' Ex City Star sparks complaint '
Mon Sep 29, 2014 8:36 pm
Former Cardiff City star Darcy Blake sparks complaint after turning out for Tredegar Arms AFC
Monday Sep 29, 2014
By Terry Phillips
Former Wales international Blake, who is currently without a club, is playing amateur football three years after starring for Wales against England
Darcy Blake outplayed Wayne Rooney just three years ago
Three years ago, Darcy Blake was being hailed as the future of Wales’ defence after marking England star Wayne Rooney out of a crunch European Championship qualifier at Wembley Stadium.
It was a performance of class and commitment that finally marked the arrival on the world stage of a player of undoubted potential.
Yet, this weekend Blake could be found turning out for a pub team in the North Gwent amateur League following the dramatic collapse of his professional football career.
Former defender Blake turned striker for Tredegar Arms FC when he agreed to help them out of an injury crisis and fired a hat-trick in their 6-3 win against Pantside FC.
It was a long way from those heady heights under Gary Speed, and Blake’s goal-scoring performance could now have landed his new team in a spot of bother.
Pantside were far from happy with Blake’s goal-scoring exploits for the Arms and have complained to the North Gwent League about his appearance.
League official Geoff Phillips confirmed: “Pantside have asked us to investigate whether Darcy Blake was officially signed for Tredegar Arms.
“They have to put their complaint in writing and then we will investigate. That is the usual procedure.”
Blake has been helping the Gwent side during training and was persuaded to play due to a major injury crisis.
“Darcy has been taking training at the club and when they had an injury crisis he was persuaded to play,” said Dave Beynon, who started the club 23 years ago.
“When he was a kid Darcy was chucked in as a striker for Jubilee Thistle at the ages of nine, 10 and 11 -years-old. He is a natural footballer who can do the job.
“He’s keen to get back into professional football and is reasonably fit right now. Darcy is a free agent and with some full-time work at a club he could be a quality signing.”
Blake, 25, played for Newport County last season, while he also had a spell on trial with Plymouth Argyle.
But he is without a club, having left Crystal Palace last summer after his loan spell with Newport.
Rhymney Valley-born Blake, who attended Blackwood Comprehensive School, joined Cardiff’s youth development programme at 10-years-old, signed his first professional contract eight years ago at the same time as Chris Gunter and spent 14 years with the club. He played in the League Cup final against Liverpool at Wembley in 2012, making well over 100 first team appearances in total for the Bluebirds.
He also played for Wales at under-17, under-19, under-21 and senior levels, making his full debut against Switzerland in Basel during 2010.
Blake is keen to kick-start his professional career and seems unlikely to play for Tredegar Arms on a regular basis.
Monday Sep 29, 2014
By Terry Phillips
Former Wales international Blake, who is currently without a club, is playing amateur football three years after starring for Wales against England
Darcy Blake outplayed Wayne Rooney just three years ago
Three years ago, Darcy Blake was being hailed as the future of Wales’ defence after marking England star Wayne Rooney out of a crunch European Championship qualifier at Wembley Stadium.
It was a performance of class and commitment that finally marked the arrival on the world stage of a player of undoubted potential.
Yet, this weekend Blake could be found turning out for a pub team in the North Gwent amateur League following the dramatic collapse of his professional football career.
Former defender Blake turned striker for Tredegar Arms FC when he agreed to help them out of an injury crisis and fired a hat-trick in their 6-3 win against Pantside FC.
It was a long way from those heady heights under Gary Speed, and Blake’s goal-scoring performance could now have landed his new team in a spot of bother.
Pantside were far from happy with Blake’s goal-scoring exploits for the Arms and have complained to the North Gwent League about his appearance.
League official Geoff Phillips confirmed: “Pantside have asked us to investigate whether Darcy Blake was officially signed for Tredegar Arms.
“They have to put their complaint in writing and then we will investigate. That is the usual procedure.”
Blake has been helping the Gwent side during training and was persuaded to play due to a major injury crisis.
“Darcy has been taking training at the club and when they had an injury crisis he was persuaded to play,” said Dave Beynon, who started the club 23 years ago.
“When he was a kid Darcy was chucked in as a striker for Jubilee Thistle at the ages of nine, 10 and 11 -years-old. He is a natural footballer who can do the job.
“He’s keen to get back into professional football and is reasonably fit right now. Darcy is a free agent and with some full-time work at a club he could be a quality signing.”
Blake, 25, played for Newport County last season, while he also had a spell on trial with Plymouth Argyle.
But he is without a club, having left Crystal Palace last summer after his loan spell with Newport.
Rhymney Valley-born Blake, who attended Blackwood Comprehensive School, joined Cardiff’s youth development programme at 10-years-old, signed his first professional contract eight years ago at the same time as Chris Gunter and spent 14 years with the club. He played in the League Cup final against Liverpool at Wembley in 2012, making well over 100 first team appearances in total for the Bluebirds.
He also played for Wales at under-17, under-19, under-21 and senior levels, making his full debut against Switzerland in Basel during 2010.
Blake is keen to kick-start his professional career and seems unlikely to play for Tredegar Arms on a regular basis.
Re: ' Ex City Star sparks complaint '
Mon Sep 29, 2014 9:35 pm
Waste of a good talent. Wonder if it was a case of too much ale
Re: ' Ex City Star sparks complaint '
Mon Sep 29, 2014 9:48 pm
Still young, sad to see
Re: ' Ex City Star sparks complaint '
Tue Sep 30, 2014 11:04 am
Can we not just sign him on a free if he's so interested in playing again? He was great, why not make him an offer?
Re: ' Ex City Star sparks complaint '
Tue Sep 30, 2014 12:13 pm
Hatrick - sign him up
Re: ' Ex City Star sparks complaint '
Tue Sep 30, 2014 12:33 pm
So what has the lad been up to, to cock up so badly a promising career? 
Re: ' Ex City Star sparks complaint '
Tue Sep 30, 2014 2:14 pm
Liles93 wrote:Can we not just sign him on a free if he's so interested in playing again? He was great, why not make him an offer?
You have to be joking, right?
The local pub team manager describes him as being ... "reasonably fit". There has been criticism of the general poor standard of fitness at our club this season... you want to add to that list by bringing in another player whose fitness levels have proven to be way off the mark expected of a professional footballer?
Blake was never THAT good when he played for us; he's still dining off the "...had Rooney in his back pocket" memories.
Re: ' Ex City Star sparks complaint '
Tue Sep 30, 2014 2:24 pm
latcher wrote:Liles93 wrote:Can we not just sign him on a free if he's so interested in playing again? He was great, why not make him an offer?
You have to be joking, right?
The local pub team manager describes him as being ... "reasonably fit". There has been criticism of the general poor standard of fitness at our club this season... you want to add to that list by bringing in another player whose fitness levels have proven to be way off the mark expected of a professional footballer?
Blake was never THAT good when he played for us; he's still dining off the "...had Rooney in his back pocket" memories.
Not necessarily for first team football straight off the bat, but why not have him come and train with a new contract in next season or something. I wasn't expecting him to hop back into the first XI
Re: ' Ex City Star sparks complaint '
Tue Sep 30, 2014 3:16 pm
Liles93 wrote:latcher wrote:Liles93 wrote:Can we not just sign him on a free if he's so interested in playing again? He was great, why not make him an offer?
You have to be joking, right?
The local pub team manager describes him as being ... "reasonably fit". There has been criticism of the general poor standard of fitness at our club this season... you want to add to that list by bringing in another player whose fitness levels have proven to be way off the mark expected of a professional footballer?
Blake was never THAT good when he played for us; he's still dining off the "...had Rooney in his back pocket" memories.
Not necessarily for first team football straight off the bat, but why not have him come and train with a new contract in next season or something. I wasn't expecting him to hop back into the first XI
We're supposed to be a professional football club... not a convalescent home!
Re: ' Ex City Star sparks complaint '
Tue Sep 30, 2014 3:42 pm
latcher wrote:Liles93 wrote:latcher wrote:Liles93 wrote:Can we not just sign him on a free if he's so interested in playing again? He was great, why not make him an offer?
You have to be joking, right?
The local pub team manager describes him as being ... "reasonably fit". There has been criticism of the general poor standard of fitness at our club this season... you want to add to that list by bringing in another player whose fitness levels have proven to be way off the mark expected of a professional footballer?
Blake was never THAT good when he played for us; he's still dining off the "...had Rooney in his back pocket" memories.
Not necessarily for first team football straight off the bat, but why not have him come and train with a new contract in next season or something. I wasn't expecting him to hop back into the first XI
We're supposed to be a professional football club... not a convalescent home!
