Oliver Norburn

Oliver Norburn
Personal information
Full nameOliver Lewis Norburn[1]
Date of birth26 October 1992
Place of birthBolton, England
Height1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Playing positionMidfielder
Club information
Current team
Plymouth Argyle
Youth career
Chelsea
2009–2011Leicester City
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2011–2012Leicester City0(0)
2011Bristol Rovers (loan)5(0)
2012–2014Bristol Rovers51(3)
2014–Plymouth Argyle13(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 11:35, 19 March 2015 (UTC).
† Appearances (Goals).

Oliver Lewis Norburn is a professional association footballer who plays as a midfielder for Plymouth Argyle.

Playing career

He played as a youth team player with Chelsea before moving to Leicester City, where he graduated through to the professional ranks in 2011.[2] He joined Bristol Rovers on a month-long loan deal in late September 2011,[3] later extended to three months, where he played alongside fellow on-loan Leicester teammate Cian Bolger.[2]

He made his debut in senior football on 14 October 2011, when he was an 86th-minute substitute for Bristol Rovers in a 5–2 victory over Rotherham United.[4] By the end of December, Norburn return to Leicester City after his loan-spell at Bristol Rovers finish and spend the rest of the season staying at Leicester City. On 3 July, Sky Sports understands that Norburn has signed for Bristol Rovers on a permanent basis and agreed to sign a one-year deal with the option for a further 12 months with the club.[5] On the opening game of the season, Norburn made his debut in a 2–0 loss against Oxford United and two months later, he scored his first goal in a 3–1 win over Northampton Town.[6] His second goal came on 5 February 2013, in a 1–1 draw against Cheltenham Town and his third was followed up a month later, in a 2–1 win over Exeter City. Having quickly established himself as a key player for the club, Sky Sports understands that Norburn had attracted interests from a host of club's.[7] At the end of the 2012–13 season, Norburn was offered a new contract by the club,[8] which he signed a one-year contract extension on 24 June 2013.[9]

In 2013–14 season, Norburn had his first team opportunities limited, making sixteen appearance and spent majority on the bench. On 04/04/2014, he left Bristol Rovers by mutual consent. First team manager Darrell Clarke said of Norburn leaving: "Ollie has left the club, and that was mutually agreed. For whatever reason it has not gone well for Ollie this season. Ollie has a chance now to try and earn himself a contract at another club, and we wish him well and thank him for his efforts.”[10]

On 23 July 2014, Norburn signed for Plymouth Argyle as a free agent on a one-year deal. After being named in the starting line-up for the 0–0 pre-season draw against Torquay United – alongside Norburn – Team-mate Peter Hartley revealed that the midfielder’s qualities have shone in training, and it’s positively effecting the entire squad. “Ollie is technically a very good player,” said Hartley. “You could see that from the moment he stepped on the training field. “He likes to handle the ball, and he is more than capable of taking the ball under pressure. It brings the confidence out in the rest of the team, and helps us believe in playing the way we want to play. “It is great to have Ollie on board. He is a cracking lad as well as a good player, and only 21, so I think there will be a lot more to come from him.”

Career statistics

As of 7 March 2014[11]
Season Club Division League FA Cup League Cup Football League Trophy Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
2011–12 Leicester City Championship 0000000000
2011–12 Bristol Rovers League Two 5010000060
2012–13 Bristol Rovers League Two 353101000373
2013–14 Bristol Rovers League Two 160411010221
2014–15 Plymouth Argyle League Two 130202010180
Career total 693814020824

References

  1. "Player Details: Oliver Norburn". English National Football Archive.
  2. 2.0 2.1 "Newcomer Norburn challenged to earn starting place at Bristol Rovers". This is Bristol. Bristol Evening Post. 24 September 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  3. "Bristol Rovers sign Leicester City's Oliver Norburn". BBC Sport. 23 September 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  4. "Bristol Rovers 5–2 Rotherham United". ESPN Soccernet. ESPN Internet Ventures. 14 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  5. "Rovers to land Norburn". Sky Sports. 3 July 2012. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
  6. "Full-time: Bristol Rovers 3 Northampton Town 1". This is Bristol. 6 October 2012. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
  7. "Transfer news: Bristol Rovers midfielder Oliver Norburn attracting interest". Sky Sports. 8 March 2013. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  8. "Bristol Rovers: Ellis Harrison among eight offered new deals". BBC Sport. 9 May 2013. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  9. "Norburn commits to Rovers". Sky Sports. 24 June 2013. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  10. "Oliver Norburn leaves Bristol Rovers". Bristol Rovers. 4 April 2014. Archived from the original on 27 June 2014. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
  11. "Oliver Norburn". Soccerbase. Retrieved 27 January 2013.

External links