George Friend
George Friend (born 19 October 1987 Barnstaple ) is an English footballer. The left-back, who can also be used in the midfield or in central defense, was trained at the lower class Exeter City, was significantly involved in the promotion to the Football League Two and has since the beginning of the 2012/13 season at FC Middlesbrough under contract.
Sports career
Born in the county of Devon George Friend began his career in the youth department of Exeter City, a traditional English club, which played at this time outside of professional football, the Football League. In March 2006, he signed his first contract there, having previously at the beginning of the season 2005/ 06 in Tiverton Town - had made first experience at senior level - also a unterklassigen Club in Devon. On 17 April 2006, he debuted in the goalless draw against Exeter City Forest Green Rovers in the Football Conference.
Before his career by starting in the 2007 / 08, he underwent further Leihphasen at Team Bath in December 2006 and at Folkestone Invicta. In the " Grecians " in Exeter left defense Friend was one of the key players in the team, who managed to return to the professional game operation of the Football League the season end with a 1-0 play-off final win against Cambridge United at Wembley. A name Friend made in the fifth highest English league for his heading ability, good crosses and the technical skills, but also occasionally led him to a phlegmatic style of play.
Friend graduated four championship matches for Exeter City at the beginning of the 2008/09 season, before moving to second division club Wolverhampton Wanderers on 1 September 2008. He had already been standing for a long period in the " Wolves " under observation and the positive judgment of Andrew Cassidy from the scouting department led coach Mick McCarthy to the young player with a two-year contract - plus an option for another year - equip. As a transfer fee, an amount of pounds 350,000 was negotiated, with a performance-based increase to 500,000 pounds possible.
The breakthrough into the first team of the Wolves remained Friend nor denied in the promotion season of 2008/ 09. He stood in seven competitive games on the field and at the beginning of the season 2009/10, let him go in succession for one month each to the two third division side FC Millwall and Southend United and later to the second division side Scunthorpe United, the club's management. With the exception of a "surprise appearance " at Manchester United, as manager McCarthy 's most powerful team spared, Friendster ran for the Wolves in any other game longer. Instead, he helped his former club Exeter City, which had now risen to the third tier, in March 2010 in a relegation battle and organized this successful. At the beginning of the season 2010/11 Friend signed then the second division Doncaster Rovers a new two-year contract.