Jonathan Tuffey Explained

Jonathan Tuffey
Fullname:Jonathan Tuffey
Birth Date:20 January 1987
Birth Place:Banbridge, Northern Ireland
Height:1.83m (06feet)[1]
Currentclub:Crusaders
Clubnumber:33
Position:Goalkeeper
Years1:2003–2006
Clubs1:Coventry City
Caps1:0
Goals1:0
Years2:2006–2010
Clubs2:Partick Thistle
Caps2:110
Goals2:0
Years3:2010–2012
Caps3:8
Goals3:0
Years4:2012–2013
Clubs4:St Johnstone
Caps4:0
Goals4:0
Years5:2013–2015
Clubs5:Linfield
Caps5:64
Goals5:0
Years6:2015–2021
Clubs6:Glenavon
Caps6:195
Goals6:0
Years7:2021–
Clubs7:Crusaders
Caps7:123
Goals7:0
Nationalyears1:2003–2004
Nationalteam1:Northern Ireland U17
Nationalyears2:2004–2005
Nationalteam2:Northern Ireland U19
Nationalyears3:2006–2008
Nationalteam3:Northern Ireland U21
Nationalyears4:2008–2011
Nationalteam4:Northern Ireland
Nationalcaps1:8
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalcaps2:11
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalcaps3:13
Nationalgoals3:0
Nationalcaps4:8
Nationalgoals4:0
Manageryears1:2021–
Managerclubs1:Crusaders Strikers
Club-Update:1 June 2024
Ntupdate:17 November 2011

Jonathan Tuffey (born 20 January 1987[2] in Banbridge, Northern Ireland) is a Northern Irish footballer and manager who plays as a goalkeeper for NIFL Premiership side Crusaders and is manager of Women's Premiership side Crusaders Strikers. He has also appeared for the Northern Ireland national football team.

Tuffey started his career at Championship side Coventry City, however he failed to make a breakthrough into the first team. He then joined the then Scottish First Division team Partick Thistle in 2006, replacing the legendary Kenny Arthur. Following a successful four years at Firhill, Tuffey signed for SPL side Inverness Caley Thistle and then St Johnstone. Tuffey then returned to Northern Ireland to sign for Linfield, where he played for two years before transferring to Glenavon. On 31 January 2021, it was confirmed that Tuffey had signed on transfer deadline day for Crusaders.[3]

Club career

Tuffey started his career in 2003 at English club Coventry City, brought to the club by scout Willie McKeown. He progressed his way through the academy system with the Sky Blues but failed to make a first-team appearance.[4] Tuffey was third choice at Coventry but was a near ever-present for the reserves.

Tuffey signed for Scottish club Partick Thistle in May 2006.[5] He made his debut for Partick Thistle in September 2006 in a 2–1 win against Hamilton Academical.[6] In the very next game he conceded six goals in a 6–0 defeat to Gretna.[6] He would go on to make 14 more appearances and keeping four clean sheets.[6]

By the 2007–08 season, and with Thistle under new management, Tuffey had become Thistle's first-choice goalkeeper. In March 2008 he won the First Division player of the month award,[7] in a month in which Thistle were unbeaten, including a 1–1 draw away to Rangers.[8] He finished the 2007–08 season with 34 appearances.[9] During the 2008–09 season Tuffey started all 36 league games for Partick Thistle and kept 14 clean sheets.[10] He finished the 2009–10 season with 38 appearances.[11]

Tuffey turned down a new contract with Partick, signing with Inverness prior to the 2010–11 season. He struggled to become 1st choice during his time at ICT.

He left Inverness at the end of the 2011–12 season. His last game for the club was in a 2–0 win over Hibs, although he was an unused substitute.[12] He signed for St Johnstone shortly after leaving Inverness.

Having made only one appearance for St Johnstone, he was released in June 2013 and subsequently signed for Northern Irish side Linfield.[13]

Upon his release by Linfield, Tuffey joined fellow NIFL Premiership side Glenavon on a two-year deal. Tuffey made his official debut for the side in a Europa League qualifier in which Glenavon lost 3–0 away to FC Shakhtyor Soligorsk and lost subsequently 5–1 on aggregate.[14] Tuffey has since replaced James McGrath as Glenavon's first choice goalkeeper and won the Glenavon player of the month award for August 2015.[15] On 23 January 2021, Glenavon Manager Gary Hamilton told the club's website that Tuffey had turned down the offer of a new contract, stating, "He's looking for something else in his career, he's looking for a new challenge."[16]

On 31 January 2021, on transfer deadline day, Tuffey signed for Crusaders on a three-and-a-half-year contract.[17] On 7 May 2022 in the 2022 Irish Cup final, Tuffey assisted a last-minute equaliser for Josh Robinson to force extra-time, in which Crusaders scored a last-minute winner to win the trophy.[18]

International career

Under-21s

Tuffey received 13 caps and during 2007 and 2008 he featured as the captain of the Northern Ireland under-21 team on several occasions. On 1 June 2007, Northern Ireland earned a 1–0 in their opening European Championship qualifier in Moldova. He produced three saves before half-time to keep his team ahead.[19] [20]

Northern Ireland

Tuffey gained his first full cap on 19 November 2008 in a 2–0 defeat to Hungary. In gaining his first full international cap, Tuffey became the 28th player to be capped for his country while playing for Partick Thistle and became the sixth Partick Thistle player to be capped by a country other than Scotland,[21] and the first since Adrian Madaschi who played four times for Australia in the summer of 2004. After the game, he said "It was fantastic, it was something that I have dreamed about since I was a boy. It's been a long journey to get here but now that the cap has come I'm over the moon."[22]

He gained his second full cap and first start on 6 June 2009 in the 3–0 defeat to Italy. He produced a number of saves including a Giampaolo Pazzini penalty.[23]

His third cap came in the 1–1 friendly draw against Israel.[24] Tuffey came on at half time replacing Maik Taylor and keeping a clean sheet in the second half,[25] which included a block with his left leg in the 80th minute from a Roberto Collauti turn and shot.[26]

Tuffey started for Northern Ireland in an international friendly against Morocco on 17 November 2010 in which he kept a clean sheet in the first half before being replaced at half time. He then played in the 2011 Nations Cup match against Scotland on 9 February 2011, a 3–0 defeat for Northern Ireland.

Coaching career

Tuffey has been manager of Women's Premiership side Crusaders Strikers since August 2021, having previously served as goalkeeping coach.[27]

Career statistics

[6] [9] [10] [11]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueCupLeague CupContinentalOtherTotal
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Partick Thistle2006–071501000160
2007–082605030340
2008–093602030410
2009–1033010402[28] 0400
Total110090100201310
Inverness CT2010–1130202070
2011–1240301080
Total705030150
St Johnstone2012–130000100010
Linfield2013–1438010204[29] 0450
2014–15210000040250
Total590102080700
Glenavon2015–16370400010420
2016–173803000201[30] 0440
2017–18380200010410
2018–19380100010400
2019–2027000000020290
2020–21700000000070
Total18501000050302130
Crusaders2020–211403000170
2021–2235050101[31] 0420
Total49080100010590
Career total4100330170130604790

Honours

Glenavon

2015–16

Crusaders

2021–22, 2022–23

2022

Individual

Notes and References

  1. Web site: J. TUFFEY. Soccerway. 8 May 2022.
  2. Web site: 2008–2009 Squad Team Partick Thisle Football Club . Partick Thistle Football Club Ltd. . 22 November 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20071013120732/http://ptfc.co.uk/team/squad.asp?id=41 . 13 October 2007 .
  3. Web site: News Room.
  4. Web site: Sheridan replaces Moore at Latics . ESPNsoccernet . 10 March 2009 . 25 May 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110525212036/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=369893&&cc=5739 . dead .
  5. News: Partick Thistle Partick land Coventry goalkeeper . BBC Sport. 12 March 2009 . 30 May 2006.
  6. Web site: Jonathan Tuffey . Soccerbase . CENTURYCOMM LIMITED . 17 November 2018.
  7. News: Football My Club Partick Thistle Jags duo at the double for awards . BBC Sport Media. 22 November 2008 . 12 April 2008.
  8. News: Thomas McGuigan . Rangers 1–1 Partick Thistle. BBC Sport Media. 23 November 2008 . 19 March 2008.
  9. Web site: Jonathan Tuffey . Soccerbase . CENTURYCOMM LIMITED . 17 November 2018.
  10. Web site: Jonathan Tuffey . Soccerbase . CENTURYCOMM LIMITED . 17 November 2018.
  11. Web site: J. Tuffey . Soccerway . Perform Group . 17 November 2018.
  12. Web site: NI keep Jonathan Tuffey signs for Inverness. BBC Sport. 14 July 2010.,
  13. Web site: Linfield sign Northern Ireland keeper Jonathan Tuffey. BBC Sport. 20 June 2013.
  14. News: Irish Premiership side Glenavon have been knocked out of the Europa League 5–1 on aggregate by Shakhtyor Soligorsk of Belarus.. BBC Sport. 10 July 2015.
  15. Web site: Player of the Month – August. glenavonfc.com.
  16. Web site: EXCLUSIVE: Gary Hamilton talks to Glenavon Media.
  17. Web site: Irish Premiership: Crusaders sign goalkeeper Jonny Tuffey from Glenavon. BBC. 31 January 2021.
  18. Web site: Crusaders net dramatic winner in Samuel Gelston’s Whiskey Irish Cup Final. Irish Football Association. 8 May 2022.
  19. Web site: uefa.com — UEFA European U-21 C'ship — Fixtures & Results — Match Specific . UEFA.com . 10 March 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20081030081316/http://www.uefa.com/competitions/under21/fixturesresults/round%3D15084/match%3D300212/index.html . 30 October 2008 .
  20. News: NI Under-21s earn win in Moldova. BBC Sport Media. 10 March 2009. 1 June 2007.
  21. Web site: Fraser Wilson. Cap joy for Partick Thistle keeper Jonny Tuffey . Scottish Daily Record and Sunday Mail Ltd. . 29 November 2008 .
  22. Web site: News Pressbox Partick Thistle Football Club . Partick Thistle Football Club Ltd. . 20 November 2008 .
  23. News: Football International Italy 3–0 Northern Ireland. BBC Sport. 7 June 2009 . 6 June 2009.
  24. News: Football Internationals N Ireland 1–1 Israel. BBC Sport Media. 13 August 2009 . 12 August 2009.
  25. Web site: Another Cap for Jonny. Partick Thistle Football Club Ltd.. 13 August 2009. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20090817231732/http://www.ptfc.co.uk/news/2009-2010/august_2009/another_cap_for_jonny. 17 August 2009. dmy-all.
  26. Web site: In Pictures:Northern Ireland 1 Israel 1. belfasttelegraph.co.uk . 14 August 2009 .
  27. Web site: Women's Premiership: Jonathan Tuffey takes charge of Crusaders Strikers. BBC. 3 August 2021.
  28. Appearances in the Scottish Challenge Cup.
  29. Appearances in the UEFA Europa League.
  30. Appearances in the NIFL Charity Shield.
  31. Appearances in the County Antrim Shield.