough excited by game at U's". BBC Sport. 19 May 2009. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
  67. ↑ "England C denied by Belgium". The Football Association. 19 May 2009. Retrieved 18 May 2011.
  68. ↑ "Charles gets England call-up". Kent News. 16 November 2009. Retrieved 18 May 2011.
  69. ↑ "Fine win for England". The Football Association. 18 November 2009. Retrieved 18 May 2011.
  70. ↑ 70.0 70.1 Newsletter – Darius Charles – Your Football History. Stevenage F.C. 2011.
  71. ↑ Sobot, Lee (26 July 2009). "York City: Sangare shows his worth to boss Foyle". Yorkshire Evening Post (Leeds). Retrieved 18 May 2011.
  72. ↑ "Games played by Darius Charles in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Retrieved 10 August 2014.

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