Carl Griffiths
Encyclopedia
Carl Brian Griffiths is an English-born Welsh
footballer, now manager. He is currently manager of Aveley
.
He started his career with Shrewsbury Town
in 1988, and after five years moved on to Manchester City
. In 1995 he transferred to Portsmouth
, moving on to Peterborough United
a year later. He joined Leyton Orient
in 1997, where he stayed for four years, interrupted by short spells at Wrexham
and Port Vale
. He played for Luton Town
between 2001 and 2003, later dropping into non-league football with Harlow Town
, Braintree Town
, Brentwood Town
, and Maldon Town. He also represented Wales at under-21 level
and also for the "B" team. Within his three spells with Leyton Orient he achieved cult status and in 2004 received 9% of the vote for all-time cult hero behind Peter Kitchen
and Terry Howard
.
Turning to management in 2008, he took charge of Brentwood Town
for a year. In 2010 he was made manager of Aveley
.
in September 1988, with a goal rate of 1 in every 3 games during his five years with the club. He was picked up by Manchester City
in October 1993 for £500,000. He barely featured during the next two years and was moved on to Portsmouth
as a £200,000 makeweight in the Kit Symons
transfer in August 1995. Utilized almost exclusively as a substitute he moved on to Peterborough United
for £225,000 in March 1996. He stayed for twelve months before another big money move followed, this time to Leyton Orient
for £100,000 in March 1997, after spending November 1996 on loan at the club. He found his form at Orient, returning one goal every three games, but after a month on loan at Wrexham
in 1999, he moved to Port Vale
in March 1999 for £100,000. He did not perform well at Vale and nine months later moved back to Orient for £90,000. In July 2001, he was sold to Luton Town
for £65,000, where he scored eight goals in 13 league games before suffering a succession of serious injuries. At that point Griffiths moved into non-league football with Harlow Town
, Brentwood Town
and Braintree Town
. In November 2010, at the age of 39, Griffiths was still playing, and scoring, for Barkingside
of the Essex Senior League
.
. He left the club after one season, despite the chairman opens pleas for him to stay.
He later was appointed assistant manager at Barkingside
of the Essex Senior Football League
.
On 19 November 2010, Aveley
announced that Griffiths had been appointed manager of the club with immediate effect and will bring together his ex-management team from Brentwood, consisting of Scott Canham
, Gary Foley, Harry McCullum and Dean Parratt. He left Aveley in November 2011.
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
footballer, now manager. He is currently manager of Aveley
Aveley F.C.
Aveley F.C. are an English football club based in the town of Aveley, Essex. The club are currently members of the Isthmian League Premier Division and play at the Mill Field.-Club history:...
.
He started his career with Shrewsbury Town
Shrewsbury Town F.C.
Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football...
in 1988, and after five years moved on to Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
. In 1995 he transferred to Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
, moving on to Peterborough United
Peterborough United F.C.
Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is...
a year later. He joined Leyton Orient
Leyton Orient F.C.
Leyton Orient F.C. are an English professional football club in East London. They currently play in Football League One and are known to their fans as the O's.Leyton Orient have spent one season in the top flight of English football, in 1962–63...
in 1997, where he stayed for four years, interrupted by short spells at Wrexham
Wrexham A.F.C.
Wrexham Football Club are a professional football team based in Wrexham, north-east Wales, who play in the English football pyramid.Founded in 1872, they are one of the oldest surviving football clubs in Britain and the oldest professional club in Wales...
and Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
. He played for Luton Town
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
between 2001 and 2003, later dropping into non-league football with Harlow Town
Harlow Town F.C.
Harlow Town F.C. are an English football club based in Harlow, Essex. The club currently play in the Division One North of the Isthmian League, after relegation from the Isthmian League Premier Division in 2009....
, Braintree Town
Braintree Town F.C.
Braintree Town F.C. is an English football club based in Braintree, Essex. The club are currently members of the Conference National and play their home matches at Cressing Road.-History:...
, Brentwood Town
Brentwood Town F.C.
Brentwood Town F.C. are an English football club based in Brentwood, Essex. The club is currently a member of the Isthmian League Division One North.-History:...
, and Maldon Town. He also represented Wales at under-21 level
Wales national under-21 football team
The Wales national under-21 football team, also known as the Wales U21s, is the national under-21 football team of Wales and is controlled by the Football Association of Wales. The team competes in the UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship, held every two years...
and also for the "B" team. Within his three spells with Leyton Orient he achieved cult status and in 2004 received 9% of the vote for all-time cult hero behind Peter Kitchen
Peter Kitchen
Michael Peter Kitchen is an English-born former professional footballer who played in the Football League in the 1970s and 80's as a forward.-Career:...
and Terry Howard
Terry Howard
Terry Howard is a retired English footballer who played for Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Chester City, Leyton Orient, Wycombe Wanderers, Woking and Aldershot Town....
.
Turning to management in 2008, he took charge of Brentwood Town
Brentwood Town F.C.
Brentwood Town F.C. are an English football club based in Brentwood, Essex. The club is currently a member of the Isthmian League Division One North.-History:...
for a year. In 2010 he was made manager of Aveley
Aveley F.C.
Aveley F.C. are an English football club based in the town of Aveley, Essex. The club are currently members of the Isthmian League Premier Division and play at the Mill Field.-Club history:...
.
Playing career
Griffiths started his career with Shrewsbury TownShrewsbury Town F.C.
Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football...
in September 1988, with a goal rate of 1 in every 3 games during his five years with the club. He was picked up by Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
in October 1993 for £500,000. He barely featured during the next two years and was moved on to Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
as a £200,000 makeweight in the Kit Symons
Kit Symons
Christopher "Kit" Symons is a former Welsh international footballer.-Club career:A defender, Symons began his career at Portsmouth, spending seven years at the south coast club, making 160 appearances...
transfer in August 1995. Utilized almost exclusively as a substitute he moved on to Peterborough United
Peterborough United F.C.
Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is...
for £225,000 in March 1996. He stayed for twelve months before another big money move followed, this time to Leyton Orient
Leyton Orient F.C.
Leyton Orient F.C. are an English professional football club in East London. They currently play in Football League One and are known to their fans as the O's.Leyton Orient have spent one season in the top flight of English football, in 1962–63...
for £100,000 in March 1997, after spending November 1996 on loan at the club. He found his form at Orient, returning one goal every three games, but after a month on loan at Wrexham
Wrexham A.F.C.
Wrexham Football Club are a professional football team based in Wrexham, north-east Wales, who play in the English football pyramid.Founded in 1872, they are one of the oldest surviving football clubs in Britain and the oldest professional club in Wales...
in 1999, he moved to Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
in March 1999 for £100,000. He did not perform well at Vale and nine months later moved back to Orient for £90,000. In July 2001, he was sold to Luton Town
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
for £65,000, where he scored eight goals in 13 league games before suffering a succession of serious injuries. At that point Griffiths moved into non-league football with Harlow Town
Harlow Town F.C.
Harlow Town F.C. are an English football club based in Harlow, Essex. The club currently play in the Division One North of the Isthmian League, after relegation from the Isthmian League Premier Division in 2009....
, Brentwood Town
Brentwood Town F.C.
Brentwood Town F.C. are an English football club based in Brentwood, Essex. The club is currently a member of the Isthmian League Division One North.-History:...
and Braintree Town
Braintree Town F.C.
Braintree Town F.C. is an English football club based in Braintree, Essex. The club are currently members of the Conference National and play their home matches at Cressing Road.-History:...
. In November 2010, at the age of 39, Griffiths was still playing, and scoring, for Barkingside
Barkingside F.C.
Barkingside Football Club, based in Barkingside in the London Borough of Redbridge, was formed by a small group of enthusiasts in 1889, playing in the Ilford League, on a ground opposite the State Cinema in Barkingside High Road. They gained their first honour after the First World War sharing the...
of the Essex Senior League
Essex Senior Football League
The Essex Senior Football League is an English football league covering Essex, northeast Greater London and the eastern part of Hertfordshire. It is a feeder to Division One North of Isthmian League and has a single division which sits at step 5 of the National League System.There is no automatic...
.
Management career
On 24 May 2008, Griffiths was appointed manager of Brentwood TownBrentwood Town F.C.
Brentwood Town F.C. are an English football club based in Brentwood, Essex. The club is currently a member of the Isthmian League Division One North.-History:...
. He left the club after one season, despite the chairman opens pleas for him to stay.
He later was appointed assistant manager at Barkingside
Barkingside F.C.
Barkingside Football Club, based in Barkingside in the London Borough of Redbridge, was formed by a small group of enthusiasts in 1889, playing in the Ilford League, on a ground opposite the State Cinema in Barkingside High Road. They gained their first honour after the First World War sharing the...
of the Essex Senior Football League
Essex Senior Football League
The Essex Senior Football League is an English football league covering Essex, northeast Greater London and the eastern part of Hertfordshire. It is a feeder to Division One North of Isthmian League and has a single division which sits at step 5 of the National League System.There is no automatic...
.
On 19 November 2010, Aveley
Aveley F.C.
Aveley F.C. are an English football club based in the town of Aveley, Essex. The club are currently members of the Isthmian League Premier Division and play at the Mill Field.-Club history:...
announced that Griffiths had been appointed manager of the club with immediate effect and will bring together his ex-management team from Brentwood, consisting of Scott Canham
Scott Canham
Scott Walter Canham is an English former professional footballer who played in the Football League as a midfielder for Torquay United, Brentford and Leyton Orient. He went on to play for several years in non-League football.-Career:...
, Gary Foley, Harry McCullum and Dean Parratt. He left Aveley in November 2011.