Darcy Blake

Born in New Tredegar, Blake grew up in Phillipstown. As a teenager, Blake attended Blackwood Comprehensive School and was childhood friends with boxer Nathan Cleverly.{{cite web|url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/how-former-cardiff-city-star-10099269|title=How former Cardiff City star Darcy Blake fell out of love with football and became a rugby player!|publisher=Wales Online|author=Terry Phillips|date=21 September 2015|access-date=28 September 2015}}{{cite news |url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-309758194.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140926/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-309758194.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 June 2018 |title=Premier Bid Is There for Bluebirds, Says Former Star Darcy |newspaper=South Wales Echo |author=Terry Phillips |date=21 September 2012 |access-date=10 June 2018 }}

Blake joined local youth side Jubilee Thistle at the age of nine where he played as a striker. At the age of 10, Blake joined the youth academy at Cardiff City, the club he supported alongside Liverpool, although he continued playing for Thistle until he was 12.{{cite web |url=https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/sport/football/green-barmy-what-could-been-1345104 |title=The 'what could have been career' of former Plymouth Argyle loanee Darcy Blake |publisher=Plymouth Live |author=Gordon Sparks |date=17 March 2018 |access-date=8 June 2018}} After progressing through the club's youth system, he signed his first professional contract at the club in 2006 with a three-year deal, along with fellow academy graduate Chris Gunter.{{Cite news |url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-154119165.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612142729/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-154119165.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 June 2018 |title=Blake and Gunter join the paid ranks at Cardiff |publisher=South Wales Echo |author=Terry Phillips |date=8 November 2006 |access-date=8 June 2018 }} Blake made his professional debut on 17 April 2006 against Crewe Alexandra in the Football League Championship, following injuries to several first team players,{{cite news |url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-144594525.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612142841/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-144594525.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 June 2018 |title=Fledgling Bluebirds in squad for Crewe match |newspaper=South Wales Echo |date=17 April 2006 |access-date=8 June 2018 }} replacing Jeff Whitley as a late substitute during a 1–1 draw.{{Cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/4906646.stm |title=Crewe 1–1 Cardiff |publisher=BBC Sport |date=17 April 2006 |access-date=28 August 2008}} The following season, Blake was involved in the first team early, making two appearances in the opening month of the season but made just four further appearances during the first half of the season.{{Soccerbase season|43695|2006|name=Darcy Blake|access-date=29 June 2016}} On 20 February 2007, Blake made his first league start for the club in a match against West Bromwich Albion; Cardiff lost the match 1–0.

Able to play in several different positions, Blake gained a reputation as being a versatile player having played at centre back, right back, centre midfield and right wing for Cardiff in his first full season,{{cite news |url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-169954938.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612141132/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-169954938.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 June 2018 |title=A Cardiff 'Central' Station Suits Darcy |newspaper=South Wales Echo |author=Terry Phillips |date=17 October 2007 |access-date=8 June 2018 }} commenting "I'm not sure where my best position is and I really don't mind where I play." Blake began the 2007–08 season in the reserve side but, after a number of injuries affecting the club, he was increasingly involved in first team matches, including coming on as a substitute for Kevin McNaughton during a 2–0 win over Middlesbrough in the FA Cup quarter-final which was followed by his first league start of the season at right back in a 1–1 draw with Colchester United.{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/fa_cup/7272793.stm |title=Middlesbrough 0–2 Cardiff City |publisher=BBC Sport |author=David Dulin |date=9 March 2008 |access-date=9 June 2018}}{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/7285111.stm |title=Colchester United 1–1 Cardiff City |publisher=BBC Sport |date=15 March 2008 |access-date=9 June 2018}} In total he made 13 appearances during the season,{{Soccerbase season|43695|2007|name=Darcy Blake|access-date=29 June 2016}} including featuring in three of the club's six matches as they reached the FA Cup final but was left out of the matchday squad for the match.{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/fa_cup/7393770.stm |title=Portsmouth 1–0 Cardiff City |publisher=BBC Sport |author=Phil McNulty |date=17 May 2008 |access-date=10 June 2018}}

At the start of the 2008–09 season, Blake was placed on a special training regime by the club to correct his posture in an attempt to remedy long-term injury problems after being substituted in the opening 20 minutes of a League Cup tie against Milton Keynes Dons.{{cite news |url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-184234484.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612142427/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-184234484.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 June 2018 |title=Hard-Working Blake Aiming to Stand Tall in City Cause; Darcy Putting in the Gym Work to Sort out Posture |newspaper=South Wales Echo |author=Terry Phillips |date=30 August 2008 |access-date=9 June 2018}}

On 28 August 2009, Blake signed for fellow Championship club Plymouth Argyle on loan until January 2010,{{Cite web |url=http://www.pafc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10364~1780564,00.html |title=Welcome Mr Darcy |publisher=Plymouth Argyle F.C. |date=28 August 2009 |access-date=28 August 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090831074710/http://www.pafc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10364~1780564%2C00.html |archive-date=31 August 2009 }} making his debut the following day in a 3–1 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday.{{Cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/8215163.stm |title=Plymouth 1–3 Sheff Wed |publisher=BBC Sport |date=29 August 2009 |access-date=31 August 2008}} In his fifth appearance for the side, he was sent off for the first time in his professional career during a 1–1 draw with Ipswich Town on 24 October 2009 following a foul on Jonathan Walters.{{Cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/8316479.stm |title=Plymouth 1–1 Ipswich Town |publisher=BBC Sport |date=24 October 2009 |access-date=27 October 2009}} Plymouth appealed the decision but the red card was upheld and he was subsequently suspended for three matches.{{cite news |url=http://www.pafc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10364~1840682,00.html |title=Dismissal Stands |publisher=Plymouth Argyle F.C. |date=29 October 2009 |access-date=29 October 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091031193409/http://www.pafc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10364~1840682%2C00.html |archive-date=31 October 2009 }} Blake completed his loan at Plymouth on 31 December 2009 and returned to Cardiff. However, Plymouth manager Paul Mariner stated his desire for Blake to return to the club during the January transfer window.{{Cite web |url=http://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10335~1919844,00.html |title=Aaron's Bristol booster |publisher=Cardiff City F.C. |date=1 January 2010 |access-date=10 September 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120225000623/http://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10335~1919844%2C00.html |archive-date=25 February 2012 }} However, the club was placed under a transfer embargo that delayed the move and Blake was able to force his way into the first team at Cardiff again.

Blake has cited his loan spell with Plymouth as a turning point in his career, stating "Looking back, I was immature and needed that loan move away."{{cite news |url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-267185373.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612142819/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-267185373.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 June 2018 |title=It's Shirty Response by Rooney for Blake |newspaper=South Wales Echo |author=Terry Phillips |date=17 September 2011 |access-date=10 June 2018}} Prior to his move, Cardiff manager Jones had been critical of Blake's diet and subsequent fitness levels.{{cite news |url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-233823097.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612141630/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-233823097.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 June 2018 |title=Darcy is Ready for Big Chance |newspaper=South Wales Echo |author=Chris Wathan |date=7 August 2010 |access-date=10 June 2018 }}

File:Darcy Blake (cropped).jpg in 2011]]

On his return to Cardiff, Blake was immediately involved with the first team where he was named on the bench in an FA Cup third round replay against Bristol City, where he came on to make his first appearance of the season, before making his first start of the season in the fourth round against Leicester City four days later. Injuries to club captain Mark Hudson and Gabor Gyepes allowed Blake to establish himself in the side as a centre-back alongside Anthony Gerrard. He made a career-high 24 appearances and helped the team reach the Championship play-offs before losing 3–2 to Blackpool in the play-off final.{{Soccerbase season|43695|2010|name=Darcy Blake|access-date=29 June 2016}}{{cite news |url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-231517835.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612142120/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-231517835.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 June 2018|title=Match Made in Heaven |newspaper=South Wales Echo |author=Terry Phillips |date=14 July 2010 |access-date=10 June 2018 }}

Blake missed Cardiff's 2011–12 pre-season schedule through injury but returned in a 1–1 draw with Burnley on 20 August 2011, coming on as a substitute in place of Joe Mason.{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/14514699.stm |title=Burnley 1–1 Cardiff City |publisher=BBC Sport |date=20 August 2011 |access-date=10 June 2018}} He made his 100th appearance for Cardiff against Portsmouth on 27 August, which was also his first league start of the season.{{Soccerbase season|43695|2011|name=Darcy Blake|access-date=29 June 2016}} Despite being a regular at international level for Wales, Blake struggled to establish himself in the first team at Cardiff, former Wales striker Iwan Roberts to question his future at Cardiff City Stadium.{{cite news |title=Darcy Blake should consider Cardiff City exit, says Iwan Roberts |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/15284380.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=13 October 2011 |access-date=13 October 2011}} Cardiff manager, Malky Mackay, replied to this saying Blake was "in his plans" but his injuries and fitness were a problem.{{cite news |title=Cardiff City boss Malky Mackay says Darcy Blake 'in his plans' |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/15311760.stm? |publisher=BBC Sport |date=14 October 2011 |access-date=14 October 2011}} The newly formed partnership of Mark Hudson and Ben Turner were preferred ahead of Blake, who later confirmed his desire to hold talks with boss Mackay over his future at Cardiff having not featured for the club in over a month.{{cite news |title=Wales defender Darcy Blake plans showdown talks with Cardiff City boss Malky Mackay |url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballnation/football-news/2011/11/15/wales-defender-darcy-blake-plans-showdown-talks-with-cardiff-city-boss-malky-mackay-91466-29774851/ |publisher=South Wales Echo |date=15 November 2011 |access-date=15 November 2011 |author=Phil Blanche}} At the end of the season, he played in the 2012 Football League Cup Final, replacing McNaughton in extra time as Cardiff went on to lose to Liverpool in a penalty shootout.{{cite web |url=http://www.wembleystadium.com/Events/2012/Carling-Cup-Final-2012/Carling-Cup-Final-2012 |title=Carling Cup Final 2012 |publisher=Wembley Stadium |access-date=10 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170907033320/http://www.wembleystadium.com/Events/2012/Carling-Cup-Final-2012/Carling-Cup-Final-2012 |archive-date=7 September 2017 |url-status=dead }} On 9 August 2012, Blake rejected new terms at Cardiff, where he only had a year left on his contract following his time as a bit part player the previous season.{{cite news |title=Darcy Blake rejects Cardiff City contract and could move to Crystal Palace |url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballnation/football-news/2012/08/09/91466-31583795/? |publisher=WalesOnline |author=Paul Abbandonato |date=9 August 2012 |access-date=9 August 2012}} On 22 August, Blake entered talks with Crystal Palace over a possible move.{{cite news |title=Cardiff City defender Darcy Blake linked with Crystal Palace |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19351749? |publisher=BBC Sport |date=22 August 2012 |access-date=22 August 2012}}

With his contract due to expire at the end of the season, Mackay accepted an offer of £350,000 from Crystal Palace in order to avoid Blake leaving on a free transfer the following summer, with the deal being completed on 24 August 2012.{{cite web|url=https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/2012/august/palace-sign-blake/|title=Palace Sign Blake|publisher=Crystal Palace F.C. |date=24 August 2012 |access-date=10 June 2018}} Although Blake was reluctant to leave Cardiff, he accepted the move in order to play first team football, stating "My dream has always been to play for the Bluebirds at Premier League level [...] I thought hard about everything before leaving City. But it was time to make a decision."

He made his debut for Palace on 25 August 2012 in a 2–1 defeat to Middlesbrough.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/19304130 |title=Middlesbrough 2–1 Crystal Palace |publisher=BBC Sport |date=25 August 2012 |access-date=10 June 2018}} After initially featuring in the first team, he was dropped from the side and did not make an appearance for Palace after December 2012. Wales manager Chris Coleman publicly criticised Blake's fitness levels after revealing that he had been deemed too unfit for Palace's reserve side and stated "Darcy has got to be fitter. He has lost his fitness and there is no easy way around it."{{cite web |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/darcy-blake-not-even-fit-2494757 |title=Darcy Blake not even fit enough for Crystal Palace reserves – Wales boss Chris Coleman |publisher=WalesOnline |author=Phil Blanche |date=3 February 2013 |access-date=10 June 2018}}

He remained with Palace following the club's promotion to the Premier League but made no further appearances and, on 31 January 2014, his contract was terminated by mutual consent after making only 10 league appearances.{{cite web |url=https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/2014/january/darcy-departs-palace/ |title=Darcy Departs Palace |publisher=Crystal Palace F.C. |date=31 January 2014 |access-date=11 June 2018}}

On 20 March 2014, Blake joined Newport County on non-contract terms,{{cite web|url=http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/football/newportcounty/11093489.Double_signing_for_County_including_Wales_man_Darcy_Blake/|title=Double signing for County including Wales man Darcy Blake|publisher=South Wales Argus|author=Michael Pearlman|date=21 March 2014 |access-date=12 June 2018}} having spent time training with Birmingham City. His signing was branded a "transfer coup" by County manager Justin Edinburgh and he made his debut for Newport in a League Two match against Torquay United on 22 March. He remained at Newport until the end of the 2013–14 season, making seven appearances. Although he held talks with the club regarding an extension, he was unable to agree a new contract with Edinburgh commenting "I don't think that we could make the offer they were looking for."{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/27650114 |title=Newport County: Darcy Blake deal 'dead in the water' – Edinburgh |publisher=BBC Sport |date=1 June 2014 |access-date=11 June 2018}}

Blake went on to train with Plymouth in July 2014, the club he was loaned to in 2009, but left on 28 August 2014 after failing to earn a permanent deal.{{cite web |url=http://www.greensonscreen.co.uk/gosdb-players2.asp?pid=954 |title=Darcy Blake |publisher=Greens on Screen |access-date=29 June 2016}} The following month, he played for local amateur side Tredegar Arms in the North Gwent Football League after the club were short of players due to injuries, scoring a hat-trick while playing as a striker against Pantside.{{cite web |url=http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/football/gwent/11504115.Darcy_Blake_s_hat-trick_for_pub_team_sparks_row/ |title=Darcy Blake's hat-trick for pub team sparks row |publisher=South Wales Argus |author=Andrew Penman |date=30 September 2014 |access-date=11 June 2018}} Pantside appealed to the league officials over his inclusion in the match but no action was taken after the league confirmed he was registered to play for the side.{{cite web |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/former-cardiff-city-star-darcy-7852204 |title=Former Cardiff City star Darcy Blake sparks complaint after turning out for Tredegar Arms AFC |publisher=WalesOnline |author=Terry Phillips |date=29 September 2014 |access-date=12 June 2018}} He returned to Newport briefly on trial but was not offered a contract although Edinburgh commented "It would be an absolute waste if the boy didn't get back into the pro game."{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/30813149 |title=Newport County: No Rodney Parade return for Darcy Blake |publisher=BBC Sport |date=14 January 2015 |access-date=11 June 2018}} He also played for amateur rugby team New Tredegar's seconds side in Division Two of the Gwent, Newport and Pontypool District League and appeared on an episode of the BBC Wales rugby show Scrum V with some of his teammates. In October 2015, he returned to football after being appointed as a player-coach for Aberbargoed Buds.{{cite web |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/former-cardiff-city-star-darcy-10324301 |title=Former Cardiff City star Darcy Blake makes return to football after walking away from game |publisher=WalesOnline |author=Jon Doel |date=24 October 2015 |access-date=11 June 2018}}

Blake was a regular for the Wales under-17 and under-19 squads before he was called up to the under-21 team for the first time in 2006 by coach Brian Flynn and made his debut for the side against Israel. Usually playing at right back, he was part of the team that finished top of their qualifying group for the 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship before losing in the playoff match against England.

In May 2008, he received his first call-up, alongside six other uncapped members of the Wales under-21 side, to the Wales team.{{Cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/7402974.stm |title=Parry and Bellamy return for Wales |publisher=BBC Sport |date=18 May 2008 |access-date=18 May 2008}} Blake made his full international debut on 12 October 2010, being named in the starting line-up for a 4–1 defeat to Switzerland in Basel before being replaced by Christian Ribeiro after 54 minutes.{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/league_of_wales/9077099.stm |title=Euro 2012: Switzerland 4–1 Wales |publisher=BBC Sport |author=David Dulin |date=12 October 2010 |access-date=12 June 2018}} He played his second game against Scotland, in the Nations Cup, where Wales lost 3–1. On 10 August 2011, Blake scored his first senior career goal in a 2–1 defeat against Australia and was named in the starting line-up in the side's following match against Montenegro due to James Collins being suspended. Despite being largely a reserve player for Cardiff at the time, he established himself in the side as a centre back under manager Gary Speed, who described Blake as a player that could "shine in the Premier League," and kept his place in the side for the remainder of the Euro 2012 qualifiers,{{cite news |url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-295374193.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612142741/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-295374193.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 June 2018 |title=Mr Versatile Blake Faces a Big Decision over Future with City |newspaper=South Wales Echo |author=Steve Tucker |date=6 July 2012 |access-date=10 June 2018 }} including a 1–0 defeat against England where he received praise for his performance.

:Scores and results list. Wales's goal tally first.

Cardiff City

• Football League Cup runner-up: 2011–12{{cite news|url=https://www.skysports.com/football/cardiff-city-vs-liverpool/teams/255645 |title=Starting Lineups - Cardiff vs Liverpool |website=Sky Sports |date=26 February 2012 |access-date=25 March 2024}}

{{reflist}}

{{commons category|Darcy Blake}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20120529235033/http://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0%2C%2C10335~36389%2C00.html Darcy Blake player profile] at cardiffcityfc.co.uk
• {{Soccerbase}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Blake, Darcy}}

Category:Living people

Category:1988 births

Category:People from New Tredegar

Category:Footballers from Caerphilly County Borough

Category:Men's association football defenders

Category:Footballers from Caerphilly

Category:Cardiff City F.C. players

Category:Plymouth Argyle F.C. players

Category:Crystal Palace F.C. players

Category:Newport County A.F.C. players

Category:Welsh men's footballers

Category:21st-century Welsh sportsmen

Category:Wales men's youth international footballers

Category:Wales men's under-21 international footballers

Category:Wales men's international footballers

Category:English Football League players

Category:Aberbargoed Buds F.C. players