Christian Doidge
Christian Doidge
Personal information
Full name Christian Rhys Doidge[1]
Date of birth (1992-08-25) 25 August 1992 (age 31)[2]
Place of birth Newport, Wales
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
 Forest Green Rovers
Youth career
2003–2006 Southampton
2006–2008 Bristol Rovers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2010 Cwmbran Celtic
2010–2011 Croesyceiliog
2011–2013 Barry Town 30 (26)
2013–2014 Carmarthen Town 43 (19)
2014–2016 Dagenham & Redbridge 46 (10)
2015 → Dartford (loan) 7 (0)
2016–2019 Forest Green Rovers 108 (59)
2018–2019 → Bolton Wanderers (loan) 17 (1)
2019–2024 Hibernian 104 (24)
2022–2023 → Kilmarnock (loan) 27 (3)
2024– Forest Green Rovers 0 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19:43, 31 January 2024 (UTC)

Christian Rhys Doidge (born 25 August 1992) is a Welsh professional footballer who plays as a striker for EFL League Two club Forest Green Rovers.

Doidge played in the youth systems of Southampton and Bristol Rovers, but temporarily gave up football and played basketball for the Wales U18 national team. He resumed his football career in the Welsh leagues with Cwmbran Celtic, Croesyceiliog, Barry Town and Carmarthen Town. He then moved into English league football with Dagenham & Redbridge, and then played for Forest Green Rovers and Bolton Wanderers. He joined Scottish club Hibernian in 2019, and played on loan for Kilmarnock during the 2022–23 season before returning to Forest Green in January 2024.

Career

Youth career

Doidge started his career in the youth system at Southampton where he spent three years before he was released after the club thought he would not be tall enough as a centre forward.[3] He then joined Bristol Rovers for two years, but failed to earn a youth scholarship and was released in 2008 at the age of fifteen.[3][4]

He then gave up football to play basketball with his friends and played county level for Gwent ABC. Shortly after he represented Wales in the European Championship in Malta.

Welsh league football

Doidge signed with Welsh Football League Division Two side Cwmbran Celtic for the 2009–10 season, and then moved to divisional rivals Croesyceiliog in 2010.[3] In November 2011 he joined Welsh Football League First Division side Barry Town, going on to score sixteen goals in sixteen games in his maiden season for the club.[5] In his second season for the club he netted ten times in fourteen appearances, including a hat-trick against Goytre United which propelled Barry to the top of the table.[5] In November 2012, he hit the winner over Penrhyncoch which helped Town to their first Welsh Cup semi-final appearance in a decade.[5]

In January 2013, he signed for Welsh Premier League side Carmarthen Town.[6] In just his second game for the club he came on as a substitute to help Carmarthen win the Welsh League Cup, the side's first trophy in five years.[6] During his time with Carmarthen, he scored nineteen goals in forty-three appearances.[7] In April 2014, he joined Football League Two side Newport County on a week trial, however no move materialised.[8]

Dagenham & Redbridge

In July 2014, he joined League Two side Dagenham & Redbridge on trial, scoring in pre-season friendlies against Tottenham Hotspur and Billericay Town.[7][9] Dagenham then pulled out of a deal to sign Doidge after discovering they would have to pay a fee to Carmarthen, having believed the striker would be available on a free transfer.[10] A deal was eventually agreed in August for a £20,000 fee, with Doidge signing a two-year contract, having also turned down an offer to sign for Conference Premier side and former club Bristol Rovers.[11] Shortly after signing for the Daggers, he suffered an ankle injury during the warm-up against Hartlepool United, which kept him out of action for a month.[12] In September 2014, he made his professional debut in a 1–1 draw with Cheltenham Town, replacing Jamie Cureton as a late substitute.[13] His first professional goal came in a 3–1 defeat to Luton Town, scoring a consolation after coming on as a substitute.[14] He struggled to retain a place in the first team and in January 2015 he was sent on loan to Conference Premier side Dartford on a one-month loan, to regain his fitness.[15] He made his debut in the 6–1 away defeat to Dover Athletic.[16] In his second season at Dagenham & Redbridge he managed to play a lot more games and ended the season as top scorer. He also won the club's player of the year and their supporters' player of the year awards.

Forest Green Rovers

In June 2016, Doidge signed a two-year contract with National League side Forest Green Rovers.[17] His first goal for Forest Green came in a 4–1 away win over Maidstone United on 27 August 2016.[18]

On 14 May 2017, he scored in a 3–1 win over Tranmere Rovers at Wembley Stadium in the 2016–17 National League play-off final to help Forest Green claim a place in the Football League for the first time in their history.[19]

Bolton Wanderers (loan)

On 31 August 2018, Doidge signed for Championship side Bolton Wanderers on loan, with the deal due to be made permanent in January 2019.[20] He made his debut for Bolton in a 2–1 home defeat against Queens Park Rangers on 15 September 2018.[21] Doidge scored his first goal for Bolton in a 1–1 draw against Rotherham United in October 2018.

On 6 January 2019, Forest Green Rovers chairman Dale Vince announced that Doidge's permanent transfer to Bolton would not be proceeding as planned, and that he would be returning to Forest Green.[22] This was due to Bolton being under transfer embargo.[23] Vince later accused Bolton of "contractual breaches" and claimed that Rovers had been paying the player's wages during the loan spell, commenting that he believed Bolton had "entered into a contract to loan and then buy Christian last August without the means to honour it, and perhaps the intention to do so as well."[24] In May 2019, following Bolton's administration, he said he was "glad" that the transfer had fallen through.[25] On 17 December 2019, Bolton and Forest Green came to an agreement over the transfer.[26]

Hibernian

On 25 June 2019, Doidge signed for Scottish Premiership club Hibernian on a three-year contract.[27] On 9 November 2019, he scored a hat-trick in a 4–1 win away to St Johnstone, his first league goals for the club and his first professional hat-trick.[28][29] Doidge scored his second hat-trick for Hibs in a 4–2 victory against Dundee United, in the Scottish Cup 4th round, on 28 January, taking his tally for the season to 14.[30]

Doidge missed much of pre-season during July 2021 due to suffering from the effects of COVID-19.[31] He scored two goals in five games during the early part of the 2021–22 season, but then suffered an achilles tendon injury in August.[32] While recovering from that injury he signed a new contract with Hibs, that is due to keep him at the club to the end of the 2023–24 season.[33]

Doidge scored a hat-trick in the first match of the 2022–23 season, a 5–0 win against Clyde in the League Cup.[34] On 31 August 2022, Doidge joined Kilmarnock on loan for the 2022–23 season.[35]

Forest Green Rovers (second spell)

Doidge rejoined Forest Green Rovers on 31 January 2024.[36]

Other activities

Whilst playing semi-professional football for Carmarthen Town he worked for South Wales Police.[4]

Doidge has also represented the Wales U18 national basketball team and played in the 2009 U18 European Championship.[37]

Career statistics

As of match played on 27 January 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Barry Town 2011–12[38] Welsh Football League Division One
2012–13[38] Welsh Football League Division One 11 7 3 3 1 0 0 0 15 10
Total 11 7 3 3 1 0 0 0 15 10
Carmarthen Town 2012–13[39] Welsh Premier League 12 2 0 0 1 0 1[a] 0 14 2
2013–14[40] Welsh Premier League 31 17 2 0 2 1 1[a] 0 36 18
Total 43 19 2 0 3 1 2 0 50 20
Dagenham & Redbridge 2014–15[16] League Two 11 2 1 0 0 0 1[b] 0 13 2
2015–16[41] League Two 35 8 3 0 1 1 3[b] 0 42 9
Total 46 10 4 0 1 1 4 0 55 11
Dartford (loan) 2014–15[16] Conference Premier 7 0 — — 2[c] 0 9 0
Forest Green Rovers 2016–17[42] National League 41 25 1 0 — 7[d] 2 49 27
2017–18[43] League Two 42 20 3 4 1 0 3[b] 1 49 25
2018–19[44] League Two 25 14 0 0 2 0 2[e] 0 29 14
Total 108 59 4 4 3 0 12 3 127 66
Bolton Wanderers (loan) 2018–19[42] Championship 17 1 — — — 17 1
Hibernian 2019–20[45][note 1] Scottish Premiership 28 12 5 5 6 2 — 39 19
2020–21[46][note 1] Scottish Premiership 36 7 5 5 6 1 — 47 13
2021–22[47] Scottish Premiership 17 2 3 0 2 0 3[f] 0 25 2
2022–23[48] Scottish Premiership 5 0 0 0 4 3 — 9 3
2023–24[49] Scottish Premiership 18 3 1 1 3 0 6[g] 1 28 5
Total 104 24 14 11 21 6 9 1 148 42
Kilmarnock (loan) 2022–23[48] Scottish Premiership 27 3 3 0 2 0 — 32 3
Career total 363 123 30 18 31 8 29 4 453 152
  1. ^ a b Appearance in the Welsh Premier League UEFA Europa League play-offs
  2. ^ a b c Appearance in the Football League Trophy
  3. ^ Appearances in the FA Trophy
  4. ^ Three appearances and two goals in the National League play-offs, four in the FA Trophy
  5. ^ Appearances in League Two play-offs
  6. ^ Appearances in the UEFA Europa Conference League
  7. ^ Appearances and goals in the UEFA Europa Conference League

Honours

Carmarthen Town

Individual

Notes

  1. ^ a b One appearance and goal in the 2019–20 Scottish Cup was in a match delayed until October 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

References

  1. ^ "Christian Doidge". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 12 May 2019.
  2. ^ "Doidge Profile". Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  3. ^ a b c "Doidge joins Daggers in Football League". Welsh Premier League. 15 August 2014. Retrieved 23 September 2014.[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ a b "Focus on: Christian Doidge". S4C. Retrieved 23 September 2014.
  5. ^ a b c "Ex-Barry forward Doidge signs for Dagenham". Barry Town FC. 15 August 2014. Retrieved 23 September 2014.
  6. ^ a b "Christian Doidge – Welsh Premier League profile". Welsh Premier League. Retrieved 23 September 2014.
  7. ^ a b "Dagenham & Redbridge sign Carmarthen's Christian Doidge". BBC Sport. 15 August 2014. Retrieved 23 September 2014.
  8. ^ "County trial for Carmarthen duo". South Wales Argus. 25 April 2014. Retrieved 23 September 2014.
  9. ^ "Daggers keen on Doidge". Barking & Dagenham Post. 4 August 2014. Retrieved 23 September 2014.
  10. ^ "Daggers pull plug on Doidge deal". Barking & Dagenham Post. 6 August 2014. Retrieved 23 September 2014.
  11. ^ "Striker Doidge joins Dagenham & Redbridge". Barking & Dagenham Post. 15 August 2014. Retrieved 23 September 2014.
  12. ^ "Early blow for new Daggers striker Doidge?". Barking & Dagenham Post. 21 August 2014. Retrieved 23 September 2014.
  13. ^ "Cheltenham 1–1 Dag & Red". BBC Sport. 20 September 2014. Retrieved 23 September 2014.
  14. ^ "Doidge: "I Just Wish I Could've Celebrated."". Dagenham & Redbridge FC. 22 October 2014. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  15. ^ "Dartford FC sign Dagenham & Redbridge striker Christian Doidge on a month-long loan". Kent Online. 16 January 2015. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
  16. ^ a b c "Games played by Christian Doidge in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 September 2014.
  17. ^ "Dagenham's Christian Doidge and Nantwich's Jon Moran sign". BBC Sport. 2 June 2016.
  18. ^ "Maidstone United 1–4 Forest Green". BBC Sport. 27 August 2016.
  19. ^ "Tranmere Rovers 1–3 Forest Green Rovers". BBC Sport. 14 May 2017.
  20. ^ "Christian Doidge: Bolton Wanderers sign Forest Green Rovers striker". BBC Sport. 31 August 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  21. ^ "Bolton Wanderers 1 Queens Park Rangers 2". BBC Sport. 15 September 2018. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  22. ^ @FGRFC_Official (6 January 2019). "CHAIRMAN STATEMENT" (Tweet). Retrieved 6 January 2019 – via Twitter.
  23. ^ "Wanderers trio could be left in FA Cup limbo". The Bolton News.
  24. ^ Iles, Marc (7 January 2019). "Anderson slammed as Christian Doidge deal collapses at Bolton Wanderers". The Bolton News. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
  25. ^ "Christian Doidge: Forest Green striker 'glad to be out' of Bolton after deal collapse". BBC Sport. 10 May 2019.
  26. ^ "Christian Doidge: Bolton and Forest Green reach agreement over collapsed transfer". BBC Sport. 17 December 2019. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  27. ^ Coyle, Andy (25 June 2019). "Hibs announce signing of striker Christian Doidge". STV Sport. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  28. ^ McPheat, Nick (9 November 2019). "St Johnstone 1–4 Hibernian". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  29. ^ Smith, Tyrone (10 November 2019). "Hibernian: Christian Doidge confidence had 'gone a little' before hat-trick". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
  30. ^ "Hibernian 4-2 Dundee Utd: Christian Doidge 'can do a bit of everything'". BBC Sport. 28 January 2020. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  31. ^ Johnstone, Darren (19 July 2021). "Christian Doidge aims to feature in European tie for Hibernian". The Times. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  32. ^ "Christian Doidge: Injured Hibs striker out until at least December". BBC Sport. 15 August 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  33. ^ Conroy, Alison (18 November 2021). "Hibernian striker Christian Doidge agrees new contract". Sky Sports. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  34. ^ McPartlin, Patrick (10 July 2022). "Christian Doidge has point to prove as Hibs striker insists he's happy at Easter Road". Edinburgh Evening News. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  35. ^ "Christian Doidge Joins Kilmarnock On Loan". www.hibernianfc.co.uk. 31 August 2022. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  36. ^ "Christian Doidge: Forest Green's record scorer re-joins League Two club". www.bbc.co.uk. BBC Sport. 31 January 2024. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
  37. ^ "Focus on: Christian Doidge". Sgorio.
  38. ^ a b "Barry Town United 2012-13".
  39. ^ "Games played by Christian Doidge in 2012/2013". Carmarthen Town A.F.C. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 23 September 2014.
  40. ^ "Games played by Christian Doidge in 2013/2014". Carmarthen Town A.F.C. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 23 September 2014.
  41. ^ "Games played by Christian Doidge in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
  42. ^ a b "C. Doidge – Soccerway". Soccerway. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
  43. ^ "Games played by Christian Doidge in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 September 2017.
  44. ^ "Games played by Christian Doidge in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  45. ^ "Games played by Christian Doidge in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  46. ^ "Games played by Christian Doidge in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
  47. ^ "Games played by Christian Doidge in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  48. ^ a b "Games played by Christian Doidge in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  49. ^ "Games played by Christian Doidge in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  50. ^ "Dream team 2013/14". welsh-premier.com. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
  51. ^ "Christian Doidge named Scottish Premiership Player of the Month for November". Sky Sports. 16 December 2019. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
  52. ^ "Player of the Month: Christian Doidge - Forest Green Rovers". www.efl.com.

External links

Forest Green Rovers F.C. – current squad
Awards
Categories