Richard Eckersley (footballer)

Richard Eckersley
Personal information
Full name Richard Jon Eckersley
Date of birth (1989-03-12) 12 March 1989
Place of birth Worsley, England[1]
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Playing position Full-back
Club information
Current team
Oldham Athletic
Number 24
Youth career
2005–2007 Manchester United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007–2009 Manchester United 2 (0)
2009–2012 Burnley 0 (0)
2010Plymouth Argyle (loan) 7 (0)
2010–2011Bradford City (loan) 12 (0)
2011Bury (loan) 3 (0)
2011Toronto FC (loan) 23 (0)
2012–2013 Toronto FC 49 (0)
2014 New York Red Bulls 9 (0)
2015–2016 Oldham Athletic 4 (0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22:34, 19 September 2015 (UTC).

† Appearances (goals)

Richard Jon Eckersley (born 12 March 1989) is an English footballer who plays as a full-back for Oldham Athletic.

Born in Worsley, Salford, Greater Manchester, Eckersley began his career with Manchester United before signing a four-year contract with Burnley in July 2009. After joining Burnley, he spent loan spells with Plymouth Argyle, Bradford City and Bury. He went on loan to Toronto FC in 2011 before making a permanent transfer to the club the following season.

Career

Manchester United

Eckersley made his first appearance for Manchester United in February 2004, when he played for the under-17 side as a 14-year-old against Manchester City. He joined the club as a trainee in July 2005, and started playing for the under-18s soon after. However, a long-term injury kept him out of contention for almost eight months, and he only made three appearances in the 2005–06 season. In 2006–07, he established himself as a regular in the under-18 side, making 25 appearances in all competitions. He also made his first appearance for the reserve team on 15 February 2007, when he played in a goalless draw away to Bolton Wanderers. On 8 May 2007, he was named at right back for the final of the Manchester Senior Cup against Manchester City; the team lost the match 3–1.

The following season saw Eckersley emerge as a regular reserve team player, making 23 appearances in all competitions as the team reached the final of the Lancashire Senior Cup and the final of the Manchester Senior Cup for the second year in a row. Eckersley played in both matches, and finally got his hands on a Manchester Senior Cup winners' medal at the second time of asking. He also got his first taste of first team football in December 2007, when he was named as an unused substitute for United's dead rubber Champions League group stage match against Roma.[2]

He continued in the reserve team in 2008–09, and was also named on the bench for the first team's 3–1 League Cup third round win over Middlesbrough.[3] He made his first team debut in an FA Cup fixture at home to Tottenham Hotspur on 24 January 2009, coming on as a 53rd-minute substitute for fellow debutant Fábio da Silva.[4] His league debut came three days later, on 27 January 2009, when he came on as a 71st-minute substitute for Gary Neville in a 5–0 win over West Bromwich Albion.[5] On 1 March 2009, Eckersley was named on the substitutes bench for the League Cup Final which United won 4–1 on penalties, this gave Eckersley the first medal of his career.

Burnley

On 15 July 2009, Eckersley signed a four-year contract with Premier League newcomers Burnley. Although Eckersley had refused the offer of a new contract with Manchester United, as he was under the age of 24, his old club was entitled to compensation from Burnley.[6] Eckersley made his Burnley debut in the 2009–10 Football League Cup, playing in the club's second round match against Hartlepool United. Although Eckersley was sent off in the tenth minute of extra time, Burnley went on to win the match 2–1.[7]

On 5 March 2010, Eckersley joined Plymouth Argyle on a one-month loan deal as cover for the injured Réda Johnson.[8][9] The move also allows Eckersley much-needed match experience, having made just three cup appearances for Burnley since joining from Manchester United.[10] On 1 April 2010, the loan was extended until the end of the season.[11]

In November 2010, he had another loan spell, this time with League Two side Bradford City. His loan spell was extended for another month, before he returned after playing 13 games.[12]

In March 2011, he joined Bury on yet another loan spell, until the end of the season, and was given the number 27 shirt.[13]

Toronto FC

It was announced on 15 April that he would be moving to Major League Soccer side Toronto FC on loan until January 2012.[14] The move found the defender again paired with Toronto's current Director of Player Development Paul Mariner, who served as Plymouth's manager during the defender's stint with the club. Eckersley made his debut for Toronto on 23 April 2011 in a 1–1 home draw against Columbus Crew as a second half sub for Javier Martina.[15] Due to the season-ending injury to Adrian Cann and long term injury of Dicoy Williams, Coach Aron Winter was forced to use Eckerley in the centre of defence in early July and was extremely impressive in two consecutive victories over Vancouver Whitecaps FC.[16] In his first season at the club Eckersley helped Toronto win the 2011 Canadian Championship, starting both legs of the final against Vancouver Whitecaps FC, winning 3-2 on aggregate.

On 25 January 2012, Burnley announced the cancellation of Eckersley's contract by mutual consent, allowing him to make a permanent move to Toronto FC.[17] Toronto FC announced his permanent move to the club on 26 January 2012.[18] In that season, Eckersley helped Toronto to another Canadian Championship. Eckersley injured his hamstring against FC Dallas, on 6 April 2013 while celebrating a late goal by teammate Darrell Russell, in the 90th minute, that tied the game.[19] After missing nine games with the club as a result of the injury, the club stated on 29 May 2013 that the fullback had re-torn the muscle in training, and his return would be delayed.[20] As a result of these injuries he was limited to only 16 league appearances in 2013.

New York Red Bulls

On 27 January 2014, Toronto FC traded Eckersley to New York Red Bulls in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft.[21] After starting the first few games of the season Eckersley lost his place due to injury, but by season's end he reclaimed his starting role and helped the club qualify for the playoffs.[22]

On 2 December 2014, New York announced that it would not exercise its 2015 contract option on Eckersley.[23]

Oldham Athletic

Eckersley signed with Oldham Athletic of English League One on 18 September 2015.[24]

Personal

He is the younger brother of footballer Adam Eckersley.

Career statistics

As of 6 April 2013.

Sources:[25][26][27][28][29][30][30][31]

Club performance League Cup League Cup Continental Other Total
ClubSeasonDivision AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Manchester United 2008–09 Premier League 202000000040
Burnley 2009–10 00102030
2010–11 Championship 00001010
2011–12 00000000
Total 00103040
Plymouth Argyle (loan) 2009–10 Championship 70000070
Bradford City (loan) 2010–11 League Two 1200000120
Bury (loan) 2010–11 League One 30000030
Toronto FC (loan) 2011 Major League Soccer 2304070340
Toronto FC 2012 330306000420
2013 160000000160
Total 7207013000920
New York Red Bulls 2014 Major League Soccer 9000503000170
Career total 105010080160001390

Honours

Club

Manchester United
Toronto FC

Individual

References

  1. Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2010). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2010–2011 (41st ed.). London: Headline. ISBN 978-0-7553-6107-6.
  2. Stevenson, Jonathan (12 December 2007). "Roma 1–1 Man Utd". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). Retrieved 18 January 2009.
  3. "Man Utd 3–1 Middlesbrough". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 23 September 2008. Retrieved 18 January 2009.
  4. Hughes, Ian (24 January 2009). "Man Utd 2–1 Tottenham". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). Retrieved 24 January 2009.
  5. McNulty, Phil (27 January 2009). "West Brom 0–5 Man Utd". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). Retrieved 28 January 2009.
  6. Hibbs, Ben (15 July 2009). "Eckersley joins Burnley". ManUtd.com (Manchester United). Retrieved 15 July 2009.
  7. "Hartlepool 1–2 Burnley". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 25 August 2009. Retrieved 25 August 2009.
  8. "Plymouth Argyle to sign Burnley's Richard Eckersely [sic]". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 5 March 2010. Retrieved 5 March 2010.
  9. "Eckersley Set To Sign". pafc.co.uk (Plymouth Argyle FC). 5 March 2010. Retrieved 5 March 2010.
  10. "Eckersley's Set To Be A Pilgrim". burnleyfootballclub.com (Burnley FC). 5 March 2010. Retrieved 5 March 2010.
  11. "Eckersley Extended". pafc.co.uk (Plymouth Argyle FC). 1 April 2010. Retrieved 2 April 2010.
  12. "Loan duo leave the Bantams". Bradford City A.F.C. 7 February 2011. Retrieved 7 February 2011.
  13. "Defender joins from Burnley". buryfc.co.uk (Bury FC). 14 March 2011. Retrieved 14 March 2011.
  14. "Toronto take Eckersley". SkySports (SkySports). 15 April 2011. Retrieved 15 April 2011.
  15. "10-Man Reds in Controversial Draw Crew". 23 April 2011. Retrieved 18 May 2011.
  16. "New Centre of Attention". 6 July 2011. Retrieved 9 July 2011.
  17. Archived 28 January 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  18. "Reds Make Eckersley Move Permanent". Torontofc.ca. 26 January 2012. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  19. "Toronto FC’s Richard Eckersley tells the Sun: We’re panicking | LarSun on the Reds". Blogs.canoe.ca. 2013-06-13. Retrieved 2014-06-02.
  20. "Toronto FC: Koevermans comeback iffy, Eckersley reinjured". The Star (Toronto).
  21. "Red Bulls Acquire Defender Richard Eckersley from Toronto FC". New York Red Bulls (Major League Soccer). 27 January 2014. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
  22. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/07/sports/soccer/red-bulls-defense-raises-its-game.html?ref=soccer&_r=0
  23. http://www.newyorkredbulls.com/news/2014/12/red-bulls-announce-contract-options-not-being-exercised-2015-season
  24. http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/34290787
  25. "Manchester United 2008/2009 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  26. "Burnley 2009/2010 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  27. "Burnley 2010/2011 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  28. "Bradford 2010/2011 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  29. "Bury 2010/2011 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  30. 1 2 "Toronto 2011 player appearances". MLS. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  31. "Plymouth 2010/2011 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 31 August 2011.

External links

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