Darren Way was born on 21 November 1979 and is an English professional football manager and former player who manages National League South club Bath City.
33 Facts About Darren Way
1.
2.
Darren Way progressed through the youth ranks to captain the reserve side and earn a professional contract at Carrow Road but was released in the summer of 2000 after failing to make a first team appearance.
3.
In December 2008, Darren Way was involved in a serious car accident whilst a passenger in a car, leaving him with injuries which included a broken femur and broken hip.
4.
Darren Way spent three years in charge of The Glovers guiding the club to 19th, 20th and 19th-place finishes respectively but with the club facing the threat of relegation out of the Football League he was sacked in March 2019.
5.
Darren Way spent the next two years travelling from Plymouth to Norwich, spending seven hours there and seven hours back on the train each weekend, along with future Wales international and Liverpool striker Craig Bellamy who he used to meet in Bristol.
6.
In May 1999, Darren Way signed a one-year professional contract and sat on the bench for a number of first team matches.
7.
In May 2000, following his release by Norwich, Darren Way played in a trial match for Plymouth Argyle, before returning to link up with Bristol Rovers for pre-season training including going on a team-building trip to Dublin, but despite manager Ian Holloway wanting to sign Darren Way, no contract was forthcoming.
8.
Darren Way immediately became a fans favourite at Yeovil earning the moniker "Weasel" to describe his hard working attitude.
9.
Darren Way ended his first season with the club having made 51 appearances in all competitions, scoring twelve times, as Yeovil narrowly missed out on the Conference title.
10.
In November 2001, Darren Way was called up for an England National Game XI trial match against a Southern Football League XI, but had to withdraw through injury.
11.
Darren Way's season was interrupted by injuries as he made 34 appearances as Yeovil finished third in the Conference.
12.
The new season saw Yeovil allocate squad numbers for the first time in the club's history with Darren Way wearing the number six shirt.
13.
The end of the season saw Darren Way called up to the England National Game XI for the Four Nations Tournament, Darren Way appeared in the first two matches, scoring the winner against holders Wales, as England won the title.
14.
Darren Way was one of four Yeovil players chosen in the Conference team of the year at the end of season Conference AGM.
15.
Yeovil ended their first season in the Football League finishing in eighth place, missing out on a play-off place on goal difference, with Darren Way scoring five times in 44 appearances in all competitions.
16.
Darren Way missed only one league match the following season as Yeovil won the League Two title and promotion, at the end of the season Darren Way was one of five Yeovil players in PFA League Two Team of the Year.
17.
In January 2006, Darren Way left Yeovil just a week after his midfield partner Lee Johnson to Hearts, as the Conference winning side began to be broken up.
18.
On 15 November 2007, Darren Way rejoined fellow League One side Yeovil Town on loan from Swansea until 1 January 2008, in an effort to regain match fitness after recovering from a shin injury which had prevented him from playing for Swansea's first team for over a year.
19.
Darren Way finally announced his retirement from playing thirteen months after his car accident in February 2010.
20.
On 23 July 2010, Darren Way made his final playing appearance for Yeovil as a late substitute in his testimonial match against a Manchester United XI.
21.
On 1 December 2015, with the club bottom of League Two and having not won in twelve league matches Sturrock was sacked and Darren Way placed in interim charge, with Skiverton as his assistant.
22.
On 6 April 2016, having guided Yeovil to the brink of securing their League Two status, with the club fourteen points clear of the relegation zone, Darren Way was awarded a new three-year contract.
23.
In June 2017, Darren Way completed his UEFA Pro Licence course.
24.
Darren Way said that he would not be at Yeovil for ever and that when he left he would be missed.
25.
Darren Way asserted that the fans knew nothing about football.
26.
In December 2019, he was appointed under-18s manager at Plymouth Argyle replacing former coach Kevin Hodges who had left the club the previous month, with Darren Way taking up the role from January 2020.
27.
On 11 September 2023, Darren Way joined EFL League One side Fleetwood Town to take up the role of assistant manager.
28.
On 23 December 2024, Darren Way was appointed manager of National League South side Bath City.
29.
On 17 December 2008, Darren Way was involved in a serious accident on the A3088 Cartgate link road between the A303 and Yeovil whilst a passenger in a white van which collided head-on with a blue 4x4.
30.
Darren Way was airlifted to Dorchester Hospital, where his condition was described as serious but stable, before being treated at Frenchay Hospital in Bristol.
31.
Darren Way's injuries included a broken left femur, broken left kneecap, broken and dislocated right elbow, broken and dislocated left hip, multiple fractures of his right wrist, damage to his right hand, a ruptured left biceps, deep cuts to both shins and soft tissue damage.
32.
On 22 January 2009, Darren Way was discharged from Yeovil District Hospital, after having thirteen operations, marking a huge step on his road to recovery, although he was still using a wheelchair.
33.
Darren Way had to learn how to walk again after his accident, and after his retirement he and stadium technician Bruce James were involved in a lengthy legal battle in the High Court with the insurers of the 4x4 driver over compensation for the accident.