Colin Larkin (footballer)

Colin Larkin (born 27 April 1982 in Dundalk, County Louth) is an Irish professional footballer, who plays as a forward for Sunderland RCA.

Colin Larkin
Personal information
Full name Colin Larkin
Date of birth (1982-04-27) 27 April 1982
Place of birth Dundalk, Ireland
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Position(s) Forward
Club information
Current team
Sunderland RCA
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1999–2002 Wolverhampton Wanderers 3 (0)
2001–2002Kidderminster Harriers (loan) 33 (6)
2002–2005 Mansfield Town 95 (25)
2005–2007 Chesterfield 80 (11)
2007–2009 Northampton Town 54 (3)
2009–2012 Hartlepool United 54 (4)
2012–2013 Lincoln City 29 (8)
2013 Harrogate Town 13 (1)
2013–2014 Gateshead 31 (9)
2014 Harrogate Town 1 (0)
2014–2015 West Auckland Town
2015– Sunderland RCA 1 (3)
National team
1999 Republic of Ireland U17 2 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 25 August 2014

He has previously played for Wolverhampton Wanderers, Kidderminster Harriers, Mansfield Town, Chesterfield, Northampton Town, Lincoln City and Gateshead.

Playing career

Larkin began his professional career with Wolverhampton Wanderers. He progressed through their youth ranks to make his first team debut on 24 August 1999 in a League Cup exit to Wycombe Wanderers, where he scored within eight minutes of coming off the bench.

Despite this bright start to his senior career, he was unable to gain any real first team action at Molineux and managed just three (goalless) appearances over three seasons for the club. To gain playing time, he was loaned out to the then League 2 side Kidderminster Harriers during the 2001-2002 season where Larkin made a big impact starting 33 games and scoring 7 goals.

However, with chances limited, Larkin, with two years left on his contract at Wolves, joined Mansfield Town for a £125,000 fee in July 2002. He scored 25 goals over a three-year stay at Field Mill, but an apparent fall-out with then manager Carlton Palmer led to his eventual release to join Chesterfield in 2005 on a two-year contract.

Larkin netted 13 goals in total over a two-year spell at Chesterfield. When the club suffered relegation to League Two, Larkin remained in the third tier as he joined Northampton Town on a free transfer, on 28 June 2007 in a two-year deal.

On 7 August 2009, Larkin signed a contract with League One side Hartlepool United after impressing during a short trial period. In May 2011 he signed a new contract with the club.[1] Larkin was released on 10 May 2012 and joined Lincoln City at the start of the 2012–13 season. He was released by Lincoln in March 2013 and subsequently signed for Harrogate Town[2] and scored on his debut for Town in a 2–2 draw against Bishop's Stortford.

On 12 May 2013, Larkin signed for Gateshead.[3] He made his debut on 10 August as a second-half substitute against Kidderminster Harriers.[4] Larkin scored his first goal for Gateshead on 17 August 2013 in a 1–2 defeat against Barnet.[5] At the end of the season, Larkin was released by Gateshead.[6]

On 8 August 2014, Harrogate Town announced that Larkin had re-signed for the club.[7] However, his second spell with the club would be short as they encountered an injury crisis amongst their forwards. As Larkin, who had recently had groin surgery was viewed as lacking the necessary match fitness to play games during the club's injury crisis, they took the decision to release him in order to be able to bring in new signings.[8] He moved on to join West Auckland Town,[9] reuniting him with his erstwhile Gateshead manager Anth Smith. However, Smith departed the club on 16 December 2014 and a month later Larkin was on the move again, joining Sunderland RCA.[10]

Colin has linked up once again with David Rush and Anth Smith, this time in a coaching role for Sunderland College coaching the men's category 3 team. He is also head coach of Evolution Football Elite Academy.

Career statistics

[11][12]

As of 18 May 2014
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other[A] Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Wolverhampton Wanderers 1999–2000 Division One1000110021
2000–01 Division One2000000020
2001–02 Division One0000000000
Wolverhampton Wanderers Total 3000110041
Kidderminster Harriers (loan) 2001–02 Division Three336000021357
Kidderminster Harriers F.C. Total 336000021357
Mansfield Town 2002–03 Division Two227200010257
2003–04 Division Three407210010438
2004–05 League Two33112010203811
Mansfield Town Total 952561104010626
Chesterfield 2005–06 League One417201010457
2006–07 League One394103220456
Chesterfield Total 80113042309013
Northampton Town 2007–08 League One332412010403
2008–09 League One211001110232
Northampton Town Total 543413120635
Hartlepool United 2009–10 League One221102010261
2010–11 League One303201010343
2011–12 League One2000001030
Hartlepool United Total 544303030634
Lincoln City 2012–13 Conference Premier298400010348
Lincoln City Total 298400010348
Harrogate Town 2012–13 Conference North131000000131
Harrogate Town Total 131000000131
Gateshead 2013–14 Conference Premier288300051369
Gateshead Total 288300051369
Harrogate Town 2014–15 Conference North0000000000
Harrogate Town Total 0000000000
Career totals 3896623212420244474
A. ^ The "Other" column constitutes appearances (including substitutes) and goals in the Football League Trophy, FA Trophy and play-offs.

References

  1. "Ten players shown door by Hartlepool United". BBC Sport. 11 May 2011. Retrieved 12 May 2011.
  2. "First Summer Signing Unveiled". Gateshead FC. 12 May 2013. Archived from the original on 3 July 2013. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
  3. "Kidderminster v Gateshead". BBC Sport. 10 August 2013. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
  4. "Gateshead v Barnet". BBC Sport. 17 August 2013. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
  5. "Eleven Not Offered New Deals". Gateshead FC. 29 May 2014. Archived from the original on 29 May 2014. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  6. "Breaking news..." Harrogate Town FC (via Twitter). 8 August 2014. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
  7. "Harrogate Release Larkin". NonLeague.pitchero.com. 25 August 2014. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  8. "Experienced Pair Sign for West Auckland". NonLeague.pitchero.com. 8 September 2014. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  9. "Larkin Boost For RCA". NonLeague.pitchero.com. 14 January 2014. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  10. "Colin Larkin Stats". Soccerbase.
  11. "C. Larkin". Soccerway.
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