![]() Blake lining up for Wales in 2011
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Personal information | |||
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Full name | Darcy James Blake | ||
Date of birth | 13 December 1988 | ||
Place of birth | New Tredegar, Wales | ||
Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | ||
Playing position | Defender / Midfielder | ||
Youth career | |||
1999–2005 | Cardiff City | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2005–2012 | Cardiff City | 90 | (0) |
2009 | → Plymouth Argyle (loan) | 7 | (0) |
2012–2014 | Crystal Palace | 10 | (0) |
2014 | Newport County | 8 | (0) |
National team‡ | |||
2004–2005 | Wales U17 | 5 | (1) |
2005–2006 | Wales U19 | 6 | (0) |
2006–2009 | Wales U21 | 14 | (0) |
2010–2012 | Wales | 14 | (1) |
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 08:25, 14 February 2014 (UTC). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 08:25, 21 March 2014 (UTC) |
Darcy James Blake (born 13 December 1988) is a Welsh former international footballer. During his career, he won 14 caps for Wales at full international level, scoring once, and made more than 100 appearances in the Football League. He began his career at Cardiff City, spending a brief period on loan at Plymouth Argyle.
In 2012, he joined Crystal Palace but was released by the club after 18 months. He later had a brief spell with Newport County before dropping out of the professional game. Blake received criticism from a number of former managers, including Dave Jones, Malky Mackay and Chris Coleman, during his career regarding his fitness levels.
As a teenager, Blake attended Blackwood Comprehensive school.
Blake joined the Cardiff City youth side at the age of 10 and as a youngster he supported both Liverpool and Cardiff. Hesigned his first professional contract at the club in 2006 along with fellow academy graduate Chris Gunter.
Blake made his first team debut on 17 April 2006 against Crewe Alexandra in the Football League Championship, but had to wait until 20 February 2007 to make his first league start for the club in a match against West Bromwich Albion, Cardiff losing the match 1–0. Blake also received a man of the match award in the semi final of the FAW Premier Cup against The New Saints after playing in the centre back position with his strength and tackling earning him the man of the match award