Darren Brian Salton (born 16 March 1972 in Edinburgh) is a Scottish former under-21 international footballer, whose career was cut short by injuries suffered in a car accident.

Darren Salton
Personal information
Full name Darren Brian Salton
Date of birth (1972-03-16) 16 March 1972 (age 52)
Place of birth Edinburgh, Scotland
Position(s) Central Defender
Youth career
1988–1989 Luton Town
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1989–1993 Luton Town 18 (0)
International career
1992 Scotland U-21 7 (0)
Managerial career
2004–2007 Hitchin Town
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Playing career

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Darren Salton joined Luton Town as a trainee in 1988, along with a friend from Edinburgh, Paul Telfer. Salton signed professionally in March 1989, and made his league debut at Elland Road against Leeds United on 29 February 1992 in the Football League First Division. However, Luton were relegated at the end of that season and were denied a place in the new FA Premier League.[1]

Salton became a first-team regular in the early part of the 1992–93 season, starting 15 of Luton's first 17 league games that season. He was also capped six times by Scotland under-21, but his promising career came to an abrupt end when he and Telfer were involved in a car crash on 27 November 1992.[2] Although Telfer, the vehicle's driver, suffered only minor injuries, a woman died in the collision and Salton was severely injured;[3] the wounds to his leg ensured that he never played professional football again. He announced his retirement during the 1993–94 season.[1][4]

Non-playing career

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Salton still lives in the Luton area, and was manager of Southern League side Hitchin Town from December 2004 until November 2007.[5] After a spell as assistant manager at Hemel Hempstead, he became assistant manager at Slough Town in March 2009.[1][6]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Wash, Roger (2008). Hatters Heroes. Roger Wash. ISBN 978-0-9560832-0-3.
  2. ^ Rollin, Jack (1993). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1993–94. p. 14. ISBN 0-7472-7895-4.
  3. ^ "Young Scotland football player fights for life". The Herald. Glasgow. 28 November 1992. Retrieved 2 November 2018.
  4. ^ Spillius, Alex (5 December 1992). "Liverpool denied a second chance". The Independent. London. Retrieved 11 May 2009.
  5. ^ "A brief history of Hitchin Town Football Club". Hitchin Town F.C. Archived from the original on 16 June 2009. Retrieved 21 May 2009.
  6. ^ "Darren Salton". Slough Town F.C. Archived from the original on 4 June 2009. Retrieved 21 May 2009.
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