Danny Sullivan (footballer) explained

Daniel Sullivan
Birth Date:1994 9, df=y
Birth Place:Plymouth, England[1]
Position:Forward
Currentclub:Truro City
Youthyears1:2011–2013
Youthclubs1:Torquay United
Years1:2013–2015
Clubs1:Torquay United
Caps1:5
Goals1:0
Years2:2014
Clubs2:Bideford (loan)
Years3:2014
Clubs3:Hereford United (loan)
Caps3:9
Goals3:5
Years4:2015–201?
Clubs4:Truro City
Caps4:6
Goals4:3
Years5:201?–2017
Clubs5:Bodmin Town
Caps5:34
Goals5:16 [2]
Years6:2017
Clubs6:Tavistock
Caps6:?
Goals6:?
Years7:2017–2022
Clubs7:Taunton Town
Caps7:124
Goals7:42 [3]
Years8:2022–
Clubs8:Truro City
Caps8:0
Goals8:0
Club-Update:12:00, 11 July 2022 (UTC)

Daniel Michael C Sullivan (born 1 September 1994) is an English footballer who plays for Truro City as a forward. After rising through Torquay United's youth system, Sullivan made his senior debut in August 2013.

Career

Youth team

Sullivan attended Ivybridge Community College and played in the same Plymouth Schools side as future Plymouth Argyle professionals Tyler Harvey and Matt Lecointe in 2009.[4] He joined Argyle as a schoolboy but was released and signed for Torquay United on a two-year scholarship in July 2011.[5] Sullivan made his debut for the youth team in August 2011 against Oxford United; the Herald Express claimed his performance "may well have caught the eye" of visiting scouts from Manchester United and Fulham.[6] By November 2011, he was combining youth team duties with playing for Torquay's reserves.[7]

He began the 2012–13 season in fine form after being converted from attacking midfield to lone striker by the club's Head of Youth Geoff Harrop, and he scored a hat-trick in United youth's first game, a 4–3 loss to Swindon Town.[8] [9]

After impressive displays over his two years with Torquay's youth team, Sullivan was awarded a professional contract in August 2012 by then-manager Martin Ling, who described the forward as "our youth team's best attacking player for some time."[10] Sullivan was allocated the number 31 shirt and added to Torquay's first team squad for the 2012–13 season.[11] [12] Although Sullivan did not make any appearances for the first team and continued to play for Torquay's youth side, he was named as the club's Young Player of the Season for 2012–13.[13] [14]

Senior team

Alan Knill was appointed as the club's new manager in summer 2013 and gave Sullivan the chance to prove himself in Torquay's pre-season friendlies, giving the youngster playing time against Tiverton Town, Salisbury City and Yeovil Town. Sullivan duly scored in the latter game in a 2–0 win after coolly rounding Yeovil goalkeeper Marek Stech.[15] [16]

After impressive cameos in Torquay's pre-season fixtures, Sullivan was named as a substitute (having seemingly overtaken Ashley Yeoman in the striking roster) for the opening game of the season against AFC Wimbledon on 3 August.[17] He made his senior debut a week later as a late substitute in the 1–1 draw at Morecambe, becoming the 999th player to play for Torquay since they joined the Football League in 1927.[18] [19] On 13 August, Sullivan scored twice in a 3–2 friendly win over Cheltenham Town – one with either foot – prompting Knill to admit, "When I watched Danny last year, I wasn't totally convinced, but he's earned our confidence this season."[20] [21]

The forward made his home debut in a 0–0 Football League Cup draw with Portsmouth on 3 September; Torquay lost 5–3 on penalties.[22] Sullivan's second league appearance arrived four days later, coming off the bench in a 4–1 defeat at Fleetwood Town.[23] A week later he replaced Jordan Chapell late in the 1–0 loss at Rochdale, but Sullivan had to wait until mid-November for his next appearance, again as a substitute in the 2–0 home reverse against Chesterfield.[24] [25]

On 5 February 2014, Sullivan joined Bideford on loan for the rest of the season.[26] With Torquay relegated to the Conference, Sullivan made his first appearance of 2014–15 as a late replacement for Duane Ofori-Acheampong in United's 1–1 draw with Aldershot on 25 August 2014.[27] He subsequently spent time on loan with Hereford United, but returned to Torquay when Hereford were liquidated.

Truro City

Sullivan left Torquay by mutual consent in January 2015,[28] and signed for Southern League club Truro City on 16 January 2015.[29] He made his Truro debut as a second-half substitute for Craig Duff in the 2–1 win at Hitchin Town the following day,[30] and scored on his home debut in the 3–2 win over Redditch United on 20 January, when he again substituted Duff in the second half.[31]

Sullivan then had a spell with Bodmin Town, before signing for Tavistock in June 2017.[32] On 22 September 2017, Sullivan signed for Taunton Town.[33] In his first season with Taunton, he was named the Supporters Player of the Year [34]

In July 2022, after helping Taunton to promotion to the National League South, Sullivan returned to Truro City.[35]

Notes and References

  1. http://www.torquayunited.com/news/article/meet-the-youth-team-392600.aspx?pageView=full#anchored Meet the Youth Team
  2. Web site: Dan Sullivan - Bodmin Town Football Club 1st Team.
  3. Web site: Sully Stays a Peacock. 20 June 2020.
  4. https://archive.today/20130811101323/http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/Plymouth-rout-West-Cornwall-schools-cup/story-11485192-detail/story.html%23axzz2bb4KNoqb Plymouth Rout West Cornwall in Schools Cup
  5. http://www.thefa.com/~/media/90FF57E9023C44AB809C85DD2A1596B5.ashx Players Under Written Contract in July 2011
  6. https://archive.today/20130811155618/http://www.thisissouthdevon.co.uk/Gulls-lads-attracting-spotters/story-13111141-detail/story.html%23axzz2baDlbmeO Gulls lads attracting spotters
  7. https://archive.today/20130811155636/http://www.thisissouthdevon.co.uk/Atieno-strikes-twice-Gulls-reserves-gain/story-13997384-detail/story.html%23axzz2baDlbmeO Atieno Strikes Twice as Reserves Gain Encouraging Victory
  8. http://www.torquayunited.com/news/article/united-youth-4-yeovil-1-324158.aspx United Youth 4–1 Yeovil Youth
  9. http://www.torquayunited.com/news/article/swindon-youth-4-united-youth-3-315333.aspx Report: Swindon Youth 4–3 United Youth
  10. https://archive.today/20130811101312/http://www.thisissouthdevon.co.uk/MARTIN-LING-Signing-latest-pros-Danny-Jake-week/story-17880606-detail/story.html%23axzz2baDlbmeO Ling: Signing Danny and Jake made my week
  11. http://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=67084 Daniel Sullivan Football Stats
  12. https://archive.today/20130811101315/http://www.thisissouthdevon.co.uk/story-16718963-detail/story.html%23axzz2baDlbmeO Ling says no to Ifill but ponders Artemi and Foot
  13. http://www.torquayunited.com/news/article/the-awards-796188.aspx The Awards: Who Won What
  14. http://torquayunited.newsprints.co.uk/view/24328436/torquay_v_bristolrovers_ppauk_ppauk061_jpg Sullivan Presented With Young Player Award
  15. http://www.westernmorningnews.co.uk/Torquay-United-hot-handle-Yeovil-Town-friendly/story-19526224-detail/story.html Torquay United too hot for Yeovil to handle
  16. http://www.torquayheraldexpress.co.uk/United-s-100-record-brought-halt-Malsom-s-tap/story-19567362-detail/story.html Malsom Ends United's 100 Percent Record
  17. https://www.theguardian.com/football/match/2013/aug/03/torquay-united-v-afc-wimbledon Line-Ups: Torquay 1–1 Wimbledon
  18. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23558610 League Two – Morecambe 1–1 Torquay
  19. http://www.torquayunited.com/news/article/999-gulls-984840.aspx 999 Gulls: Sully Debut on Brink of History
  20. https://archive.today/20130815204237/http://www.thisisdevon.co.uk/Daniel-Sullivan-bags-brace-Torquay-United-win/story-19651613-detail/story.html%23axzz2c4UCTxrQ Daniel Sullivan bags a brace in Cheltenham win
  21. https://archive.today/20130815204239/http://www.thisisdevon.co.uk/Torquay-United-boss-delighted-progress-Daniel/story-19664137-detail/story.html%23axzz2c4UCTxrQ Torquay boss delighted by Sullivan's progress
  22. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23846380 Johnstone's Paint Trophy – Torquay 0–0 Portsmouth
  23. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23909914 League Two – Fleetwood 4–1 Torquay
  24. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23999617 League Two – Rochdale 1–0 Torquay
  25. http://www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/sport/football/chesterfield-blues-beat-torquay-2-0-to-reignite-league-form-1-6250470 Chesterfield: Blues beat Torquay to reignite league form
  26. Web site: Sully To Biddy . Torquay United FC . 5 February 2014 . 5 February 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140209154814/http://www.torquayunited.com/news/article/sully-to-biddy-1340779.aspx . 9 February 2014 . dead .
  27. https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2014/08/25/england/conference-national/torquay-united-fc/aldershot-town-fc/1751287/ Torquay United vs. Aldershot Town - 25 August
  28. Web site: Danny Sullivan: Truro City in talks with ex-Torquay forward . 15 January 2015 . 17 January 2015 . BBC Sport.
  29. Web site: Daniel Sullivan signs for City . 17 January 2015 . 17 January 2015 . Truro City F.C. . https://web.archive.org/web/20150123194059/http://www.trurocityfc.net/s/news-83206.html?news_id=1362683 . 23 January 2015 . dead .
  30. Web site: Truro City hit back to earn vital win in hunt for promotion . 17 January 2015 . 23 January 2015 . Truro City F.C. . https://web.archive.org/web/20150123195803/http://www.trurocityfc.net/s/match-centre-83206/1-1016970/ . 23 January 2015 . dead .
  31. Web site: Dan's the man for Truro City as he scores crucial winner on home debut . 20 January 2015 . 23 January 2015 . Truro City F.C. . https://web.archive.org/web/20150123200226/http://www.trurocityfc.net/s/match-centre-83206/1-1194578/ . 23 January 2015 . dead .
  32. 879580102270623744. tafclambs. We are pleased to announce two new signings for this season and welcome Dan Sullivan and Adam Carter both from Bodmin town,@tavistocktimes . 27 June 2017.
  33. Web site: FOOTBALL: Peacocks make second signing ahead of Bishops Cleeve trip.
  34. Web site: Sully Stays a Peacock. 20 June 2020.
  35. Web site: SULLIVAN SIGNS FOR CITY. www.trurocityfc.net. 8 July 2022. 11 July 2022.