Sean Gregan
 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Sean Matthew Gregan | ||
| Date of birth | 29 March 1974 | ||
| Place of birth | Guisborough, England | ||
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||
| Playing position | Centre back | ||
| Club information | |||
Current team | Darlington 1883 (player-coach) | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1991–1996 | Darlington | 134 | (4) |
| 1997–2002 | Preston North End | 218 | (12) |
| 2002–2004 | West Bromwich Albion | 79 | (2) |
| 2004–2007 | Leeds United | 64 | (0) |
| 2006–2007 | → Oldham Athletic (loan) | 9 | (0) |
| 2007–2011 | Oldham Athletic | 120 | (1) |
| 2010–2011 | → Fleetwood Town (loan) | 7 | (0) |
| 2011 | Fleetwood Town | 21 | (0) |
| 2011–2012 | Kendal Town | 2 | (0) |
| 2012 | Darlington | 0 | (0) |
| 2012– | Darlington 1883 | 0 | (0) |
|
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 30 June 2012. | |||
Sean Matthew Gregan (born 29 March 1974) is an English professional footballer who is plays as a central defender for Northern Football League side Darlington 1883, where he is also their defensive coach.[1]
He played in the Premier League for West Bromwich Albion, and in the Football League with Preston North End and Darlington where he clocked up nearly 350 league appearances combined for both clubs. He also played in the Football League with Leeds United and Oldham Athletic before moving into Non-league football with both Fleetwood Town and Kendal Town.
Club career
Early career
Gregan started his career with Darlington where he played for five years before joining Preston North End. He captained Preston to the then Nationwide Division 2 (now League One) title. He was signed by Gary Peters on 29 November 1996 for £350,000. While at Preston he played 255 games, scoring 15 goals, and was twice named as the club's official player of the year. Preston's fans nicknamed him 'God' because of his 'no-nonsense' defending and his influence on the players, fans and staff at the club.
West Bromwich Albion
Gregan joined West Bromwich Albion in August 2002, for a fee of £2 million.[2] Pundit Rodney Marsh thought the signing uninspired, and famously commented that it was "like putting lipstick on a pig".[3] Gregan made his Albion debut against Manchester United at Old Trafford on 17 August 2002. He scored his first goal for the club in a 1–0 Hawthorns win over Southampton on 14 September 2002, after Saints goalkeeper Paul Jones failed to hold on to Gregan's 40-yard shot.[4] Despite being a regular in the side, Gregan was unable to prevent the club's relegation from the Premiership. In 2003–04 however, he was instrumental in captaining the side to promotion back to the Premier League at the first attempt, before joining Leeds United in September 2004.[5]
Leeds United
Gregan had a mixed stint at Leeds, with some inconsistent performances in his favoured midfield position, however he also commanded some excellent displays at centre-back, with a 'no-nonsense' approach' with which he was familiar from his time at West Brom.
Oldham Athletic
His lack of first team football in the 2006–07 season due to the good form of other defenders Matthew Kilgallon, Paul Butler and Matt Heath saw Gregan sent on a two-month loan on 3 January 2007 to League One outfit, Oldham Athletic.[6] He scored on his debut in the FA Cup against Kettering.[7] Gregan was released by Leeds United at the end of the season.
After this successful loan spell, Gregan signed a two-and-a-half-year contract at Oldham Athletic, having been released by Leeds. His performance in Oldham's 3–0 win at Walsall on 22 September 2007 earned him a place in the League One Team of the Week.[8]
He was released by Oldham manager Dave Penney after being deemed surplus to requirements on 12 May 2009. However, Penney had a change of heart after being impressed with the player's attitude and fitness levels, and he was soon brought back to the club on a one-year deal. He was later made captain of the side and remained a key feature in defence alongside Reuben Hazell.[9]
In 2013 he reflected on his time at Oldham declaring it "the best years of life".[10]
Fleetwood Town
In October 2010, it was announced by the club that they would let Gregan leave, after he was unable to force his way into the team following an injury at the beginning of the season.[11] On 19 October he joined Fleetwood Town on a three-month loan.[12] It was announced on 6 January 2011 that he had left Oldham after 143 first team appearances[13] and signed permanently for Fleetwood.[14] Gregan played his last game for Fleetwood in the 6–1 loss at Kingsmeadow on 11 May 2011. He was substituted at half-time.[15] He was not offered a new contract at the end of the season and was released, along with a number of other players.[16]
Kendal Town
Gregan signed in the summer of 2011 for Kendal Town; however, his season was cut short by an Achilles tendon injury in his second appearance for the club on 21 August 2011.[17]
Coaching career
Gregan returned to Darlington as a player/coach on 4 June 2012.[18] On 25 June, however, his registration was changed to Darlington 1883 following the liquidation of Darlington Football Club.[19]
Honours
Individual
- Football League Second Division PFA Team of the Year (2): 1998-99, 1999-2000
- Preston North End Player of the Year (2): 1997, 2000
References
- ↑ "Six sign for Quakers". NonLeagueDaily.com. Retrieved 5 June 2012.
- ↑ "West Brom land Gregan". BBC Sport. 3 August 2002. Retrieved 23 April 2007.
- ↑ "Duff magic seals Rovers victory". Lancashire Evening Telegraph. 1 October 2002. Retrieved 15 May 2007.
- ↑ "Jones' gift to Baggies". BBC Sport. 14 September 2002. Retrieved 3 August 2007.
- ↑ "Gregan seals Leeds move". BBC Sport. 16 September 2004. Retrieved 23 April 2007.
- ↑ LeedsUnited.com (8 November 2006). Greges joins Latics LeedsUnited.com (accessed 9 November 2006)
- ↑ "Kettering 3–4 Oldham". BBC. 11 November 2006. Retrieved 12 January 2010.
- ↑ "Coca-Cola League 1 Team of the Week (24/09/2007)" (pdf). The Football League. 24 September 2007. Retrieved 9 October 2007.
- ↑ New deal
- ↑
- ↑ "Paul Dickov says Sean Gregan can leave Oldham Athletic". BBC. 11 October 2010. Retrieved 11 October 2010.
- ↑ "Gregan leaves on loan". Oldham Athletic. 19 October 2010. Retrieved 19 October 2010.
- ↑ "Gregan leaves Latics". 6 January 2011. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
- ↑ http://www.fleetwoodtownfc.com/home.php
- ↑ http://www.football.co.uk/match_reports/afc_wimbledon_fleetwood_3397321-9.shtml
- ↑ "Town players not offered new contracts". Fleetwood Town FC. 13 May 2011. Retrieved 30 May 2011.
- ↑ http://www.kendaltown.com/page/players.cfm
- ↑ Stoddart, Craig. "Darlington make six new signings". Northern Echo. Retrieved 6 June 2012.
- ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18582393
