They Played for Both Clubs: Julian Darby

Julian Darby was born in Farnworth in October 1967.

Turning professional at 19 with his boyhood club Bolton Wanderers, Darby was a defensive midfielder who would fill in at right back when needed, and who became a veteran of some 270 appearances for the mighty Bolton.

He famously scored in our 4-1 Sherpa Van Trophy Final win over Torquay United at Wembley in 1989, although was on the way out of Bolton by the time Bruce Rioch arrived in 1992.

After leaving the Whites, he moved to Coventry City where his two seasons yielded five goals in 55 games. He was sold then to West Bromwich Albion in 1995, before an injury hit three seasons at tomorrow's opponents Preston North End which brought a mediocre return of 36 games.

These days, Darby is primarily known as the right-hand man of mental patient ex-Nottnigham Forest and Derby County manager Billy Davies, and has followed the poison dwarf around the Midlands as part of his coaching team.

He was appointed to Uwe Rosler's Lees United staff in July 2015, though his fate is uncertain following the German's sacking before last week's game against Wanderers.

He is also fondly remembered around these parts, given his role in one of our most famous goals - when Frank Worthington scored his ridiculous turn-and-volley against Ipswich Town all those years ago, one of the more endearing elements of each replay was the excited reaction of the ball-boy behind the goal......that lad was none other than Julian Darby - a Bolton fan, at heart.

Career Statistics