Greg Halford
Halford Portsmouth -Jersey (2011)
Gregory " Greg" Halford ( born December 8, 1984 in Chelmsford ) is an English footballer. The versatile actor matured in the first division club Colchester United, becoming a promising talent. After two failed attempts in the Premier League the " throw- specialist" and four times the English U-20 national team has since the beginning of the 2012/13 season at second division Nottingham Forest under contract.
Sports career
The Career Start: Colchester United ( 2001-07 )
At the age of 16 years, Halford graduated in July 2001 from the youth team of Colchester United. A year later the first professional contract followed at the U 's as well late in the season 2002/ 03 the first competitive game in the third-tier Football League One. After this debut, which went out against Luton Town with a hearty 0:5 home defeat on April 21 2003, it nearly a year later in the 1:2 home defeat on 6 March 2004 against Hartlepool United scored the first goal. The 2004/05 season brought Halford ultimately the breakthrough to the regulars; he received at the end of the season the award for best young player and was selected in the Team of the Year Football League One. Another highlight was his participation in the Tournament of Toulon in the summer of 2005, in which he came to his first audition on 4 June 2005 for the English U -20 team against Portugal and two days later in a 3-0 win against South Korea its first results for England scored.
The 2005/06 season brought another big club hit when Halford rose with Colchester United in the second-class Football League Championship - at this level the club had not played before in its entire history. Halford went thus finally also in Erstligavereinen a name. Especially his capacity as " all-purpose ", which was capable of this task in several positions at a similar level to play them a special strength. Although his preferred role was the right of midfield, Colchester manager Geraint Williams made him more often accumulate at right-back. In addition, he played with the U 's in the center of midfield and at times even as a center forward; in last -mentioned role reach him six goals in nine games .. Also had his special ability as a throw specialist large role in ensuring that a significant proportion of goals resulted in the promotion season of interjections - Halford gave himself to the ball over the half of the pitch to be able to throw. As quite a few Premier League clubs were interested in signing - especially the Erstligaaufsteiger Sheffield United should have made a "great offer " - Halford asked in August 2006 to a transfer release and expressed openly the desire to play in the English top flight. Colchester United refused the request, from first left his 21 -year-old talent but then in the winter transfer window on 30 January 2007 at Reading FC draw. The transfer fee is said to have been at least 2.25 million pounds; the end of the contract period has been dated to June 2010.
The long road to the Premier League (since 2007)
On 17 March 2007 Halford acted for the first time for his new club and was a substitute in 0-0 draw against Portsmouth in the left midfield. The first mission from the start was followed on 1 April 2007 against Tottenham Hotspur, who was unhappy with a 0-1 defeat and loss caused by Halford, controversial penalty for hand ball. After just three appearances for FC Reading Halford signed in summer 2007 AFC Sunderland a new four-year contract. Especially the Roy Keane in charge there had cast a special eye on Halford and was ready for this 3.5 - million pound investment. Facilitating factor was that the Reading FC after a short time the Personnel Halford considered failed and had rated as the rest of the crew inappropriate.
In a friendly match against the fourth division FC Darlington Halford debuted on July 18, 2007 for the "Black Cats", the almost one month later the League debut came against Birmingham City in a 2-2 draw. However, the second attempt also failed at a Premier League club. Within a short time saw Halford in the service of Sunderland AFC twice the red card and came to the end in just eight league games for the course. Already in January 2008, Keane said the willingness to want to sell Halford; to an agreement but it was at first only on the loans business. It was the first recipient for the rest of the season 2007 /08 Charlton Athletic and in the subsequent season is second division rival Sheffield United secured the same for an entire year to no longer considered in Sunderland player.
In Sheffield Halford stood in the eleven of his new Leihvereins on the opening game against Birmingham City. He quickly established himself at the " Blades", shot two weeks after his debut the first goal in a 3-1 away win against FC Blackpool and reached the end of the regular season, the play-off games for promotion to the Premier League. There, he scored in the semi-final second leg against Preston North End 's only goal, and then stood in the endgame, which got lost against Burnley 0-1. Nevertheless, Halfords wish came true after a Premier League participation, as he against newly promoted Wolverhampton Wanderers signed a three-year contract on July 3, 2009, and there made his debut in the 0-2 home defeat against West Ham United on August 15, 2009.
On 11 July 2011 Greg Halford moved to Portsmouth FC and signed a three-year contract.
After the descent with Portsmouth from the Football League Championship 2011/12, he signed July 27, 2012 a contract with Nottingham Forest.