Michael Doughty (footballer, born 1992)

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Michael Doughty

| image = Doughty_QPR_2016.jpg

| image_size = 200

| caption = Doughty warming up for Queens Park Rangers in 2016

| fullname = Michael Edward Doughty{{cite web |url=https://www.efl.com/siteassets/image/201920/general-news/efl-squad-numbering-06.09.2019.pdf |title=Notification of shirt numbers: Swindon Town |publisher=English Football League |page=72 |access-date=27 October 2019}}

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1992|11|20|df=y}}

| birth_place = Westminster, England

| height = {{height|ft=6|in=1}}{{cite book|editor1-first=Glenda|editor1-last=Rollin|editor2-first=Jack|editor2-last=Rollin|title=Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2012–2013|year=2012|publisher=Headline|location=London|isbn=978-0-7553-6356-8|page=518|edition=43rd}}

| position = Midfielder

| currentclub =

| youthyears1 = 2005–2010

| youthclubs1 = Chelsea

| youthyears2 = 2007–2010

| youthclubs2 = Queens Park Rangers

| years1 = 2010–2017

| clubs1 = Queens Park Rangers

| caps1 = 12

| goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2011

| clubs2 = → Woking (loan)

| caps2 = 7

| goals2 = 0

| years3 = 2011–2012

| clubs3 = → Crawley Town (loan)

| caps3 = 16

| goals3 = 0

| years4 = 2012

| clubs4 = → Aldershot Town (loan)

| caps4 = 5

| goals4 = 0

| years5 = 2013

| clubs5 = → St Johnstone (loan)

| caps5 = 5

| goals5 = 0

| years6 = 2013–2014

| clubs6 = → Stevenage (loan)

| caps6 = 36

| goals6 = 2

| years7 = 2014–2015

| clubs7 = → Gillingham (loan)

| caps7 = 9

| goals7 = 0

| years8 = 2016

| clubs8 = → Swindon Town (loan)

| caps8 = 20

| goals8 = 5

| years9 = 2016–2017

| clubs9 = → Swindon Town (loan)

| caps9 = 14

| goals9 = 2

| years10 = 2017–2018

| clubs10 = Peterborough United

| caps10 = 34

| goals10 = 1

| years11 = 2018–2020

| clubs11 = Swindon Town

| caps11 = 61

| goals11 = 14

| totalcaps =219

| totalgoals =24

| nationalyears1 = 2010

| nationalteam1 = Wales U19

| nationalcaps1 = 2

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| nationalyears2 = 2012

| nationalteam2 = Wales U21

| nationalcaps2 = 1

| nationalgoals2 = 0

}}

Michael Edward Doughty (born 20 November 1992) is a former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.

Early life

Doughty was born Westminster, Greater London,{{hugman|22876|access-date=24 September 2018}} the son of the late Nottingham Forest owner Nigel Doughty.{{cite news |url=http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/Doughty-admits-frustration-lack-signings-says-Forest-keen-add/story-12178686-detail/story.html |title=Doughty admits his frustration at lack of signings, but says Forest are keen to add |publisher=Nottingham Post |date=22 October 2010 |access-date=5 March 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120913010801/http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/Doughty-admits-frustration-lack-signings-says-Forest-keen-add/story-12178686-detail/story.html |archive-date=13 September 2012 |df=dmy-all}} He was educated at Harrow School, obtaining 14 A grades.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/sep/13/swindon-michael-doughty-son-nigel-nottingham-forest-owner-harrow-school| work=The Guardian| title=Swindon's Michael Doughty: 'I'll never apologise for my background'|date=13 September 2018|access-date=21 September 2018}}

Club career

=QPR=

Doughty joined the youth set-up at QPR as a schoolboy at the age of 14,{{cite news|url=http://www.qpr.co.uk/team/player-profile/michael-doughty/36 | work=Queens Park Rangers | title=Player Profile | access-date=10 February 2015}} after five years in the academy at Chelsea. He made his debut for QPR in the FA Cup defeat against Blackburn Rovers, after coming off the bench in the 88th minute.{{Cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2011/01/08/england/fa-cup/blackburn-rovers-football-club/queens-park-rangers-fc/1052635/|title=Blackburn Rovers vs. Queens Park Rangers - 8 January 2011 - Soccerway|website=int.soccerway.com}}

Doughty's Premier League debut for QPR came on 10 February 2015 at the age of 22, under caretaker managers Chris Ramsey and Kevin Bond, coming on as an 85th-minute substitute against Sunderland at Stadium of Light{{cite news|url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/live/match/313636 | publisher=Sky Sports | title=Sunderland 0–2 QPR | date=10 February 2015 | access-date=10 February 2015}} in what was QPR's first away victory (in fact their first away points) of the season.

=Crawley Town (Loan)=

In August 2011 he signed a six-month loan deal with Crawley Town.{{cite news|title=QPR midfielder Michael Doughty joins Crawley on loan|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/crawley_town/9568402.stm|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=19 August 2011|date=19 August 2011}}

=Aldershot Town (Loan)=

On 5 March 2012, Doughty joined League Two side Aldershot Town on a one-month loan deal.{{cite news|title=Loan Deal Secured|url=http://www.theshots.co.uk/news/Aldershot84027.ink|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=5 March 2012|date=5 March 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120307223325/http://www.theshots.co.uk/news/Aldershot84027.ink|archive-date=7 March 2012|df=dmy-all}}

=St Johnstone (Loan)=

On 29 January 2013 Doughty joined Scottish Premier League side St Johnstone on loan.{{Cite news|title=St Johnstone sign QPR's Doughty|language=en-GB|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/21245829|access-date=2020-10-31}}

=Stevenage F.C (Loan)=

Two weeks into the 2013–14 season, Doughty joined League One side Stevenage on loan until January 2014.{{cite news | title = Doughty signs on loan | url = http://www.stevenagefc.com/news/article/transfer-doughty-loan-from-qpr-996592.aspx | publisher = Stevenage F.C.

| date = 16 August 2013 | access-date = 16 August 2013}}{{cite news | title = Michael Doughty: Stevenage sign QPR midfielder on loan | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23734197 | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 16 August 2013 | access-date = 16 August 2013}} He made his debut a day after signing, on 17 August, playing the whole game in a 1–0 home defeat to Leyton Orient.{{cite news | title = Stevenage 0–1 Leyton Orient | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23644728 | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 17 August 2013 | access-date = 17 August 2013}} On 26 October 2013, Doughty scored a 90th-minute goal, his first goal in professional football, a left-footed angled shot from the left flank into the far corner, during Stevenage's home match against Crawley Town.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24590461 | publisher=BBC Sport | title=Stevenage 2–0 Crawley | date=26 October 2013 | access-date=10 February 2015}}

=Gillingham (Loan)=

On 24 October 2014 Doughty joined League One side Gillingham on an initial one-month loan deal,{{Cite news|title=Gills sign QPR's Doughty on loan|language=en-GB|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/29758036|access-date=2020-10-31}} which was later extended for a further two months.{{Cite news|title=Gillingham extend Doughty loan deal|language=en-GB|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/29933245|access-date=2020-10-31}} He was recalled by QPR on 9 January 2015.{{Cite web|title=DOUGHTY RECALLED BY QUEENS PARK RANGERS|url=https://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/news/2015/january/doughty-recalled-by-queens-park-rangers/|access-date=2020-10-31|website=www.gillinghamfootballclub.com|language=en-gb}}

=Swindon Town (Loan)=

In January 2016 Doughty joined League One side Swindon Town until the end of the 2015–16 season. Doughty rejoined the club following season on a season long loan.{{Cite web|title=Doughty signs new two-year Town contract|url=https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/17753848.midfielder-michael-doughty-signs-new-two-year-contract-swindon-town/|access-date=2020-10-31|website=Swindon Advertiser|date=6 July 2019 |language=en}}

=Peterborough United =

On 29 June 2017 Doughty signed for Peterborough United of League One on three-year contract.{{Cite web|title=Hoops Midfield Man Pens Three Year Deal|url=https://www.theposh.com/news/2017/june/hoops-midfield-man-pens-three-year-deal/|access-date=2020-10-31|website=www.theposh.com|language=en-gb}}

=Return to Swindon Town=

On 23 July 2018, following a spell at Peterborough United, Doughty returned to Swindon Town on a two-year deal.{{Cite news |title=Return Of The Doughts! |url=https://www.swindontownfc.co.uk/news/2018/july/return-of-the-doughts/ |publisher=Swindon Town Official Site |date=23 July 2018 |access-date=23 July 2018}}

On 4 August 2018, Doughty started against Macclesfield Town on the opening day of the League Two season. Swindon won two penalties in the 96th and the 98th minute meaning Swindon won the game 3–2, with Doughty scoring a hat-trick as he scored both the penalties. Doughty finished August with five goals to his name and was nominated for the League Two player of the month award.{{Cite web |title=Player of the Month: August nominees |publisher=EFL |date=4 September 2018 |access-date=24 September 2018 |url= https://www.efl.com/news/2018/september/player-of-the-month-august-nominees/}}

In July 2019 he signed a new contract with Swindon until 2022.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48894833|title=Michael Doughty: Swindon Town midfielder extends contract|date=6 July 2019|publisher=BBC Sport}}

On 12 September 2020 Doughty left Swindon Town for personal reasons.{{cite news |title=Club Statement {{!}} Michael Doughty |url=https://www.swindontownfc.co.uk/news/2020/september/club-statement--michael-doughty/ |access-date=12 September 2020 |publisher=Swindon Town F.C. |date=12 September 2020}}

= Retirement =

Doughty retired from football at the end of the 2019–20 season.{{Cite news|last=James|first=Stuart|title=Michael Doughty, the 'Wiltshire Pirlo' who walked away from football aged 27|url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/2435162/2021/03/11/michael-doughty-the-wiltshire-pirlo-who-walked-away-from-football-aged-27/|access-date=2021-04-11|website=The Athletic}}

International career

He has been capped at under-19 level internationally for Wales, playing in a friendly against Liechtenstein.{{cite web |title=Match Report – Liechtenstein 0 – 2 Wales|url=http://www.faw.org.uk/fixtures-events/results/match/500|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924011324/http://www.faw.org.uk/fixtures-events/results/match/500|url-status=usurped|archive-date=24 September 2015|publisher=The Football Association of Wales|access-date=30 April 2011}}

In August 2012 Doughty was selected in the Wales Under-21 squad for the 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship qualification match against Czech Republic on 10 September 2012.{{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20121223231926/http://www.faw.org.uk/news/FAW85736.ink Wales under-21 squad]}} and making his debut as a second-half substitute

Career statistics

rowspan="2"\|Club !rowspan="2"\|Season !colspan="3"\|League !colspan="2"\|National Cup !colspan="2"\|League Cup !colspan="2"\|Other !colspan="2"\|Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" \|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
rowspan="8"\|Queens Park Rangers \|2010–11{{soccerbase season\|58150\|2010 \|access-date=18 September 2017}} \|Championship \|0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
2011–12{{soccerbase season\|58150\|2011 \|access-date=18 September 2017}} \|rowspan="2"\|Premier League \|0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2012–13{{soccerbase season\|58150\|2012 \|access-date=18 September 2017}} \|0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2013–14{{soccerbase season\|58150\|2013 \|access-date=18 September 2017}} \|Championship \|0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2014–15{{soccerbase season\|58150\|2014 \|access-date=18 September 2017}} \|Premier League \|3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0
2015–16{{soccerbase season\|58150\|2015 \|access-date=18 September 2017}} \|rowspan="2"\|Championship \|5	0	1	0	2	0	0	0	8	0
2016–17{{soccerbase season\|58150\|2016 \|access-date=18 September 2017}} \|4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0
colspan=2\|Total !12	0	2	0	2	0	0	0	16	0
Woking (loan) \|2010–11{{soccerway\|michael-doughty/169713\|accessdate=18 September 2017}} \|Conference South \|7	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	7	0
Crawley Town (loan) \|2011–12 \|League Two \|16	1	2	1	0	0	0	0	18	2
Aldershot Town (loan) \|2011–12 \|League Two \|5	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	0
St Johnstone (loan) \|2012–13 \|Scottish Premier League \|5	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	6	0
Stevenage Borough (loan) \|2013–14 \|League One \|36	2	3	0	1	0	3Appearance in Football League Trophy	0	43	2
Gillingham (loan) \|2014–15 \|League One \|9	0	1	0	0	0	3	0	13	0
rowspan="3"\|Swindon Town (loan) \|2015–16 \|rowspan="2"\|League One \|20	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	20	5
2016–17 \|14	2	2	1	0	0	1Appearances in EFL Trophy	0	17	3
colspan="2"\|Total !34	10	2	1	0	0	1	0	37	8
Peterborough United \|2017–18{{soccerbase season\|58150\|2017 \|access-date=18 September 2017}} \|League One \|34	1	3	1	1	0	4	0	42	2
rowspan="3"\|Swindon Town \|2018–19{{soccerbase season\|58150\|2018 \|access-date=18 September 2017}} \|rowspan="2"\|League Two \|30	13	1	0	1	0	1	1	33	14
2019–20{{soccerbase season\|58150\|2019 \|access-date=18 September 2017}} \|31	1	2	0	1	0	2	0	36	1
colspan="2"\|Total !61	14	3	0	2	0	3	1	69	15
colspan="3"\|Career total !219	24	17	3	6	0	14	1	256	28

Honours

Swindon Town

EFL League Two: 2019–20{{Cite web |date=9 June 2020 |title=League One & League Two clubs vote to end seasons early |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52705124 |access-date=4 January 2021 |website=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}}