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Greg Halford

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Greg Halford
Halford before a Portsmouth match in May 2011
Personal information
Full name Gregory Halford[1]
Date of birth (1984-12-08) 8 December 1984 (age 39)[2]
Place of birth Chelmsford, England
Height 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)[2]
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
2001–2002 Colchester United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2002–2007 Colchester United 136 (18)
2003 → Aylesbury United (loan)
2003 → Braintree Town (loan)
2007 Reading 3 (0)
2007–2009 Sunderland 8 (0)
2008 → Charlton Athletic (loan) 16 (2)
2008–2009 → Sheffield United (loan) 41 (4)
2009–2011 Wolverhampton Wanderers 17 (0)
2010–2011 → Portsmouth (loan) 33 (5)
2011–2012 Portsmouth 42 (7)
2012–2015 Nottingham Forest 73 (7)
2014–2015 → Brighton & Hove Albion (loan) 19 (0)
2015–2017 Rotherham United 35 (2)
2015–2016 → Birmingham City (loan) 3 (0)
2017–2018 Cardiff City 28 (0)
2019 Aberdeen 2 (0)
International career
2005 England U20 4 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 14:44, 15 June 2019 (UTC)

Gregory Halford (born 8 December 1984) is an English professional footballer. He is naturally a right-back or centre-back but can play in numerous positions including central midfield, right midfield and even as a striker.

Born in Chelmsford, Halford began his career with Colchester United where he came through the youth system before moving to Reading in 2007. His stay at Reading was a short one and Halford transferred to Sunderland later the same year. After failing to hold down a regular place with Sunderland, he moved to Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2009 and later to Portsmouth in 2010, Nottingham Forest in 2012, and Rotherham United in 2015. Halford has also played for Charlton Athletic, Sheffield United, Brighton & Hove Albion and Birmingham City on loan at various points in his career, as well as representing England at under-20 level.

Club career

Colchester United

Halford was born in Chelmsford, Essex.[2] He started his football career in July 2001 when he joined Colchester United's youth team.[3] He signed a professional contract on 1 August 2002, made his first-team debut in a 5–0 home defeat to Luton Town on 21 April 2003, and scored his first senior goal in a 2–1 defeat at home to Hartlepool United in March 2004.[3] During Halford's early time at Colchester, he spent time out on loan at Aylesbury United and Braintree Town.[4]

Halford continued his progress at Colchester: he picked up the club's Young Player of the Year award for the 2004–05 season,[3] and was named in the Professional Footballers' Association's 2005–06 League One Team of the Year[5] as Colchester finished as runners-up in League One and gained promotion to the Championship.

In over 150 games in five years for the Layer Road first team, he gained the reputation of being a utility man, having played in defence, midfield and attack for club and country.[6] His last manager, Geraint Williams, preferred 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."[7]

Reading

Keen to prove himself at a higher level, Halford handed in a transfer request in August 2006 after interest from several Premier League clubs.[8] According to the player, a "big offer" from Sheffield United was rejected.[9] He was linked with a number of other Premier League clubs, but on 30 January 2007, Reading completed the signing of Halford for an undisclosed fee,[10] believed to be in excess of the club's previous record of £2.25 million,[11] on a contract that would 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.[12] He made his full debut in Reading's 1–0 defeat away to Tottenham Hotspur on 1 April 2007, where he conceded a penalty in a controversial handball decision.[13] Halford failed to establish himself at Reading, and played only once more. Director of Football Nicky Hammond said that although Halford had not made the impact desired by both club and player, that was no reflection on him personally or professionally, and that "sometimes in football, players do move on quite quickly if it's felt that the fit isn't quite right".[14]

Sunderland

Halford signed a four-year contract with Premier League club Sunderland on 11 June 2007. The fee was variously reported as £2.5 million rising to £3m depending on appearances, or as £3.5m.[14][15] Hammond said it was an excellent deal for Reading financially, and Sunderland manager Roy Keane was "delighted" that Halford had joined.[14]

He made his debut for Sunderland on 15 August 2007 in a 2–2 draw with Birmingham City at St Andrew's,[16] and played in the next three matches, but was sent off in the third, a 3–0 League Cup defeat to Luton Town. He made three more appearances, and was again sent off.[17] In January 2008, following reported interest in him from Crystal Palace and Charlton Athletic, Keane confirmed that Sunderland would listen to offers.[18] He was not sold, but instead joined Charlton on loan for the rest of the season.[19] He played regularly in the Championship, and scored twice, against West Bromwich Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers.[17]

Halford spent the 2008–09 season on loan to Championship club Sheffield United.[20] He made his debut in the opening game of the season, at Birmingham City,[21] scored his first goal a fortnight later, against Blackpool,[22] and went on to play regularly throughout the season,[23] appearing in 49 of the club's 56 fixtures. He scored eight goals altogether, including the only goal of the semi-final against Preston North End that took Sheffield United through to the 2008–09 play-off final.[22][24]

Wolverhampton Wanderers

Halford signed for newly promoted Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers on 3 July 2009 in a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee.[25] He made his debut on 15 August against West Ham United, and went on to make 17 Premier League appearances for Wolves, along with 3 in cup competitions.[26] He mostly played on the right of midfield or at right back. As with earlier in his career, long throw-ins were a strong feature of his game.[27]

Portsmouth

Unable to stake a claim to regular football at Molineux, Halford joined Championship club Portsmouth in October 2010 on a month's loan. He made his debut in a victory over Millwall,[28] and his first goal, on 23 October, secured a 2–1 win at Hull City.[29] On 17 November, the loan was extended for a further month,[30] then until January,[31] and then to the end of the season.[32] He was used mostly as a centre back in 2011, with fellow loanee Ritchie De Laet preferred at right back.[33]

On 11 July 2011, Halford signed a three-year contract with Portsmouth. The fee, officially undisclosed, was believed by The News to be in the region of £1m.[34][35] He finished the season with seven goals, which made him the club's second highest scorer, behind only David Norris with eight.[36] Portsmouth were unable to avoid relegation.

Nottingham Forest

With the club on the brink of closure unless they removed senior players from the wage bill,[37] Portsmouth sold Halford to Championship club Nottingham Forest on 27 July 2012 for an undisclosed fee.[36] He made his debut on 13 August in the League Cup against Fleetwood Town,[38] made his league debut five days later against Bristol City,[39] and scored his first Forest goal in the 4–1 win over Barnsley in October,[40] in a performance that earned him a place in that week's Football League Championship Team of the Week.[41]

After the 3–0 home win over Bolton Wanderers in August 2013, in which Halford was deployed as a striker, manager Billy Davies said he now regarded him "predominantly as a front man".[42] Halford appeared regularly for Forest during that season,[43] but not at all the next.[44] He spent time on loan to Brighton & Hove Albion during 2014–15 before being released when his contract expired in June 2015.[45]

Rotherham United

In July 2015, Halford joined Rotherham United on a free transfer. [45] He was appointed captain, but after only five league games – four losses and a draw – manager Steve Evans replaced him with Lee Frecklington.[46] Halford played only once more before joining fellow Championship club Birmingham City on 26 November 2015, on loan until 2 January 2016.[47] He made his Birmingham debut as a late substitute in a goalless draw at Middlesbrough on 12 December, and after two more appearances off the bench, he returned to Rotherham when his loan expired.[48][49]

Cardiff City

On 6 January 2017, Halford joined Cardiff City, signing an 18-month contract,[50] making his debut two days later in a 2–1 defeat to Fulham in the third round of the FA Cup.[51] He scored his first goal for Cardiff in a 2–1 EFL Cup win against former club Portsmouth on 8 August 2017.[52]

At the end of the 2017–18 season, Halford left the club upon the expiration of his contract on 30 June.[53]

Aberdeen

On 26 February 2019, Halford joined Aberdeen until the end of the season.[54] He left at the end of his contract.[55]

International career

Halford was capped for England at U20 level. He made his debut against Portugal in the Toulon Tournament on 4 June 2005,[56] and scoring his first international goal in a 3–0 win against South Korea two days later.[57]

Style of play

Halford has been praised for his versatility, to the extent that he is referred to as a utility player.

During his time at Colchester, he played primarily on the right-hand side of midfield, though appeared in the centre of midfield, as a right-back, and a forward, where he scored six goals in nine games.[6] While at Forest, the Nottingham Post stated that during the 2012–13 season, Halford "played in every position on the pitch for Forest, asides from actually taking the keeper's gloves", going on to add that he did "not look out of place" as either a full back or "even in wide positions in midfield", with manager Billy Davies also installing Halford as a striker.[42] Upon signing for Cardiff in 2017, manager Neil Warnock, who had managed Halford at Rotherham, commented that "he played five or six positions" in the previous season.[58]

Career statistics

As of match played 19 May 2019
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Colchester United 2002–03[59] Second Division 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
2003–04[60] Second Division 18 4 2 0 0 0 4[a] 0 24 4
2004–05[61] League One 44 4 5 4 3 1 1[a] 0 53 9
2005–06[62] League One 45 7 5 1 1 0 4[a] 0 55 8
2006–07[63] Championship 28 3 1 0 1 0 — 30 3
Total 136 18 13 5 5 1 9 0 163 24
Reading 2006–07[63] Premier League 3 0 — 0 0 — 3 0
Sunderland 2007–08[17] Premier League 8 0 0 0 1 0 — 9 0
Charlton Athletic (loan) 2007–08[17] Championship 16 2 — — — 16 2
Sheffield United (loan) 2008–09[22] Championship 41 4 4 3 1 0 3[b] 1 49 8
Wolverhampton Wanderers 2009–10[26] Premier League 15 0 1 0 0 0 — 16 0
2010–11[29] Premier League 2 0 0 0 2 0 — 4 0
Total 17 0 1 0 2 0 — 20 0
Portsmouth (loan) 2010–11[29] Championship 33 5 — — — 33 5
Portsmouth 2011–12[64] Championship 42 7 1 0 1 0 — 44 7
Total 75 12 1 0 1 0 — 77 12
Nottingham Forest 2012–13[39] Championship 37 3 1 0 2 0 — 40 3
2013–14[43] Championship 36 4 4 0 2 1 — 42 5
2014–15[44] Championship 0 0 — 0 0 — 0 0
Total 73 7 5 0 4 1 — 82 8
Brighton & Hove Albion (loan) 2014–15[44] Championship 19 0 1 0 — — 20 0
Rotherham United 2015–16[48] Championship 21 2 0 0 2 0 — 23 2
2016–17[65] Championship 14 0 — 1 1 — 15 1
Total 35 2 0 0 3 1 — 38 3
Birmingham City (loan) 2015–16[48] Championship 3 0 — — — 3 0
Cardiff City 2016–17[65] Championship 16 0 1 0 — — 17 0
2017–18[66] Championship 12 0 2 0 2 1 — 16 1
Total 28 0 3 0 2 1 — 33 1
Aberdeen 2018–19[67] Scottish Premiership 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Career total 456 45 28 8 19 4 12 1 515 58
  1. ^ a b c Appearances in Football League Trophy
  2. ^ Appearances in Championship play-offs

Honours

Cardiff City

Individual

References

  1. ^ "Club list of registered players: As at 20th May 2017" (PDF). English Football League. p. 15. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  2. ^ a b c Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2010). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11. Edinburgh: Mainstream Publishing. p. 183. ISBN 978-1-84596-601-0.
  3. ^ a b c "Halford makes rapid return to Colchester to say goodbye to players & fans". Reading F.C. 5 February 2007. Archived from the original on 3 June 2012. Retrieved 5 February 2007.
  4. ^ "Player search". English National Player Archive. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
  5. ^ a b Smith, Dave (23 April 2006). "The PFA Team of the Year: Coca-Cola League One". Professional Footballers' Association. Archived from the original on 20 October 2006. Retrieved 5 February 2007.
  6. ^ a b Claridge, Steve (3 October 2006). "Scouting report: Greg Halford, Colchester United". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
  7. ^ Rutledge, Lewis (1 February 2007). "Halford out to impress". Sky Sports. Retrieved 30 December 2007.
  8. ^ Marston, Carl (23 August 2006). "Halford stuns U's with transfer request". East Anglian Daily Times. Ipswich. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
  9. ^ Bevan, Chris (19 September 2006). "Halford focused on form for U's". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
  10. ^ "Royals pay new club record transfer fee to sign Colchester's Greg Halford". Reading F.C. 30 January 2007. Archived from the original on 29 February 2012. Retrieved 30 January 2007.
  11. ^ "Halford: 'no pressure' from price tag". BBC Berkshire. 3 February 2007. Retrieved 3 April 2008.
  12. ^ "Royals take a point from a disappointing game against Portsmouth". Reading F.C. 17 March 2007. Archived from the original on 29 February 2012. Retrieved 18 March 2007.
  13. ^ Wilson, Jeremy (2 April 2007). "Keane gives Spurs a timely boost but leaves a funny taste for Coppell". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
  14. ^ a b c "Sunderland complete Halford deal". BBC Sport. 11 June 2007. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
  15. ^ O'Rourke, Peter (11 June 2007). "Halford seals Black Cats move". Sky Sports. Archived from the original on 13 June 2007. Retrieved 11 June 2007.
  16. ^ "Birmingham 2–2 Sunderland". BBC Sport. 15 August 2007. Retrieved 29 August 2007.
  17. ^ a b c d "Games played by Greg Halford in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
  18. ^ Hunter, James (11 January 2008). "Keane set to sell Halford". Evening Chronicle. Newcastle upon Tyne. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
  19. ^ "Charlton snap up Halford on loan". BBC Sport. 31 January 2008. Retrieved 31 January 2008.
  20. ^ "Blades swoop for Premiership pair". BBC Sport. 2 July 2008. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
  21. ^ "Birmingham City 1 Sheffield United 0". The Star. Sheffield. 9 August 2008. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
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  23. ^ Hallam, Neil (16 February 2009). "Sheffield United 1 Hull 1: Halford's finally showing his worth for Blades". Daily Mail. Retrieved 19 August 2013.
  24. ^ "Sheffield United 1 Preston 0: Hero Halford: Blades' on loan man is heading for Wembley". Daily Mail. London. 12 May 2009. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
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  27. ^ "Greg Halford". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011.
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  31. ^ Nash, Tim (22 December 2010). "Halford appears to have played last Wolves game". Shropshire Star. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
  32. ^ "Portsmouth re-sign Wolverhampton Wanderers' Halford". BBC Sport. 13 January 2011. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
  33. ^ Wilson, Steve (15 March 2011). "Rocha: Fatigue behind Boro blank". The News. Portsmouth. Retrieved 15 March 2014.
  34. ^ "Portsmouth sign Greg Halford from Wolves". BBC Sport. 11 July 2011. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
  35. ^ Wilson, Steve (13 July 2011). "Halford: Easy decision for me to come back". The News. Portsmouth. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
  36. ^ a b "Halford joins Forest". Portsmouth F.C. 27 July 2012. Archived from the original on 30 July 2012. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
  37. ^ Percy, John (25 July 2012). "Portsmouth to sell David Norris and Greg Halford". Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
  38. ^ "Fleetwood 0–1 Nott'm Forest". BBC Sport. 13 August 2012. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  39. ^ a b "Games played by Greg Halford in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
  40. ^ "Barnsley 1 Nottingham Forest 4: Jenas back in business as Forest smash Tykes". Daily Mail. London. 27 October 2012. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  41. ^ "Championship Team of the Week". The Football League. 29 October 2012. Archived from the original on 31 December 2013. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  42. ^ a b "'Striker' Halford is a hidden gem for league leaders Forest". Nottingham Post. 19 August 2013. Archived from the original on 23 August 2013. Retrieved 19 August 2013.
  43. ^ a b "Games played by Greg Halford in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
  44. ^ a b c "Games played by Greg Halford in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
  45. ^ a b "Greg Halford: Defender joins Rotherham United after Forest exit". BBC Sport. 6 July 2015. Retrieved 4 September 2015.
  46. ^ "Greg Halford is no longer Rotherham United captain". Sky Sports. 3 September 2015. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  47. ^ "Official: Blues sign up Greg Halford". Birmingham City F.C. 26 November 2015. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  48. ^ a b c "Games played by Greg Halford in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
  49. ^ "Update on Blues loans". Birmingham City F.C. 3 January 2016. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
  50. ^ "Halford joins Cardiff". Rotherham United F.C. 6 January 2017. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
  51. ^ "Cardiff City 1–2 Fulham". BBC Sport. 8 January 2017. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  52. ^ "Cardiff 2–1 Portsmouth". BBC Sport. 8 August 2017. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  53. ^ Booth, Dominic (14 May 2018). "Cardiff City retained list: Who is staying and leaving". Wales Online. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
  54. ^ "Aberdeen sign Greg Halford as cover for injured pair Shay Logan and Tommie Hoban". BBC Sport. 26 February 2019. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  55. ^ "Dons departures". afc.co.uk. 27 May 2019.
  56. ^ "Taylor full of praise for side's arrivals". The Journal. Newcastle upon Tyne. 6 June 2005. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
  57. ^ "England bounce back in Toulon". ESPN FC. 6 June 2005. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
  58. ^ Pearlman, Michael (6 January 2017). "Cardiff City sign Greg Halford and let Lex Immers go". BBC Wales Sport. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  59. ^ "Games played by Greg Halford in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
  60. ^ "Games played by Greg Halford in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
  61. ^ "Games played by Greg Halford in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
  62. ^ "Games played by Greg Halford in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
  63. ^ a b "Games played by Greg Halford in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
  64. ^ "Games played by Greg Halford in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
  65. ^ a b "Games played by Greg Halford in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
  66. ^ "Games played by Greg Halford in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
  67. ^ "Games played by Greg Halford in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
  68. ^ Anderson, John, ed. (2018). Football Yearbook 2018–2019. London: Headline Publishing Group. pp. 106–107. ISBN 978-1-4722-6106-9.
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