Darren McCauley (born 29 November 1991) is an Irish footballer, who plays for Essendon Royals in Australia.

Darren McCauley
Personal information
Full name Darren McCauley
Date of birth (1991-11-29) 29 November 1991 (age 32)
Place of birth Derry, Northern Ireland
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Position(s) Striker / Winger
Team information
Current team
Essendon Royals
Number 11
Youth career
2003–2007 Top of the Hill Celtic F.C.
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008–2010 Derry City 12 (2)
2010Celtic (loan) 0 (0)
2011–2012 Coleraine 17 (0)
2012Institute (loan) 11 (1)
2012–2014 Institute 55 (21)
2014–2018 Coleraine 146 (41)
2019 Inverness Caledonian Thistle 13 (2)
2019–2020 Derry City 13 (1)
2020– Essendon Royals 0 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 01:39, 6 October 2020 (UTC)

Club career edit

McCauley spent his youth career with local club Top of the Hill Celtic before joining the Derry City academy. He made his Derry City debut in 2009 aged 17. After numerous trials with cross channel clubs, Motherwell FC and Blackburn Rovers FC offered professional contracts but could not come to a compensation deal with Derry City who were going into financial liquidation at the time. He then joined Celtic FC in a loan deal. Upon his return from Celtic he signed back with Derry City and would go on to win the First Division. He then had spells with Irish League clubs Coleraine FC and Institute FC. At Coleraine he won the 2018 Irish Cup and scored the first European goal in 20 years against Spartak Subotica in the Europa League. In 2018 McCauley embraced teetotalism and experienced an improvement in his football career.[1] He signed for Scottish Championship club Inverness Caledonian Thistle in January 2019.[2] He scored on his 3rd appearance for Inverness, in a 2–1 loss to Partick Thistle.[citation needed] He signed again for Derry City before joining Australian side Essendon Royals in 2020.

International career edit

He was previously a member of the Northern Ireland Under-18 Schools' team that won the tri-nation Schools' tournament in Jersey in February 2009.[3]

He also captained the under 18 schoolboys to victory in the Carnegie Centenary Shield match against England in March 2009.[4]

McCauley was also a member of the Republic of Ireland Under 19 squad.[5]

Career Statistics edit

As of Match Played 24 February 2019

Appearances and Goals by Club, Season, League and Cup
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Derry City 2008–09 Premier Division 3 0 3 0
2009–10 9 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Celtic (Loan) 2010–11 Scottish Premier League 0 0 0 0
Coleraine 2011–12 IFA Premiership 14 0 17 0
Institute (Loan) 2011–12 IFA Championship 1 11 1 11 1
Institute 2012–13
2013–14 NIFL Championship 1
2014–15 NIFL Premiership 5 1 5 1
Institute Total 16+ 2+ 16+ 2+
Coleraine 2014–15 NIFL Premiership 15 1 0 0 15 1
2015–16 30 7 1 0 31 7
2016–17 36 8 0 0 36 8
2017–18 36 17 2 0 38 17
2018–19 23 7 2 0 4 1 28 8
Coleraine Total 140 40 2+ 0+ 7 1 148+ 41+
Inverness Caledonian Thistle 2018–19 Scottish Championship 7 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 9 1
Career Total 190+ 45+ 2+ 0+ 2+ 0+ 7+ 1+ 200+ 46+

References edit

  1. ^ "Yoga and being teetotal - McCauley challenges football's drinking taboo". BBC Sport. 4 January 2019. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  2. ^ "Darren McCauley: Winger signs for Inverness Caledonian Thistle from Coleraine". BBC Sport. 24 January 2019. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  3. ^ City Youths in U18 Success
  4. ^ Carnegie Centenary Shield: England 0-1 N. Ireland
  5. ^ Disappointment for Ireland as U19 campaign ends in defeat

External links edit