Aidan Downes
{{short description|Irish professional footballer|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2023}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Aidan Downes
| image =
| fullname =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1988|7|24|df=y}}
| birth_place = Dublin, Ireland
| height =
| position = Winger/Striker
| currentclub = Mornington SC
| clubnumber =
| youthyears1 = –2005 | youthclubs1 = Tolka Rovers
| years1 = 2005–2008 | clubs1 = Everton | caps1 = 0 | goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2008 | clubs2 = → Yeovil Town (loan) | caps2 = 5 | goals2 = 1
| years3 = 2008–2010 | clubs3 = Yeovil Town | caps3 = 29 | goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2010 | clubs4 = Shamrock Rovers | caps4 = 0 | goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2011 | clubs5 = Bohemians | caps5 = 13 | goals5 = 2
| years6 = 2014– | clubs6 = Mornington | caps6 = 0 | goals6 = 0
| nationalyears1 = 2007
| nationalteam1 = Republic of Ireland U21
| nationalcaps1 = 3
| nationalgoals1 = 1
}}
Aidan Downes (born 24 July 1988) is an Irish professional footballer who plays for Mornington SC, a club based in Melbourne, Australia.
Career
=Everton=
Downes joined Everton's Academy in 2005 from Tolka Rovers in his native Ireland. Everton paid Tolka £90,000 compensation to secure the signature of the youngster.
Aidan quickly progressed through the youth set-up at Everton until an injury suffered at the end of the 2005/2006 season slowed him down.
In the latter part of the season, Downes linked up with Yeovil on loan, scoring his first senior goal at Swansea. Everton released the striker at the end of the season.{{Cite web |url=http://www.evertonfc.com/news/archive/nine-youngsters-depart.html |title=Nine Youngsters released |access-date=19 May 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120210075924/http://www.evertonfc.com/news/archive/nine-youngsters-depart.html |archive-date=10 February 2012 |url-status=dead }}
=Yeovil Town=
After spending a spell on loan at League One side Yeovil Town, for whom he made his debut in the Football League, he was released by Everton at the end of the 2007–08 season.{{Cite web
|url=http://www.evertonfc.com/player-profile/aidan-downes |title=Squad profiles: Aidan Downes |publisher=Everton F.C. |accessdate=2008-05-19}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.evertonfc.com/news/archive/nine-youngsters-depart.html |title=Nine youngsters depart |publisher=Everton F.C. |date=14 May 2008 |accessdate=2008-05-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120210075924/http://www.evertonfc.com/news/archive/nine-youngsters-depart.html |archive-date=10 February 2012 |url-status=dead }}
On 21 May 2008 it was announced that Downes had signed for Yeovil on a permanent basis on a two-year contract. He joined officially on 1 July 2008 when his contract expired. He quickly impressed both management and fans during his time at Huish Park, especially at the Liberty Stadium where he scored a vital goal against League One Champions Swansea City, which in turn guaranteed safety in League One for the Glovers. He remained at the club for two seasons until 13 May 2010 when he was released along with three other players.{{Cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/y/yeovil/8681111.stm |title=Scott Murray goes in Yeovil Town clear-out |publisher=BBC Sport |date=13 May 2010 |accessdate=2010-05-13| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20100516204605/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/y/yeovil/8681111.stm| archivedate= 16 May 2010 | url-status= live}}
=Shamrock Rovers=
Downes joined Shamrock Rovers on 31 August 2010 until the end of the season and made his debut as a substitute in the FAI Cup on 17 September.{{cite web|url=http://www.airtricityleague.com/index.php/clubs/premier-division/shamrock-rvs/latest-news/2380-hoops-knock-tribesmen-for-six |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120720235917/http://www.airtricityleague.com/index.php/clubs/premier-division/shamrock-rvs/latest-news/2380-hoops-knock-tribesmen-for-six |url-status=dead |archivedate=2012-07-20 |title=Hoops knock Tribesmen for six |publisher=AirtricityLeague.com |accessdate=2010-09-18 }}
=Bohemians=
Aidan spent part of the 2011 season training with Bohemians and signed for Pat Fenlon's men in June of that year on amateur terms.[http://bohemians.ie/news/4-club-news/1276-preview-dundalk-v-bohemians.html Downes signs for Bohs] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111009122108/http://bohemians.ie/news/4-club-news/1276-preview-dundalk-v-bohemians.html |date=9 October 2011 }} He made his debut for the club in a 3–1 win over Dundalk at Oriel Park on 1 July.[http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2011/0701/dundalk_bohemians1.html Dundalk 1 Bohs 3] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721045625/http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2011/0701/dundalk_bohemians1.html |date=21 July 2011 }}
International career
Downes has represented the Republic of Ireland at under16-17-18-19 level,{{Cite web
|url=http://www.fai.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2054&Itemid=9 |title=Ireland Defeat Hungary 2-0 but miss out on Qualifying for U19 UEFA Finals |date=19 May 2007 |publisher=FAI |accessdate=2008-05-19}} and in October 2007, he made his under-21 debut, scoring a goal in the process.{{Cite web
|url=http://www.fai.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2506 |title=Ireland U21 warm up for England test with win over Sweden |date=12 October 2007 |publisher=FAI |accessdate=2008-05-19}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Soccerbase}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20081207135436/http://www.ytfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10673~43500,00.html Profile on Yeovil's Official Site]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Downes, Aidan}}
Category:Association footballers from Dublin (city)
Category:Republic of Ireland men's association footballers
Category:Republic of Ireland men's under-21 international footballers
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:Yeovil Town F.C. players
Category:English Football League players
Category:League of Ireland players
Category:Shamrock Rovers F.C. players
Category:Bohemian F.C. players