George Friend

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 88.109.103.33 (talk) at 17:14, 6 October 2018. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

This article is about the English footballer. For the 3rd Clerk of the New Zealand House of Representatives, see George Friend (parliamentary official). For the US sea captain of subtly different spelling, see George Fried.

George Friend
Personal information
Full name George Andrew Jordan Friend[1]
Date of birth (1987-10-19) 19 October 1987 (age 36)[2]
Place of birth Barnstaple, England
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)[2]
Position(s) Left back
Team information
Current team
 Middlesbrough
Number 3
Youth career
0000–2005 Exeter City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005–2008 Exeter City 37 (1)
2008–2010 Wolverhampton Wanderers 7 (0)
2009 → Millwall (loan) 6 (0)
2009 → Southend United (loan) 6 (1)
2009 → Scunthorpe United (loan) 4 (0)
2010 → Exeter City (loan) 13 (1)
2010–2012 Doncaster Rovers 59 (1)
2012– Middlesbrough 226 (8)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:00, 6 October 2018 (UTC)

George Andrew Jordan Friend (born 19 October 1987) is an English professional footballer who plays as a left back for Championship club Middlesbrough.

In the 2012–13 season, Friend won Middlesbrough players' player of the season award. The following season, Friend won it again along with the Player of the Season award. Friend was named in the PFA Championship Team of the Year two years running, in the 2014–15 and 2015–16 seasons.

Career

Exeter City

Friend was born in Barnstaple, Devon.[2] He began his career at then non-League Exeter City as a youth team player, signing a two-year professional contract in March 2006.[citation needed] Able to play left back, centre-back or left-sided midfield, he made his first-team debut on 17 April 2006 in a 0–0 draw at Forest Green Rovers.[3]

His Exeter career took off in the 2007–08 season when he was integral to the side that won promotion to the Football League after defeating Cambridge United in the play-off final at Wembley Stadium.[citation needed] During that season he became the youngest ever captain in Exeter's history and scored his first goal for the club in a 4–4 draw with Burton Albion on 26 April 2008.[4]

Wolverhampton Wanderers

After playing in Exeter's opening matches in the Football League, he moved to Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Championship on 1 September 2008, signing a two-year contract, with the option of a third year,[5] for an initial fee of £350,000.[6] He made six first team appearances for Wolves during the 2008–09 season as they were promoted to the Premier League as champions.[citation needed]

To gain regular playing time, he spent a month's loan at League One club Millwall during August to September 2009, before returning to Wolves.[7] He soon went out on a month's loan again on 18 September to another League One club, Southend United,[8] where he scored his first league goal with a free-kick against Southampton.[9] After a proposed extension to his stay with Southend was cancelled due to the club's financial troubles, he instead spent six weeks on loan at Championship club Scunthorpe United.[10]

Friend was recalled by Wolves as extra cover after injuries struck, giving him his first Premier League appearance on 15 December 2009 against Manchester United.[11] His surprise involvement in the game was just one factor behind the club eventually receiving a £25,000 suspended fine for fielding an under-strength side.[12] Friend did not feature again for Wolves before being loaned out once more, this time rejoining former club Exeter City for the rest of the season,[13] during which time he helped them avoid an instant return to League Two.[citation needed]

Doncaster Rovers

At the end of the 2009–10 season it was announced that his deal at Wolves would not be extended,[14] and Friend switched to Championship club Doncaster Rovers on a two-year contract[15] despite being linked with a return move to Exeter City.[16] Friend made his Doncaster debut in their 2–0 opening day win at Preston North End on 7 August 2010.[citation needed] On 11 September 2010, Friend scored his first goal in a 2–2 draw against Watford.[citation needed] The next game on 14 September 2010, Friend set up a goal for James Coppinger to score a second goal in a match with a 3–1 win over Norwich City.[citation needed] Since making his debut, Friend became established in the first team in defense position, playing in the left-back.[citation needed] In a match with a 3–1 win over Scunthorpe United on 18 October 2011, Friend sustained an injury in early minutes and was substituted.[citation needed] After a surgery, Friend was out for three months.[citation needed] On 25 January 2011, Friend made his return in a 2–0 loss against Burnley, coming on as a substitute in an early minute.[citation needed]

Friend was appointed captain at the beginning of 2011–12 following and won player of the year and supporters player of the year at the end of the season.[citation needed] Friend managed to regain his place in the starting eleven in the left back position but the club was relegated to League One after three seasons in the Championship.[citation needed]

Middlesbrough

On 23 July 2012, despite interest from Ipswich Town and Nottingham Forest, it was announced that Doncaster had agreed a fee with Middlesbrough for Friend.[17] On 30 July, Friend had agreed personal terms and officially signed for Middlesbrough.[citation needed] The fee was reported to be around £100,000.[citation needed]

After completing a successful season, in which Friend became a fans' favourite because of his consistent performances, he was awarded the Community Player of the Year after attending numerous off-field events, as well as winning the players' player of the year award.[citation needed] For the 2013–14 season, Friend was issued the number 3 squad number previously worn by departing defender André Bikey.[citation needed] Friend scored his first goal for Boro in a 2–2 draw at Wigan on 25 August.[citation needed] It was his first goal since 2010.[citation needed] Friend scored his second goal for Boro with a 20-yard strike in a 2–2 draw against Nottingham Forest on 17 September 2013.[citation needed]

Friend captained a Boro side for the first time in a 2–0 victory against Rotherham United on 11 April 2015.[citation needed]

Career statistics

As of end of 2017–18 season
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
Exeter City 2005–06[18] Conference National 1 0 0 0 — 0 0 1 0
2006–07[19] Conference National 2 0 0 0 — 0 0 2 0
2007–08[20] Conference Premier 30 1 2 0 0 0 5[a] 0 37 1
2008–09[21] League Two 4 0 — 1 0 — 5 0
Total 37 1 2 0 1 0 5 0 45 1
Wolverhampton Wanderers 2008–09[21] Championship 6 0 1 0 — — 7 0
2009–10[22] Premier League 1 0 0 0 — — 1 0
Total 7 0 1 0 — — 8 0
Millwall (loan) 2009–10[22] League One 6 0 — — 1[b] 0 7 0
Southend United (loan) 2009–10[22] League One 6 1 — — — 6 1
Scunthorpe United (loan) 2009–10[22] Championship 4 0 — — — 4 0
Exeter City (loan) 2009–10[22] League One 13 1 — — — 13 1
Doncaster Rovers 2010–11[23] Championship 32 1 2 0 1 0 — 35 1
2011–12[24] Championship 27 0 0 0 2 0 — 29 0
Total 59 1 2 0 3 0 — 64 1
Middlesbrough 2012–13[25] Championship 34 0 1 0 4 0 — 39 0
2013–14[26] Championship 41 3 1 0 1 0 — 43 3
2014–15[27] Championship 42 1 2 0 1 0 3[c] 0 48 1
2015–16[28] Championship 40 1 1 0 4 0 — 45 1
2016–17[29] Premier League 24 0 2 0 1 0 — 27 0
2017–18[30] Championship 33 2 2 0 2 0 2[c] 0 39 2
Total 214 7 9 0 13 0 5 0 241 7
Career total 346 11 14 0 17 0 11 0 388 11
  1. ^ One appearance in Conference League Cup, one in FA Trophy, three in Conference Premier play-offs
  2. ^ Appearance in Football League Trophy
  3. ^ a b Appearances in Championship play-offs

Honours

Exeter City

Middlesbrough

Individual

References

  1. ^ "Club list of registered players: As at 19th May 2018: Middlesbrough" (PDF). English Football League. p. 23. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  2. ^ a b c Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2010). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11. Edinburgh: Mainstream Publishing. p. 159. ISBN 978-1-84596-601-0.
  3. ^ "Forest Green 0–0 Exeter". BBC Sport. 17 April 2006.
  4. ^ "Burton 4–4 Exeter". BBC Sport. 26 April 2008. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
  5. ^ Buy George! Wolves Sign A Friend Archived 3 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ City's £500,000 Friend
  7. ^ Millwall Find A Friend Archived 26 January 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ "Southend get a new friend". Southend United F.C. 18 September 2009. Archived from the original on 23 September 2009. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  9. ^ "Southend 1–3 Southampton". BBC Sport. 9 October 2009. Retrieved 25 November 2009.
  10. ^ "Iron Friend!". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 30 October 2009. Archived from the original on 6 January 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  11. ^ "Man Utd 3–0 Wolverhampton". BBC Sport. 15 December 2009.
  12. ^ "Wolves fined £25,000 over Old Trafford team selection". BBC Sport. 18 February 2010.
  13. ^ "Exeter City re-sign George Friend from Wolves". BBC Sport. 4 March 2010.
  14. ^ "Three to leave Molineux". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 13 May 2010. Archived from the original on 15 May 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  15. ^ "Doncaster Rovers complete signing of George Friend". BBC Sport. 14 June 2010.
  16. ^ "Friend not ruling out Exeter". Sky Sports. 28 May 2010. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  17. ^ "Jewell confirms Friend bid". Sky Sports. 30 July 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  18. ^ "Games played by George Friend in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
  19. ^ Williams, Mike; Williams, Tony, eds. (2007). Non-League Club Directory 2008. Kingsbridge: Tony Williams Publications. pp. 82–83. ISBN 978-1-869833-57-2.
  20. ^ a b Williams, Mike; Williams, Tony, eds. (2008). Non-League Club Directory 2009. Tony Williams Publications. pp. 172–173. ISBN 978-1-869833-59-6.
  21. ^ a b "Games played by George Friend in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
  22. ^ a b c d e "Games played by George Friend in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
  23. ^ "Games played by George Friend in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
  24. ^ "Games played by George Friend in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
  25. ^ "Games played by George Friend in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
  26. ^ "Games played by George Friend in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
  27. ^ "Games played by George Friend in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
  28. ^ a b "Games played by George Friend in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
  29. ^ "Games played by George Friend in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
  30. ^ "Games played by George Friend in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  31. ^ "Championship: 2015/16: Latest table". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
  32. ^ "PFA Championship Team of the Year: Deeney only Watford player". BBC Sport. 26 April 2015. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  33. ^ "PFA awards: Leicester and Spurs dominate Premier League team". BBC Sport. 21 April 2016. Retrieved 7 May 2018.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=George_Friend&oldid=862779614"