Colin Larkin (footballer) explained

Colin Larkin
Fullname:Colin Larkin
Birth Date:1982 4, df=y
Birth Place:Dundalk, Ireland
Position:Forward
Currentclub:Sunderland RCA
Years1:1999–2002
Caps1:3
Goals1:0
Years2:2001–2002
Clubs2:Kidderminster Harriers (loan)
Caps2:33
Goals2:6
Years3:2002–2005
Clubs3:Mansfield Town
Caps3:95
Goals3:25
Years4:2005–2007
Clubs4:Chesterfield
Caps4:80
Goals4:11
Years5:2007–2009
Clubs5:Northampton Town
Caps5:54
Goals5:3
Years6:2009–2012
Clubs6:Hartlepool United
Caps6:54
Goals6:4
Years7:2012–2013
Clubs7:Lincoln City
Caps7:29
Goals7:8
Years8:2013
Clubs8:Harrogate Town
Caps8:13
Goals8:1
Years9:2013–2014
Clubs9:Gateshead
Caps9:31
Goals9:9
Years10:2014
Clubs10:Harrogate Town
Caps10:1
Goals10:0
Years11:2014–2015
Years12:2015–
Caps12:1
Goals12:3
Nationalyears1:1999
Nationalteam1:Republic of Ireland U17
Nationalcaps1:2
Nationalgoals1:0
Club-Update:25 August 2014

Colin Larkin (born 27 April 1982 in Dundalk, County Louth) is an Irish professional footballer, who plays as a forward for Sunderland RCA.

He has previously played for Wolverhampton Wanderers, Kidderminster Harriers, Mansfield Town, Chesterfield, Northampton Town, Lincoln City and Gateshead.

Playing career

Larkin began his professional career with Wolverhampton Wanderers. He progressed through their youth ranks to make his first team debut on 24 August 1999 in a League Cup exit to Wycombe Wanderers, where he scored within eight minutes of coming off the bench.

Despite this bright start to his senior career, he was unable to gain any real first team action at Molineux and managed just three (goalless) appearances over three seasons for the club. To gain playing time, he was loaned out to the then League 2 side Kidderminster Harriers during the 2001–2002 season where Larkin made a big impact starting 33 games and scoring 7 goals.

However, with chances limited, Larkin, with two years left on his contract at Wolves, joined Mansfield Town for a £125,000 fee in July 2002. He scored 25 goals over a three-year stay at Field Mill, but an apparent fall-out with then manager Carlton Palmer led to his eventual release to join Chesterfield in 2005 on a two-year contract.

Larkin netted 13 goals in total over a two-year spell at Chesterfield. When the club suffered relegation to League Two, Larkin remained in the third tier as he joined Northampton Town on a free transfer, on 28 June 2007 in a two-year deal.

On 7 August 2009, Larkin signed a contract with League One side Hartlepool United after impressing during a short trial period. In May 2011 he signed a new contract with the club.[1] Larkin was released on 10 May 2012 and joined Lincoln City at the start of the 2012–13 season. He was released by Lincoln in March 2013 and subsequently signed for Harrogate Town[2] and scored on his debut for Town in a 2–2 draw against Bishop's Stortford.

On 12 May 2013, Larkin signed for Gateshead.[3] He made his debut on 10 August as a second-half substitute against Kidderminster Harriers.[4] Larkin scored his first goal for Gateshead on 17 August 2013 in a 1–2 defeat against Barnet.[5] At the end of the season, Larkin was released by Gateshead.[6]

On 8 August 2014, Harrogate Town announced that Larkin had re-signed for the club.[7] However, his second spell with the club would be short as they encountered an injury crisis amongst their forwards. As Larkin, who had recently had groin surgery was viewed as lacking the necessary match fitness to play games during the club's injury crisis, they took the decision to release him in order to be able to bring in new signings.[8] He moved on to join West Auckland Town,[9] reuniting him with his erstwhile Gateshead manager Anth Smith. However, Smith departed the club on 16 December 2014 and a month later Larkin was on the move again, joining Sunderland RCA.[10]

Colin has linked up once again with David Rush and Anth Smith, this time in a coaching role for Sunderland College coaching the men's category 3 team. He is also head coach of Evolution Football Elite Academy.

Career statistics

[11] [12]

ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Wolverhampton Wanderers1999–2000Division One1000110021
2000–01Division One2000000020
2001–02Division One0000000000
Wolverhampton Wanderers Total3000110041
Kidderminster Harriers (loan)2001–02Division Three336000021357
Kidderminster Harriers F.C. Total336000021357
Mansfield Town2002–03Division Two227200010257
2003–04Division Three407210010438
2004–05League Two33112010203811
Mansfield Town Total952561104010626
Chesterfield2005–06League One417201010457
2006–07League One394103220456
Chesterfield Total80113042309013
Northampton Town2007–08League One332412010403
2008–09League One211001110232
Northampton Town Total543413120635
Hartlepool United2009–10League One221102010261
2010–11League One303201010343
2011–12League One2000001030
Hartlepool United Total544303030634
Lincoln City2012–13Conference Premier298400010348
Lincoln City Total298400010348
Harrogate Town2012–13Conference North131000000131
Harrogate Town Total131000000131
Gateshead2013–14Conference Premier288300051369
Gateshead Total288300051369
Harrogate Town2014–15Conference North1000000010
Harrogate Town Total1000000010
Career totals3906623212420244574

A.  The "Other" column constitutes appearances (including substitutes) and goals in the Football League Trophy, FA Trophy and play-offs.

Notes and References

  1. News: Ten players shown door by Hartlepool United. BBC Sport. 11 May 2011. 12 May 2011.
  2. Web site: BlueSq Premier Latest news on the new Blue Square Premier, North and … . https://archive.today/20130410155825/http://www.bluesqfootball.com/story/0,20970,13041_8557309,00.html . 10 April 2013 . dead.
  3. News: First Summer Signing Unveiled . Gateshead FC . 12 May 2013 . 13 May 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130703165448/http://www.gateshead-fc.com/4494/first-summer-signing-unveiled . 3 July 2013 .
  4. News: Kidderminster v Gateshead. BBC Sport. 10 August 2013. 10 August 2013.
  5. News: Gateshead v Barnet. BBC Sport. 17 August 2013. 17 August 2013.
  6. News: Eleven Not Offered New Deals . https://web.archive.org/web/20140529224901/http://www.gateshead-fc.com/4918/eleven-not-offered-new-deals . dead . 29 May 2014 . Gateshead FC . 29 May 2014 . 29 May 2014 .
  7. News: Breaking news... . Harrogate Town FC (via Twitter) . 8 August 2014 . 8 August 2014.
  8. Web site: Harrogate Release Larkin. NonLeague.pitchero.com. 25 August 2014. 17 February 2015.
  9. Web site: Experienced Pair Sign for West Auckland. NonLeague.pitchero.com. 8 September 2014. 17 February 2015.
  10. Web site: Larkin Boost For RCA. NonLeague.pitchero.com. 14 January 2014. 17 February 2015.
  11. Web site: Colin Larkin Stats . Soccerbase.
  12. Web site: C. Larkin . Soccerway.