Emmet Friars Explained

Emmet Friars
Birth Date:14 September 1985
Birth Place:Derry, Northern Ireland
Height:1.83 m
Position:Left-back
Youthyears1:2004–2005
Youthclubs1:Notts County
Years1:2005–2006
Clubs1:Notts County
Caps1:14
Goals1:1
Years2:2005
Clubs2:AFC Telford United (loan)
Years3:2006–2007
Clubs3:Tamworth
Caps3:21
Goals3:0
Years4:2006–2007
Clubs4:Hinckley United (loan)
Caps4:4
Goals4:0
Years5:2007–2010
Clubs5:Newry City
Caps5:107
Goals5:16
Years6:2010–2011
Clubs6:Derry City
Caps6:34
Goals6:3
Years7:2011–2013
Clubs7:Dungannon Swifts
Caps7:44
Goals7:5
Years8:2013–2014
Clubs8:Portadown
Caps8:31
Goals8:1
Years9:2014–2015
Clubs9:Crusaders
Caps9:6
Goals9:0
Years10:2015–2016
Clubs10:Ballinamallard United
Caps10:34
Goals10:1
Years11:2016–2017
Clubs11:Ards
Caps11:32
Goals11:5
Years12:2017–2018
Clubs12:Ballymena United
Caps12:8
Goals12:2
Years13:2018–2021
Clubs13:Limavady United
Caps13:20
Goals13:3
Totalcaps:355
Totalgoals:37
Nationalyears1:2004–2006
Nationalteam1:Northern Ireland U21
Nationalcaps1:7
Nationalgoals1:0
Manageryears1:2023–2024
Managerclubs1:Dergview

Emmet Friars (born 14 September 1985) is a Northern Irish football manager and former player.

Club career

Notts County

Emmet began his career as a trainee with Notts County, but failed to establish himself in the first team. He made 14 appearances and scored one goal whilst at the club, but was released at the end of the 2005–06 season.

He spent the start of the 2005–06 season playing on loan for non-league team AFC Telford United in the Northern Premier League Premier Division.

On 23 December 2006, Friars was sent out on loan to Hinckley United for the remainder of the 2006–07 season.

In May 2007, Tamworth general manager Russell Moore confirmed that Friars would not be with the club for the 2007–08 season, and that the former Notts County defender had returned to Northern Ireland.

Newry City

Friars trained with Belfast team Cliftonville, where his brother Sean was then playing, but was not offered a contract.

He then joined Newry City.[1] who Sean was signed for at the time. Friars became a vital part of the Newry team and quickly established himself in team as starting left-back. He was Newry City's Player of the Year for the season 2007–08. For the 2008–09 season, Friars switched to the centre-back role, becoming a defensive rock. He also became club captain for a short while following the departure of Richard Clarke. While at Newry City, Emmet was a firm favourite with the fans.

Derry City

In February 2010, Friars signed with hometown club Derry City,[2] a team he had been linked with several times, and won the League of Ireland First Division title that season.

Dungannon Swifts

On 3 January 2012, Emmet moved on to join Dungannon Swifts, the same day that his brother Sean Friars joined the club.

Portadown

On 1 May 2013, Portadown announced they had signed Friars.[3] His contract was terminated by mutual consent on 2 September 2014.

Crusaders

Just hours after his release from Portadown, he signed for Crusaders and made his debut on 13 September against old club Dungannon Swifts.[4]

Ballinamallard

On 29 July 2015, it was announced that Friars would join Ballinamallard United on loan until the end of the season. After Friars was obliged to miss Ballinamallard's first encounter against his parent club on 15 August, and before the closure of the registration window on 2 September, Friars transferred to Ballinamallard permanently.

Ards

In the summer of 2016, it was announced that Friars would be joining Niall Currie's Ards.

International career

Friars won seven caps for Northern Ireland Under-21s between 2004 and 2006.[5]

Notes and References

  1. http://www.newsletter.co.uk/sport?articleid=3032963 Martin to join Reds
  2. Web site: Barry Molloy and Emmett Friars sign up for Derry City. 6 February 2010. 1 February 2010. BBC Sport.
  3. News: Defender Friars moves to Portadown . BBC Sport . 1 July 2021.
  4. News: Defender Friars joins Crusaders . BBC Sport . 1 July 2021.
  5. Northern Ireland Soccer Yearbook 2011/2012, page 129