Dan Harding
Encyclopedia
Daniel Andrew "Dan" Harding (born 23 December 1983) is an English footballer who currently plays as a left back for Championship club Southampton
. Born in Gloucester
, former England under-21
player Harding began his career with Brighton & Hove Albion
and has also played for Leeds United
, Ipswich Town
, Southend United
and Reading
, before joining the "Saints" in July 2009 on a free transfer.
youth scheme in 1999 aged sixteen. After a successful run in the reserves and the youth side he finally made the left back position at Brighton his own. After an impressive two seasons, in which he scored once against Rotherham United, and with England's U21 coach Peter Taylor and a host of Premier League clubs taking an interest in him, Harding was preparing to move on.
, Harding moved to Ipswich Town
in a part-exchange deal for Ian Westlake
on 4 August 2006. Leeds also paid Ipswich £400,000 and a further £100,000 was dependent on Westlake's appearances. He scored his first goal for Ipswich in a 3–1 defeat at Hull on 29 September 2007. After initially playing regularly he lost his place in the team and was transfer listed.
On 7 August 2008, he moved to Southend United
on a six-month loan deal with a view to a permanent move. He scored against former club Leeds in a 1–0 win on 28 October 2008. On 29 January 2009, he joined Reading
on loan for the remainder of the 2008–09
season. In May 2009, after talks with Ipswich's new manager Roy Keane
, Harding was told his contract would not be renewed and that he would be released from the club.
, becoming new manager Alan Pardew
's first signing. He scored his first goal for the club in a 1–1 draw with Brentford
on 22 August 2009.
Harding scored his second goal for the club on 12 December against Tranmere Rovers. He also scored another goal against his former club Leeds United on 13 March 2010. He was named in the League One Team of the Year for the 2010–11 season.
His first goal of the 2011-2012 season came in a 3-2 defeat at Leicester City.
Individual
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
. Born in Gloucester
Gloucester
Gloucester is a city, district and county town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England. Gloucester lies close to the Welsh border, and on the River Severn, approximately north-east of Bristol, and south-southwest of Birmingham....
, former England under-21
England national under-21 football team
England's national Under-21 football team, also known as England Under-21s or England U21, is considered to be the feeder team for the England national football team....
player Harding began his career with Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....
and has also played for Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
, Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....
, Southend United
Southend United F.C.
Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had...
and Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
, before joining the "Saints" in July 2009 on a free transfer.
Brighton & Hove Albion
Harding joined the Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....
youth scheme in 1999 aged sixteen. After a successful run in the reserves and the youth side he finally made the left back position at Brighton his own. After an impressive two seasons, in which he scored once against Rotherham United, and with England's U21 coach Peter Taylor and a host of Premier League clubs taking an interest in him, Harding was preparing to move on.
Leeds United
On 7 June 2005, Harding reportedly cut short a holiday, to sign a three year-contract with Leeds United on a free transfer. Since he was under 24 years-old, Brighton were entitled to compensation which was to be decided by a tribunal. On 28 July, Leeds United were order to pay up to £850,000 in compensation to Brighton. An initial payment of £450,000 was paid by Leeds with a further £400,000 dependent on appearances, international caps and promotion success.Ipswich Town
After only one season at Leeds UnitedLeeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
, Harding moved to Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....
in a part-exchange deal for Ian Westlake
Ian Westlake
Ian John Westlake is an English professional footballer, currently playing for the Montreal Impact of the North American Soccer League.-Early career:...
on 4 August 2006. Leeds also paid Ipswich £400,000 and a further £100,000 was dependent on Westlake's appearances. He scored his first goal for Ipswich in a 3–1 defeat at Hull on 29 September 2007. After initially playing regularly he lost his place in the team and was transfer listed.
On 7 August 2008, he moved to Southend United
Southend United F.C.
Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had...
on a six-month loan deal with a view to a permanent move. He scored against former club Leeds in a 1–0 win on 28 October 2008. On 29 January 2009, he joined Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
on loan for the remainder of the 2008–09
2008–09 in English football
The 2008–09 season was the 129th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* West Bromwich Albion, Stoke City and Hull City were all playing in the Premier League after winning promotion from the Championship last season. Stoke returned to the top flight after a 23-year absence, while...
season. In May 2009, after talks with Ipswich's new manager Roy Keane
Roy Keane
Roy Maurice Keane is an Irish former footballer and manager. In his 18-year playing career, he played for Cobh Ramblers in the League of Ireland, Nottingham Forest and Manchester United, before ending his career at Celtic in Scotland....
, Harding was told his contract would not be renewed and that he would be released from the club.
Southampton
On 21 July 2009, he signed a two year deal with SouthamptonSouthampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
, becoming new manager Alan Pardew
Alan Pardew
Alan Scott Pardew is an English football manager and former player, currently the manager of Newcastle United....
's first signing. He scored his first goal for the club in a 1–1 draw with Brentford
Brentford F.C.
Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One....
on 22 August 2009.
Harding scored his second goal for the club on 12 December against Tranmere Rovers. He also scored another goal against his former club Leeds United on 13 March 2010. He was named in the League One Team of the Year for the 2010–11 season.
His first goal of the 2011-2012 season came in a 3-2 defeat at Leicester City.
Honours
SouthamptonSouthampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
- Football League TrophyFootball League TrophyThe Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
: 20102010 Football League Trophy FinalThe 2010 Football League Trophy Final was the 27th final of the domestic football cup competition for teams from Football Leagues One and Two, the Football League Trophy. The final was played at Wembley Stadium in London on 28 March 2010. The match was contested between Carlisle United and... - Football League OneFootball League OneFootball League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
: 2010-11 runners-up
Individual
- PFA Team of the Year: 2010–11 League One2010–11 Football League OneThe 2010–11 Football League One is the seventh season of the league under its current title and nineteenth season under its current league division format...