16 Facts About Darcy Blake

Darcy James Blake was born on 13 December 1988 and is a Welsh former professional footballer.

Darcy Blake began his career as a youth player with Cardiff City before making his professional debut at the age of 17 in 2006.

Darcy Blake later had a brief spell with Newport County before dropping out of the professional game at the age of 25, playing for local amateur teams and briefly converting to rugby.

Darcy Blake joined local youth side Jubilee Thistle at the age of nine where he played as a striker.

At the age of 10, Darcy Blake joined the youth academy at Cardiff City, the club he supported alongside Liverpool, although he continued playing for Thistle until he was 12.

Darcy Blake completed his loan at Plymouth on 31 December 2009 and returned to Cardiff.

However, the club was placed under a transfer embargo that delayed the move and Darcy Blake was able to force his way into the first team at Cardiff again.

On his return to Cardiff, Darcy 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 Darcy Blake to establish himself in the side as a centre-back alongside Anthony Gerrard.

Cardiff manager, Malky Mackay, replied to this saying Darcy Blake was "in his plans" but his injuries and fitness were a problem.

On 9 August 2012, Darcy 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.

Darcy Blake has lost his fitness and there is no easy way around it.

Darcy Blake 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.

On 20 March 2014, Darcy Blake joined Newport County on non-contract terms, having spent time training with Birmingham City.

Darcy 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.

Darcy 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.