Paul Digby
Quick Facts
Biography
Paul Andrew Digby (born 2 February 1995 in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for Championship club Ipswich Town.
Career
Barnsley
Digby started his career in the youth team at Barnsley and won the Most Promising Academy player in 2008, whilst playing the club's under-13 side. Paul won the award again in 2011 after his fine showings for the under 16's.
He signed a two-year scholarship with the club in the summer of 2011. He was brought into first-team action on 27 September 2011 in a 1–1 draw with Derby County in the Football League Championship. He came on for the injured David Perkins in the 33rd minute. In doing so he became the club's fourth youngest ever player at 16 years and 244 days. Digby went on to play three more times that season, his full debut coming at home against Birmingham on 21 February. Despite Birmingham City winning 3–1 the midfielder, who had just turned 17, put in a man of the match performance. Digby finished the 2011-12 season, making four appearances.
In the 2012-13 season, Digby signed a new contract with the club, keeping him until 2015 and switched number shirt from 32 to 17 ahead of a new season. Though he appeared in the substitute bench for three matches in the 2012-13 season, Digby, however, suffered a hip problem, resulting him absence for most of the season.
Ahead of the 2013-14 season, Digby signed another contract extension with the club, keeping him until 2017. Digby made his first 2013-14 appearance of the season, where he made his first start, in a 1-0 loss against Blackpool on 10 August 2013. However, Digby made five appearances of the 2013-14 season.
The 2014-15 season saw Digby making his first appearance on 16 August 2014, in a 2-1 win over Crewe Alexandra. Digby get a handful of first team appearance, making eleven appearance, due to player injuries despite his international commitment. The 2015-16 season saw Digby make his only appearance of the season against Fleetwood Town on 24 October 2014.
Ipswich Town
On 4 January 2016, Digby joined Championship side Ispwich Town on loan for the remainder of the 2015–16 season.
He started both games against Portsmouth for Ipswich in the FA Cup. Ipswich lost in the third round over two games against the fourth tier side, conceding four times overall with manager Mick McCarthy stating: ""You're never going to play against anybody if you give goals like that away. We were better in the second half, but we gave away two pretty routine goals." Digby made his Ipswich Town league debut on 27 February 2016, in a 1-0 win over Huddersfield Town, where he came on as a substitute in the last minutes.
On 28 June 2016, Digby completed a permanent transfer to Ipswich, signing a 1-year deal with the option of a second. Digby's first game after signing for the club on a permanent basis came in the first round of League Cup, making his first start, in a 1-0 loss against Stevenage.
International Career
On 15 August 2013, Digby was called up by England U19 squad and made his England U19 debut, coming on as a substitute in the 58th minutes, in a 6-1 win over Estonia U19. Digby scored his first England U19 goal on 14 November 2013, in a 4-1 win over Hungary. Digby made another appearance for England U19 against Turkey U19.
On 28 August 2014, Digby was called up by England U20 squad. Digby made his England U20 debut on 9 October 2014, in a 1-0 win over Germany U20. Digby made two more appearance against Turkey U20 and Canada U20.
Career statistics
- As of 4 January 2016
Club | Season | League | Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Barnsley | 2011–12 | Championship | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
2012–13 | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
2013–14 | Championship | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
2014–15 | League One | 11 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 | |
2015–16 | League One | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
Ipswich Town (loan) | 2015–16 | Championship | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Ipswich Town | 2016–17 | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Barnsley total | 21 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 25 | 0 | ||
Career total | 21 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 26 | 0 |