Gavin Worboys Explained

Gavin Worboys
Fullname:Gavin Anthony Worboys
Birth Date:14 July 1974
Birth Place:Doncaster, England
Height:[1]
Position:Forward
Youthyears1:
Youthclubs1:Doncaster Rovers
Years1:1991–1992
Caps1:7
Goals1:2
Years2:1992–1994
Caps2:0
Goals2:0
Years3:1993–1994
Clubs3:Exeter City (loan)
Caps3:4
Goals3:1
Years4:1994–1996
Clubs4:Darlington
Caps4:41
Goals4:8
Years5:1996
Caps5:13
Goals5:1
Years6:1996–1997
Years7:
Clubs7:Bradford Park Avenue
Years8:
Clubs8:Hatfield Main
Years9:
Clubs9:Armthorpe Welfare
Years10:199?–2001
Clubs10:Eastwood Town
Years11:2001–20??
Clubs11:Hucknall Town

Gavin Anthony Worboys (born 14 July 1974) is an English former footballer who scored 12 goals from 65 appearances in the Football League playing as a forward for Doncaster Rovers, Exeter City, Darlington and Northampton Town. He was on the books of Notts County, without playing for them in the League, and went on to play non-league football for clubs including Bradford Park Avenue, Hatfield Main, Armthorpe Welfare, Eastwood Town and Hucknall Town.[2] [3]

Career

Professional

Worboys was born in Doncaster,[3] and began his football career with Doncaster Rovers. He made his debut on 8 February 1992 in a 2–1 home defeat to Cardiff City in the Fourth Division, and after seven appearances and two goals[2]  – in a 3–2 win against Scunthorpe United[4] and a 2–0 victory over Rochdale[5]  – the 17-year-old Worboys signed for Notts County, about to be relegated from the First Division, for a fee of £100,000.[1] [6] He never played first-team football for Notts County. He spent time on loan at Division Two club Exeter City[7] before dropping down a division to sign for Darlington in late 1994. He appeared more regularly for Darlington, with 8 league goals from 41 matches over 14 months with the club, although towards the end of that time his appearances were more often from the substitutes' bench.[8] Against Cardiff City in September 1995, he took over in goal after Mike Pollitt was sent off and Darlington had no goalkeeper on the bench; he could not stop the resulting penalty, but that was the only goal he did concede.[9] His Football League career ended at Northampton Town, with whom he spent the last few months of the 1995–96 season, taking his totals to 12 goals from 65 matches.[1] He was still only 21.

Non-league

He continued playing in non-league football with clubs including Gainsborough Trinity, Bradford Park Avenue, Hatfield Main, Armthorpe Welfare[2] and Eastwood Town. In the 1997–98 season, he and strike partner Glenn Kirkwood produced 35 goals between them in the Northern Premier League First Division.[10] In 1999–2000, he helped the club reach the first round proper of the FA Cup for the first time in their history, in which they faced his former club Exeter City,[11] and scored 24 goals over the season.[12] He also found himself in goal again, in September 1999, this time replacing an injured goalkeeper at half-time with his team 1–0 down to Accrington Stanley. He let in just one goal, from a free kick awarded when he handled the ball outside the penalty area, and his teammates scored twice to secure a draw.[13] He joined South Yorkshire Police during the 2000 close season,[14] and although his job did not prevent his continuing to play for Eastwood, it did impact on his availability.[15] In August 2001, he signed for Hucknall Town.[16]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Gavin Worboys . Soccerbase . Centurycomm . 16 September 2015.
  2. Web site: Gavin Worboys . doncasterrovers.co.uk . Forward Productions . 8 May 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304202358/http://www.doncasterrovers.co.uk/players/UtoW/Worboys,Gavin.htm . 4 March 2016.
  3. Web site: Gavin Worboys . Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Players Database . Neil Brown . 8 May 2014.
  4. News: Football results, teams and tables . The Observer . London . 12 April 1992 . 47.
  5. News: Results . The Guardian . London . 21 April 1992 . 16.
  6. News: Sport in Short: Football . The Independent . London . 2 May 1992 . 55.
  7. News: Sport: On the Move – Transfers . The Independent . London . 12 December 1993 . 15 September 2015.
  8. Book: Tweddle, Frank . The Definitive Darlington F.C. . SoccerData . Nottingham . 2000 . 91–92 . 978-1-899468-15-7.
  9. News: Ten-man Quakers count cost . The Journal . Newcastle . 4 December 1995 . 17.
  10. News: Sport: Football . Nottingham Evening Post . 2 May 1998 . 19.
  11. News: Worboys: We can shock City . Express & Echo . Exeter . 29 October 1999 . 44.
  12. News: James . Reece . Duo's race for the Conference . Nottingham Evening Post . 16 May 2000.
  13. News: Non-league soccer: Accrington 2, Eastwood 2 . Lancashire Telegraph . 13 September 1999 . 15 September 2015.
  14. News: Chambers delighted after opening win . Nottingham Evening Post . 26 August 2000 . 24.
  15. News: Injury to Smith hits Chambers . Nottingham Evening Post . 21 August 2000 . The huge blow was softened by a call from Gavin Worboys saying he was free of constabulary duties today and would play, if needed, against Gretna..
  16. News: Local teams set off on Cup quest . Nottingham Evening Post . 31 August 2001 . 52.