Darren Cole (born 3 January 1992) is a Scottish footballer who plays as a defender for Coleraine. He has previously played for Rangers, Partick Thistle, Greenock Morton, Livingston, Derry City and Glentoran.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 3 January 1992 | ||
| Place of birth | Edinburgh, Scotland | ||
| Height | 1.89 m (6 ft 2+1⁄2 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Defender | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Coleraine | ||
| Number | 20 | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2010–2013 | Rangers | 3 | (0) |
| 2012 | → Partick Thistle (loan) | 6 | (0) |
| 2013–2014 | Greenock Morton | 18 | (0) |
| 2015–2016 | Livingston | 28 | (0) |
| 2016–2017 | Broxburn Athletic | 28 | (1) |
| 2017–2021 | Derry City | 93 | (7) |
| 2021–2023 | Glentoran | 7 | (0) |
| 2022-2023 | → Dungannon Swifts (loan) | 2 | (0) |
| 2023- | Coleraine | 7 | (1) |
| International career | |||
| 2007–2008 | Scotland U16 | 6 | (0) |
| 2008–2009 | Scotland U17 | 13 | (0) |
| 2009–2010 | Scotland U19 | 7 | (0) |
| 2011 | Scotland U21 | 2 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 1 October 2023 | |||
Club career edit
Rangers edit
Cole signed a two-year contract extension with Rangers on 2 December 2010[1] and made his first-team debut five days later against Turkish side Bursaspor in Rangers' final 2010–11 UEFA Champions League group match, which ended 1–1.[2] Cole's performance was praised by manager Walter Smith.[3]
Cole did not feature in the Rangers first team under Ally McCoist during the 2011–12 season.[4] He was loaned to Partick Thistle in early January.[4]
Cole suffered ankle ligament damage in January 2013, which was expected to rule him out for the remainder of the 2012–13 season.[5] He did make an appearance in the final game of the season, against Berwick Rangers. Cole had his contract with Rangers terminated on 28 August 2013, after he failed to report for a reserve team friendly game with junior club Cambuslang Rangers.[6]
Greenock Morton edit
On 27 December 2013, Cole signed for Greenock Morton until the end of the season.[7] He left Morton in the summer of 2014 after just six months at the club.
Livingston edit
On 20 February 2015, Cole signed for Scottish Championship club Livingston until the end of the 2014–15 season. After impressing in his first season at Livingston, he not only won a new contract, but also was named captain for the season 2015–16.[8] Following the club's relegation to League One, Cole was released from his contract on 15 July 2016.[9]
Broxburn Athletic edit
In August 2016, Cole signed a one-year contract with Junior Super League club Broxburn Athletic. He was a regular in the team, appearing 28 times for the Albyn Park club, scoring one goal.
Cole's missed out on playing in the 2017 Fife and Lothians Cup Final against Tranent Juniors, as his side lost 1–0, at New Victoria Park, Newtongrange.[10]
Derry City edit
In June 2017 Cole signed a six-month contract with League of Ireland Premier Division club Derry City.[11] On the 16 September, Cole scored in the 2018 League of Ireland Cup Final in a 3–1 win over League of Ireland First Division side Cobh Ramblers.[12] He signed a new contract with the club in February 2019.[13]
Glentoran edit
Cole signed for Glentoran in December 2021.[14] The defender signed for Dungannon Swifts on loan in August 2022.[15]
International career edit
Cole has represented Scotland at various age levels.[16]
Career statistics edit
- As of 5 October 2021[17]
| Club | Season | League | National Cup[a] | League Cup[b] | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Rangers | 2010–11 | Scottish Premiership | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[c] | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | |
| 2011–12 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Partick Thistle (loan) | 2011–12 | Scottish Championship | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 6 | 0 | |||
| Rangers | 2012–13 | Scottish League Two | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0[d] | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2013–14 | Scottish League One | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 0[d] | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| Rangers Total | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | ||
| Greenock Morton | 2013–14 | Scottish Championship | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0[d] | 0 | 18 | 0 | |
| Livingston | 2014–15 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1[d] | 0 | 10 | 0 | ||
| 2015–16 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 3[e] | 0 | 25 | 0 | |||
| Livingston Total | 29 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 4 | 0 | 35 | 0 | |||
| Broxburn Athletic | 2016–17 | Scottish Junior Super League | 28 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 2[f] | 0 | 30 | 1 | ||
| Derry City | 2017 | League of Ireland Premier Division | 12 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 13 | 1 | |||
| 2018 | 32 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2[g] | 0 | — | 40 | 3 | |||
| 2019 | 25 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 28 | 3 | ||||
| 2020 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 1[g] | 0 | — | 11 | 1 | ||||
| 2021 | 14 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 15 | 0 | |||||
| Derry City Total | 92 | 7 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | 107 | 8 | |||
| Career Total | 176 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 201 | 9 | ||
- ^ Includes Scottish Cup & FAI Cup
- ^ Includes Scottish League Cup & League of Ireland Cup
- ^ Appearances in UEFA Champions League
- ^ a b c d Appearances in Scottish Challenge Cup
- ^ 2 appearances in Scottish Championship play-offs & 1 appearance in Scottish Challenge Cup
- ^ Appearances in Scottish Junior Cup
- ^ a b Appearances in UEFA Europa League
Honours edit
Rangers
Derry City
References edit
- ^ "Rangers starlets pen new two-year deals with Ibrox club". Daily Record. 2 December 2010.
- ^ "Bursaspor 1-1 Rangers". BBC Sport. 7 December 2010.
- ^ "Rangers manager Walter Smith hails young players". BBC Sport. BBC. 8 December 2010.
- ^ a b "Rangers defender Darren Cole starts Partick Thistle loan". BBC Sport. BBC. 2 January 2012. Retrieved 2 January 2012.
- ^ "Cole's Season Could be over". Archived from the original on 27 December 2013. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
- ^ "Decisions to be Made". Archived from the original on 30 August 2013. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
- ^ Mitchell, Jonathan (27 December 2013). "Morton make double signing". Greenock Telegraph. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
- ^ "Darren Cole joins Livi". Livingston F.C. 20 February 2015. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
- ^ "Cole contract terminated". Livingston F.C. 15 July 2016.
- ^ "Broxburn Ath v Tranent Conservatory Convertors Fife & Lothians Cup Final". Broxburnathletic.co.uk.
- ^ "Derry City announce signings of Toal, McIntyre and Cole". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
- ^ "EA Sports Cup Final Report: Derry City 3 - 1 Cobh Ramblers".
- ^ Keenan, Shaun (5 February 2019). "Darren Cole returns to Derry City as two new faces arrive". Derry Daily. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
- ^ "A Cole, Cole Christmas at the Oval".
- ^ "NEW SIGNING - Defender Cole Signs". Dungannon Swifts FC. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
- ^ "Darren Cole". scottishfa.co.uk. Scottish Football Association. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
- ^ "D. Cole". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
External links edit
- Darren Cole at Soccerbase
