Ronan Darcy

Ronan Darcy

Darcy playing for Crawley Town in July 2024
Personal information
Full name	Ronan Thomas Darcy [1]
Date of birth	(2000-11-04) 4 November 2000 (age 24)
Place of birth	Bolton, England
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Crawley Town
Number	10
Youth career
2009–2018	Bolton Wanderers
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2018–2022	Bolton Wanderers	29	(1)
2018–2019	→ Skelmersdale United (loan)	3	(0)
2021	→ Sogndal (loan)	7	(0)
2021	→ Sogndal 2 (loan)	1	(0)
2022	→ Queen's Park (loan)	10	(1)
2022–2023	Swindon Town	43	(4)
2023–	Crawley Town	61	(6)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 00:14, 17 November 2024 (UTC)

Ronan Thomas Darcy (born 4 November 2000) is an English professional footballer who plays for EFL League One club Crawley Town.

Career

Bolton Wanderers

Darcy at Bolton Wanderers in November 2017

Darcy signed for the Bolton Wanderers Academy in 2008 at the age of 9. ^[2] He spent the first half of the 2018–2019 season on loan at Skelmersdale United, where he played three times. ^{[3] [4]}

On 5 May 2019, Darcy made his Bolton debut, coming on as a second-half substitute for Craig Noone in Bolton's final game of the 2018–19 season away to Nottingham Forest. ^[5] Darcy's scholarship contract was extended for a further year on 21 May 2019. ^[6] He scored his first goal for Bolton Wanderers in a 5–2 defeat to Rochdale in the EFL Cup, ^[7] and scored his first league goal for the club in a 5-1 defeat to Lincoln City. ^[8] He played 22 matches during the 2019–20 season, which saw Bolton relegated to League Two. ^[9] On 15 June 2020 Darcy signed his first professional contract, signing a new two-year contract with Bolton. ^[10] During the 2020–21 season he played 11 matches as Bolton were promoted to League One. ^[11]

On 17 August 2021, he signed a new one-year contract extension until 2023 ^[12] and while it was initially reported that he had simultaneously joined Norwegian side Sogndal on loan until December, ^{[13] [14]} it wasn't until 27 August that the club confirmed the loan. ^[15] The delay was due to work permit issues as Sogndal had not realised they had to apply for one, with English players no longer counting as EU players as a result of Brexit. ^[16] His debut was delayed due to injury ^[17] with Darcy making his debut on 22 September when he came on as a half time substitute in a 0–2 defeat against Åsane Fotball in the Norwegian Football Cup. ^[18] Darcy helped Sogndal qualify for the play-offs, though they were eliminated in the first round by KFUM-Kameratene Oslo. ^[19]

On 1 February 2022, Darcy joined Scottish League One club Queen's Park on loan until the end of the season. ^[20] He made his debut four days later when he came on as a substitute in a 1–1 draw against Falkirk. ^[21] Darcy scored his first goal on 22 February in a 3–3 draw against Celtic U-20s in the Glasgow Cup. ^[22] His first league goal for Queen's Park came on 12 March, a late equaliser in a 1–1 draw against Alloa Athletic. ^[23] During his loan spell he helped Queen's Park reach the finals of both the Glasgow Cup and the play-offs. Though they lost the Glasgow Cup final 3–1 to Rangers B, ^[24] they won the play-off final 3–2 on aggregate against Airdrieonians earning them promotion to the Scottish Championship. ^[25]

Swindon Town

On 13 July 2022, Darcy signed a two-year deal for EFL League Two side Swindon Town for an undisclosed fee, after completing a successful trial period at the club. ^{[26] [27]} He then scored his first goal for the Robins on 24 September, in a 1-2 away league victory against Grimsby Town. ^[28]

Crawley Town

On 28 July 2023, Darcy signed for fellow League Two side Crawley Town on a two-year contract for an undisclosed fee, reuniting with Scott Lindsey who had signed him for Swindon. ^[29] On 17 September He scored his first goal for Crawley against Tranmere Rovers in a 3-2 league victory.

Darcy appeared in all three of Crawley's League Two play-off matches at the end of the 2023–24 as Crawley were promoted to League One after a 2–0 victory over Crewe Alexandra in the final. ^{[30] [31]}

Personal life

Born in England, Darcy is of Irish descent through his grandfather born in Limerick. ^[32]

Career statistics

As of match played 22 October 2024 ^[33]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup [a]		League cup [b]		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Bolton Wanderers	2018–19 [34]	EFL Championship	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
	2019–20 [9]	EFL League One	19	1	0	0	1	1	2 [c]	0	22	2
	2020–21 [11]	EFL League Two	8	0	1	0	0	0	2 [c]	0	11	0
	2021–22 [35]	EFL League One	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
	Total		29	1	1	0	1	1	4	0	35	2
Skelmersdale United (loan)	2018–19 [3]	NPL Division One North West	3	0	0	0	—		0	0	3	0
Sogndal (loan)	2021 [36] [37]	1. divisjon	7	0	1	0	—		1 [d]	0	9	0
Sogndal 2 (loan)	2021 [38]	3. divisjon	1	0	—		—		—		1	0
Queen's Park (loan)	2021–22 [35] [39]	Scottish League One	10	1	—		—		4 [e]	1	14	2
Swindon Town	2022–23 [40]	EFL League Two	43	4	1	0	1	0	2 [c]	0	47	4
Crawley Town	2023–24 [41]	EFL League Two	45	5	0	0	1	0	6 [f]	1	52	6
	2024–25 [30]	EFL League One	12	1	2	0	0	0	2 [c]	1	16	2
	Total		57	6	2	0	1	0	8	2	68	8
Career total			150	12	5	0	3	1	19	3	177	16

Notes

1. Includes FA Cup, Norwegian Football Cup, Scottish Cup
2. Includes EFL Cup, Scottish League Cup
3. Appearance(s) in the EFL Trophy.
4. Appearance(s) in the 1. divisjon play-offs.
5. Appearance(s) in the Glasgow Cup.
6. Three appearances in EFL Trophy, three appearances and one goal in EFL League Two play-offs

Honours

Bolton Wanderers

• EFL League Two third-place promotion: 2020–21 ^{[42] [11]}

Queen's Park

• Scottish League One promotion play-offs: 2022 ^[25]
• Glasgow Cup runner-up: 2021–22 ^[24]

Crawley Town

• EFL League Two play-offs: 2024 ^[31]

References

1. "Club list of registered players: As at 18th May 2018: Bolton Wanderers" (PDF). efl.com. p. 8. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
2. Bolton Wanderers F.C. [@OfficialBWFC] (15 June 2020). "It's been some journey for @ronan_darcy since joining the Wanderers academy as an eight-year old in 2009...Signing a professional contract, Fulfilling a childhood dream, #BWFC #OneOfOurOwn" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
3. "Ronan Darcy - Skelmersdale United F.C. First Team". Skelmersdale United F.C. – via Pitchero.
4. "Loan Watch: A selection of Wanderers players represent their respective loan clubs". Bolton Wanderers F.C.
5. "Nottingham Forest 1-0 Bolton Wanderers". BBC Sport. 5 May 2019. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
6. "Option taken up on third year scholarship extensions for quartet". Bolton Wanderers F.C.
7. "Rochdale 5-2 Bolton Wanderers". BBC Sport. 13 August 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
8. "Lincoln City 5-1 Bolton Wanderers". BBC Sport. 14 January 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
9. "Games played by Ronan Darcy in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
10. "One Of Our Own: Darcy commits his future". Bolton Wanderers F.C. 15 June 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
11. "Games played by Ronan Darcy in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
12. "Darcy Pens Contract Extension". Bolton Wanderers F.C.
13. "Done deal: Midfielder Ronan Darcy signs new contract with Bolton Wanderers". The Bolton News. 17 August 2021.
14. "SOGNDAL STYRKER TROPPEN – BOLTON-SPILLER PÅ VEI". Eurosport (in Norwegian).
15. "Darcy Heads to Norway on Loan". Bolton Wanderers F.C. 27 August 2021. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
16. "Transfer news: Ronan Darcy set for Norway loan move at Bolton Wanderers". The Bolton News. 16 August 2021.
17. "From bad to Norse: Ronan Darcy picks up reported injury during Sogndal loan". The Bolton News. 21 September 2021.
18. "NIFS - Norsk & Internasjonal Fotballstatistikk". www.nifs.no.
19. "NIFS - Norsk & Internasjonal Fotballstatistikk". www.nifs.no.
20. "Scottish Switch For Darcy". Bolton Wanderers F.C.
21. Cairns, Ian (5 February 2022). "Falkirk 1 Queen's Park 1". Queen's Park F.C.
22. Cairns, Ian (22 February 2022). "Queen's Park 3 Celtic B 3". Queen's Park F.C.
23. Cairns, Ian (12 March 2022). "Queen's Park 1 Alloa Athletic 1". Queen's Park F.C.
24. Cairns, Ian (10 May 2022). "Rangers 3 Queen's Park 1". Queen's Park F.C.
25. "Queen's Park beat Airdrie to reach Championship". BBC Sport. 15 May 2022.
26. "Darcy Ends Wanderers' Stay". Bolton Wanderers F.C. 12 July 2022. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
27. "Swindon snap up Ronan Darcy". Swindon Town F.C. 13 July 2022. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
28. "Grimsby Town 1-2 Swindon Town". BBC Sport. 24 September 2022. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
29. "Reds secure Darcy signing". Crawley Town F.C. 28 July 2023. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
30. "Games played by Ronan Darcy in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
31. "Crawley Town 2–0 Crewe Alexandra: Line-ups". BBC Sport. 19 May 2024. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
32. Gaine, Bill (10 January 2023). "A 'Granny Rule XI' We'd Love To See Playing For Ireland Some Day". Balls.ie.
33. Ronan Darcy at Soccerbase
34. "Games played by Ronan Darcy in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
35. "Games played by Ronan Darcy in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
36. "R. Darcy: Summary". Soccerway.
37. "NIFS - Norsk & Internasjonal Fotballstatistikk". www.nifs.no.
38. "NIFS - Norsk & Internasjonal Fotballstatistikk". www.nifs.no.
39. Queens Park: "Queen's Park 3 Celtic B 3"
    Queen's Park: "Rangers B 2 Queen's Park 0"
    Queen's Park: "Clyde 1 Queen's Park 3"
    Queen's Park: "Rangers 3 Queen's Park 1"
40. "Games played by Ronan Darcy in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
41. "Games played by Ronan Darcy in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
42. "League Two Betting | 2023/24 | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com.