Share this page :
FacebooktwittermailFacebooktwittermail

Luke Chadwick and Richard Duffy (pictured), who were both with the Clarets on loan around twelve years ago, have been on the move with both of them joining new clubs, one as a coach and the other as a player.

Chadwick signed for the Clarets from Manchester United on a season long loan in 2003. Things started well enough for him in the first half of the season and he’d even scored five goals by mid-November. But it was a disappointing second half to the season and, after starting the home game against West Brom in mid-January, made only two more starts as we narrowly avoided relegation.

He left United a year later to sign for West Ham and went on to play for Stoke, Norwich, MK before joining Cambridge, the club he’d always supported. He helped them back into the league in 2014 before leaving a year later to sign for Soham Town Rangers in the Isthmian League.

Now 35, he’s hung up his boots and returned to Cambridge where he says he enjoyed the best moment of his playing career, scoring for them against Southport, his first goal for the club. His new role is that of Foundation Phase Lead Coach which basically means he will be responsible for the coaching of boys from pre-academy up to the under-12 age bracket.

He said of his appointment: “I’m absolutely delighted and it’s great to come back to the club that I’ve supported and love to have such an important job coaching young players within the academy. As a fan, player and now a coach, there is nothing better than seeing young players come through the system. It means so much to this football club and gives everybody around the place, from the board, staff, players and the fans, a big lift.”

Chadwick’s year at Burnley was Stan Ternent’s last as manager and the first time new boss Steve Cotterill dipped into the loan market was to bring Richard Duffy from Portsmouth. Although a right back, probably Duffy’s best moment at Burnley was scoring the winning goal against Leeds at Elland Road on a night when he was asked to play on the left hand side of midfield with both Michael Duff and Lee Roche playing on the right.

Duffy had a series of loans while at Portsmouth. Four times he joined Coventry and he also returned for a spell at his first club Swansea. When he  moved on permanently it was to Millwall after which he signed for Exeter and then Port Vale who he joined in August 2012.

He’s gone on to make over 150 appearances for Vale, currently in League One. There was a new contract offer on the table for him but he’s turned it down and instead taken the decision to drop into non-league football with Eastleigh at the age of 30 after making a total of 358 league appearances.

The National League club announced the signing yesterday with manager Chris Todd saying: “I’m absolutely delighted to capture one of my top targets this summer. Richard is the calibre of player we need at our club, he is a winner and leader and will bring a wealth of experience to the squad for next season.”

Duffy made just seven appearances for the Clarets, his debut coming in a 2-2 draw against Stoke when he replaced the injured Tony Grant. He was in the starting line up for just three of those appearances, and was with us for two months before being recalled by Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp.

Follow UpTheClarets:
FacebooktwitterFacebooktwitter


Share this page :
FacebooktwittermailFacebooktwittermail