Will Injury Call Time On Former Oxford, Mansfield, Grimsby & Imps striker’s career?

Rob Duffy scored goals aplenty at Oxford United and Mansfield Town, as well as pitching in with 9 at Grimsby Town. An injury at the start of this season for The Imps, will see him needing an operation if he is to continue a career in the game.  Although he left by mutual consent today, the pay-off is understood to see the caring Imps foot the bill for the operation.  STMI takes a look back at the career of another quality player that saw the fates deny him a chance to prove his undeniable ability.

 

In two seasons he cracked 25 goals in 60 appearances for Oxford despite two months out with a broken arm.  The Stags almost missed him, trialling him before The Exiles stepped in. However in the January of that season they came to their senses and brother Dean Holdsworth allowed David to take him on an eighteen month deal.  David gave him a two year deal where he bagged 28 League goals in 81 BSP appearances, that effectively saved the Stags who were hanging on by their antlers that year.  Grimsby, awash with money as ever, came in with an undisclosed fee in the winter window and offered terms that the Stags were unable to match at the time.  The deal was completed three days before the January window closed.

When we ran the story that rivals Grimsby Town and Lincoln City had failed to agree terms over out of favour Robert Duffy back on Jan 27th last year we got some abuse.   That was mild compared to the swipe from  Mariners’ chairman John Fenty,  who tagged him as a ‘mistake’.  David Holdsworth rated him as a lad with ability, who had the track record and hunger to prove the doubters wrong.  His strike rate – 9 goals in all competitions or 1 every 140 mins – as a bit part-player a The Mariners, suggested Rob was indeed the landmark signing along with Adam Smith that would excite the fans this season.

Under Holdsworth at Mansfield Town,  the striker had duly helped to steer them away from relegation at a time when the club had no cash.   Rob certainly looked to have the pedigree and the prowess we needed at 6′ 2″ and 13 stone 10lb.  The former Wales U21 may have a laid back style but he is a quiet battler. He failed to dislodge hit-man-Hearn and Elding at Grimsby,  despite 9 goals from his 19 starts and 20 substitute appearances.  Alas just 3 games in after a decent start next to Taylor, he was forced off with an ankle injury just 44 minutes into an away game at Newport.  Rob, one of the highest earners at the club, was destined to become a financial albatross during a frustrating season.

 

Good luck Rob.

 

2012/13 stats 

Sq no	Player name	Starts	on as sub	Mins	Goals	Shots	Shots on	Assists	YC	RC
9	Rob Duffy	3	0	222	0	3	1	0	0	0

2011/12 stats (all as a Mariner)

Sq no	Player name	Starts	on as sub	Mins	Goals	Shots	Shots on	Assists	YC	RC
9	Rob Duffy	19	20	1262	9	38	14	4	8	0

STMI Biopic
FULL NAME	Robert Duffy
DATE OF BIRTH	2 December 1982 (age 30)
PLACE OF BIRTH	Swansea,
HEIGHT	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
WEIGHT	13st 10lb (87kg)
POSITION: STRIKER
CURRENT CLUB	Lincoln City
NUMBER	9
YOUTH CAREER
1998–2001	Charlton Athletic
SENIOR STATS (LGE & CUP)
YEARS	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2001–2005	Rushden & Diamonds	35	(4)
2005	Stamford (loan)	2	(2)
2005	Cambridge United	9	(0)
2005	Kettering Town	4	(1)
2006	Gainsborough Trinity	n/a	(?)
2006	Stevenage Borough	1	(0)
2006–2008	Oxford United	56	(25)
2008	Wrexham (loan)	6	(0)
2008–2009	Newport County	21	(9)
2009–2011	Mansfield Town	81	(28)
2011–2012	Grimsby Town	56	(11)