Toby Down

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Toby Down

| fullname = Toby Philip Down

| image = Toby_Philip_Down.JPG

| caption = Down with Citizen in September 2013

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1994|6|3}}

| birth_place = Ascot, England

| height = 1.85m[https://hk.on.cc/hk/bkn/cnt/sport/20210728/bkn-20210728225853359-0728_00882_001.html 為出場「守龍都OK」唐道碧以職業球員身份為榮] on.cc 28 July 2021

| position = Defensive midfielder
Centre back

| currentclub = HKFC

| clubnumber = 4

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 = Kowloon Cricket Club

| youthyears2 =

| youthclubs2 = Kitchee

| youthyears3 =

| youthclubs3 = Sham Shui Po

| collegeyears1 = 2014–2017

| college1 = Concordia Bulldogs

| collegecaps1 = 71

| collegegoals1 = 16

| years1 = 2013–2014

| clubs1 = Citizen

| caps1 = 0

| goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2018–2020

| clubs2 = Tai Po

| caps2 = 8

| goals2 = 0

| years3 = 2020–2022

| clubs3 = Eastern

| caps3 = 1

| goals3 = 0

| years4 = 2020–2022

| clubs4 = → Southern (loan)

| caps4 = 14

| goals4 = 0

| years5 = 2023–2024

| clubs5 = OFC Wolves

| caps5 =

| goals5 =

| years6 = 2024–

| clubs6 = HKFC

| caps6 = 18

| goals6 = 1

| club-update = 10 May 2025

}}

Toby Philip Down ({{zh|t=唐道碧}}; born 3 June 1994) is a professional footballer who currently plays as a defensive midfielder or a centre back for Hong Kong Premier League club HKFC. Born in England, he received his HKSAR passport in 2020.

Club career

Down moved to Hong Kong at the age of 3 with his family. He played junior football for the Kowloon Cricket Club in the HKJFL, until moving into the local football set up with Kitchee and then Sham Shui Po. After attending secondary school in King George V School he had a trial period with Wycombe Wanderers in 2013, making 1 appearance in a pre-season friendly.{{cite web|url=https://englishplayersabroad.com/2018/10/03/toby-down-the-ascot-born-midfielder-with-hong-kong-national-team-aspirations/|title=Toby Down: The Ascot-born midfielder with Hong Kong national team aspirations|publisher=English Players Abroad|date=3 October 2018|accessdate=3 October 2018}}

Down started his senior career at Citizen, making his senior debut in the Hong Kong FA Cup playing the last nine minutes in a 3–0 win over Sun Source.{{cite web|url=https://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2014/02/11/hong-kong/fa-cup/metro-gallery-sun-source/citizen-aa/1640695/|title=METRO GALLERY SUN SOURCE VS. CITIZEN AA 0 - 3|work=Soccerway|date=11 February 2014|accessdate=28 September 2018}}

Down then attended Concordia University to study marketing and play for the men's football team.{{cite web|url=http://www.cune.edu/athletics/teams/soccer/past-seasons/2017/toby-down/|title=Toby Down profile at Concordia Bulldogs|publisher=Concordia University Nebraska|accessdate=28 September 2018}} In September 2015, he scored the first hat-trick for his side since October 2013.{{cite web|url=https://www.cune.edu/athletics/teams/soccer/news/down-leads-offensive-flurry-blowout-york|title=Down leads offensive flurry in blowout at York|website=cune.edu|date=1 September 2015|accessdate=8 May 2024}}

After four years in America, Down returned to Hong Kong to join Tai Po. On 2 September 2018, he made his Hong Kong Premier League debut for Tai Po, playing the last 20 minutes in a 4–4 draw with Yuen Long.{{cite web|url=https://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2018/09/02/hong-kong/hkfa-1st-division/yuen-long/wofoo-tai-po-fc/2865216/|title=YUEN LONG VS. WOFOO TAI PO 4 - 4 match report|work=Soccerway|date=2 September 2018|accessdate=28 September 2018}}

On 6 July 2020, Down joined fellow Hong Kong Premier League club Eastern.{{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CCSWjpblWSM/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/instagram/easternlonglionsfootball/2347037562504569996 |archive-date=25 December 2021 |url-access=registration|title=Welcome Toby|website=Instagram.com|date=6 July 2020|accessdate=6 July 2020|language=Chinese}}{{cbignore}}

On 15 October 2020, Southern acquired Down on loan for the season.{{cite web |title=唐道碧借用身份加盟 |url=https://www.facebook.com/HKSDFC/posts/3393469967439125?__cft__[0]=AZV6YSxKJGDrX8yI9lY3YTIgKyFIFJomKiN0UhRWZmsiRIYzG7Ee2awrrLXDbZqrQhX1c01ukCnv6gcp1BpyjR3FUh-_k_ycYg0BNaxcGf9aWDbMG8O7O1ZCl6EYI49yEj7yVGPLWeEqgMO4oC_N8vNNZH97M8TkzDZhwvwjldFyWqPtI9w_nvmMv9fIcbwFRPA&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R |website=Facebook |accessdate=15 October 2020}} {{in lang|zh-hk}}

On 9 July 2022, Down left Eastern.

In 2024, he was playing for United Premier Soccer League side OFC Wolves.{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/OFCWolves/posts/pfbid02TKEe2sD7qu7nX7iUZHFaAsNXr7osHQxEHFZTZmnrrv7Hb3B7tDNRqKTG6iAYjJ8Ll|title=The Pack kept their unbeaten run in their inaugural @upslsoccer season intact with a 3-1 victory over @gosasoccer.|website=facebook.com|date=15 April 2024|accessdate=8 May 2024}}

On 31 July 2024, it was confirmed that Down would join HKFC having last played in Hong Kong since 2020.[https://hk.on.cc/hk/bkn/cnt/sport/20240731/bkn-20240731114955345-0731_00882_001.html 港超聯港會開操！前港腳羅素「愛回家」] on.cc 31 July 2024

International career

In 2020, it was reported that Down had received his HKSAR passport after giving up his English passport, making him eligible to represent Hong Kong internationally.

Personal life

Down was born in Ascot, England and has four siblings. He competed in both rugby and athletics when he was younger.

Career statistics

=Club=

rowspan=2\|Club !rowspan=2\|Season !colspan=3\|League !colspan=2\|FA Cup !colspan=2\|Senior Shield !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=1\|Citizen \|2013–14 \|Hong Kong First Division \|0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
rowspan=2\|Tai Po \|2018–19 \|Hong Kong Premier League \|2	0	0	0	1	0	4{{efn\|Appearances in Community Cup & Sapling Cup\|name=HKCCSC}}	0	7	0
2019–20 \|Hong Kong Premier League \|6	0	2	0	3	0	3{{efn\|Appearances in Sapling Cup\|name=HKSC}}	0	14	0
colspan=3\|Career total !8	0	3	0	4	0	7	0	22	0