| Danny Key | |
| Fullname: | Daniel Charles Key |
| Birth Date: | 2 November 1977 |
| Birth Place: | Darlington, County Durham, England |
| Position: | Midfielder |
| Years1: | 1996–1997 |
| Clubs1: | Darlington |
| Caps1: | 3 |
| Goals1: | 0 |
| Years2: | 1997 |
| Clubs2: | → Waterford United (loan) |
| Years3: | 1997 |
| Clubs3: | Gateshead |
| Caps3: | 8 |
| Goals3: | 0 |
| Years4: | – |
| Clubs4: | Spennymoor Town |
| Years5: | 1998–2000 |
| Clubs5: | Crook Town |
| Years6: | 2000–2002 |
| Clubs6: | Whitby Town |
| Years7: | 2002–2005 |
| Clubs7: | Shildon |
| Years8: | 2005–2008 |
| Years9: | 2008–20?? |
Daniel Charles Key (born 2 November 1977) is an English former footballer who played as a midfielder in the Football League for Darlington, spent time on loan with League of Ireland club Waterford United, and played non-league football for a variety of clubs in the north-east of England.
Key was born in Darlington, County Durham, and began his football career as a youth trainee with his hometown club, Darlington F.C. He made his Football League debut on 15 October 1996, as a late substitute in a 2–0 defeat away to Cardiff City in the Third Division. He appeared twice more in the Third Division, each time as a late substitute in a defeat, and once in the 1996–97 FA Cup, starting the match against non-league club Runcorn which Darlington won 4–1. He spent time on loan with League of Ireland club Waterford United in early 1997,[1] and finished the season with Gateshead, for whom he played eight games in the Conference.[2] [3]
He went on to play non-league football for Crook Town,[4] Spennymoor United,[5] Whitby Town,[6] Shildon,[7] whom he captained to the first round proper of the 2003–04 FA Cup, in which they faced Notts County,[8] West Auckland Town,[9] and Darlington Railway Athletic.[10]
Key was a member of the Coundon Conservative Club team that won the 2007 FA Sunday Cup.[11]