Rory Delap

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Rory Delap
Personal information
Full name	Rory John Delap
Date of birth	6 July 1976 (1976-07-06) (age 32)
Place of birth	Sutton Coldfield, England
Height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Playing position	Midfielder
Club information
Current club	Stoke City
Number	24
Senior career1
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
1994–1998 1998–2001 2001–2006 2006–2007 2006 2007–	Carlisle United Derby County Southampton Sunderland →Stoke City (loan) Stoke City	065 0(7) 103 (11) 132 0(5) 012 0(1) 002 0(0) 078 0(4)
National team2
1998–2004	Republic of Ireland	011 0(0)
1 Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 23:19, 21 June 2009 (UTC). 2 National team caps and goals correct as of 9 May 2008 A Rory Delap throw-in sequence[1] Courtesy of BBC Sport (01-11-2008) Problems listening to the files? See media help. . * Appearances (Goals)

Rory John Delap (pronounced /dəˈlæp/; born 6 July 1976) is a professional association footballer currently playing in England. He is renowned for his long throw-in ability.^[2]

Currently signed to Stoke City, Delap is deployed in midfield or occasionally as a right-back on his return to the Premier League. Although English-born, Delap has been capped eleven times for the Republic of Ireland national football team.

Contents 1 Career 1.1 Southampton 1.2 Sunderland 1.3 Stoke City 1.4 International career 2 Throw-ins 3 Career statistics 4 Personal life 5 References 6 External links

[edit] Career

Delap was born in Sutton Coldfield; his family moved to Carlisle when he was six months old. Having started his career at his hometown club, Carlisle United, Delap was signed by Derby County's manager Jim Smith for £200,000 in February 1998.

[edit] Southampton

On 10 July 2001, Delap transferred from Derby County to Southampton for a fee of £4 million, becoming Southampton manager Stuart Gray's first signing since replacing Glenn Hoddle at The Dell, Gray's first signing of his managerial career and the club's most expensive transfer.^[3] Prior to this, Southampton's record transfer fee had been the £2 million paid to Sheffield Wednesday for striker David Hirst in September 1997. Middlesbrough boss Steve McClaren was also in the hunt for Delap's signature but failed, as did Leeds United. Former club Carlisle (in the Third Division at that time) received £700,000.^[4]

[edit] Sunderland

From Southampton, Delap was signed by Mick McCarthy for Sunderland in the 2005–06 season. He made six appearances for the club that season before injury struck. On 8 April 2006, under caretaker manager Kevin Ball,^[5] he clashed heads with team-mate George McCartney during his side's league game with Fulham, a game that was subsequently abandoned.^[6] In doing so, he broke his nose and underwent an operation to adjust it correctly after being selected to play at Manchester United only to withdraw after suffering a nose bleed during the warm-up.^[7] Thus he was ruled out for the remainder of the season and Manchester United relegated Sunderland and their own title hopes with a 0–0 draw.^[8]

[edit] Stoke City

Having become a marginal figure when Roy Keane took over as manager of Sunderland, Delap transferred to Stoke City on loan in October 2006. He made his debut in the 4–0 thumping of Leeds United at Elland Road. A week after signing on loan, Delap made his home debut for Stoke City against his former club Sunderland on 17 October 2006. He sustained fractures to his tibia and fibula while challenging for the ball early in the game.^[9] Despite the fact that his injury sidelined him for the remainder of the 2006–07 season, Stoke City manager Tony Pulis signed Delap on a permanent basis^[10] on 9 January 2007.^[11] On 15 July 2007, Delap made his comeback in a pre-season friendly with Newcastle Town.^[12] Delap impressed after returning from injury, playing 46 games as, particularly in the second half of the season, Stoke finished second and secured promotion to the Premier League for the first time.

The potency of the "Delap Special" reached new heights as Stoke City began their debut Premier League season. Of their first thirteen goals, seven were credited as Delap assists.^[13] Tony Pulis suggested his absence was a crucial factor in Stoke's 2–0 defeat to Chelsea on 28 September.^[14] Delap scored his first goal of the season in its eighth game. It proved to be the winner in the 2–1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur at the Britannia Stadium on 19 October 2008, putting Stoke City five points above their relegation rivals.^[15] Delap was sent off in Stoke's 1-0 win over Manchester City for fouling and kicking out at Shaun Wright-Phillips.^[16]

Rory Delap's 2008–09 Premier League throw-in goals

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Scorer	Result	Competition	Report
1	23 August 2008	Britannia Stadium	Aston Villa	3-2	Sidibe (90')	3-2	Premier League	[17]
2	14 September 2008	Britannia Stadium	Everton	1-2	Olofinjana (54')	2-3	Premier League	[18]
3	14 September 2008	Britannia Stadium	Everton	2-2	Jagielka (63' OG)	2-3	Premier League	[19]
4	30 October 2008	Britannia Stadium	Sunderland	1-0	Fuller (73')	1-0	Premier League	[20]
5	1 November 2008	Britannia Stadium	Arsenal	1-0	Fuller (11')	2-1	Premier League	[21]
6	1 November 2008	Britannia Stadium	Arsenal	2-0	Olofinjana (73')	2-1	Premier League	[22]
7	4 March 2009	Britannia Stadium	Bolton	2-0	Fuller (73')	2-0	Premier League	[23]
8	21 March 2009	Britannia Stadium	Middlesbrough	1-0	Shawcross (84')	1-0	Premier League	[24]

[edit] International career

A former Republic of Ireland under-21 international, Delap won 11 caps for his native Republic of Ireland national football team between 1998 and 2004. He was not included in the Irish squad for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, where the nation reached the final sixteen of the tournament. His international career was marked by a number of withdrawals, the last of which was with a twisted knee on 25 April 2004 before a midweek exhibition game against Poland.^[25]

[edit] Throw-ins

Delap, a former schoolboy javelin champion,^[26] is renowned for having one of the longest and most feared throw-ins in football; his throws, noted by Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill as equivalent to "a corner or a free kick", often range 30–40 metres (98–130 ft) (averaging 38 m (120 ft)), and can reach the speed of 60 km/h (37 mph). They have served as an assist in more than one case before 2008. Numerous experts, including his manager Tony Pulis, have commented on the technique Delap employs, the length and flatness undoing many a defence. Pulis said:

"It causes so many problems (amongst the opposition defence). I think it's because they're so flat. They're not lofted into the air, he throws it pretty flat and it's very difficult for defenders to pick up the flight."^[27]

Fellow professionals similarly renowned for long throw-ins, such as Mario Melchiot, currently of Wigan Athletic, and Lee Dixon, formerly of Arsenal F.C. (double victims of the speciality during the 2008-09 Premier League season), have also spoken of their admiration for Delap. Melchiot described Delap's ability as "one hell of a throw-in" and a "great weapon", having already set Delap out for unique praise in stating that he did not think there was "anyone in the league that can throw like him".^[28] Furthermore, Dixon commented:

"I have never seen anyone with a throw-in like Delap's and I believe his missiles have created seven out of Stoke's 13 league goals this season. I had a long throw and used to practice them, but I could only just about get it in the box. My team-mate Perry Groves could throw it a long way and we have seen the likes of Dave Challinor and Andy Legg do it - but nothing like Delap. Most long throws tend to be a bit loopy, whereas Delap's are fired in like a free-kick - but even more dangerous."^[29]

To increase the momentum of the throw, Delap takes four steps from the advertising boards around the pitch, followed by one long stride. In doing this he plants his front foot solidly on the ground propelling all momentum forward, thus increasing the speed with which the ball is released. Delap says he does not work on building his upper body strength and physique, although he uses his shoulders and lower back muscles to give power to his throw. For the ball to reach his target faster, Delap throws it on a flat trajectory releasing in such a way to cause large amounts of backspin. This helps to counter gravity so the ball will travel on a more level elevation even though it is released at such a low angle. He tends to target two players within 6ft of each other. His throw-ins are reputed as more accurate than most corners being that more muscles are used to control the direction in which the ball travels.^[30]

Factors, according to Dixon's analysis, which further enhance the dangerous nature of Delap's throw-ins are the fact that "you cannot be offside from a throw-in, so the attackers can crowd the six-yard box" and "because a free-kick starts with the ball on the ground it means it has to have a natural arc in order to get up and over the first defender", whereas "from a throw-in the ball starts from six foot and it is the angle and trajectory of Delap's darts that make them so potent".^[31]

In the 2008-09 Premier League season Delap's throw-ins led directly to both goals scored in at least two matches. Both Stoke goals in the 3-2 loss to Everton on 14 September 2008 came about as a result of Delap's throw. Afterwards Everton manager David Moyes referred to Delap as the "Human Sling".^[32] Later, Delap used his ability to help score Stoke's goals in the 2-1 victory over Arsenal at the Britannia Stadium on 1 November 2008. The first of these travelled 45 metres from the sideline into the penalty area.^[33] The world record is 46 metres. He has also assisted goals with his long throw against Aston Villa, Portsmouth and Sunderland in the 2008-09 season.

The then Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari described the technique as "fantastic" and suggested the goalkeeper ought not to attempt claiming the ball in this situation.

"I think he puts the ball better with his hands than his foot, it's fantastic. I have never seen anything like this in my life; 10 metres outside midfield, this boy puts the ball inside the area. Maybe it's not beautiful football but it's effective."^[34]

[edit] Career statistics

As of 10 December 2008^[35][36][37]

Club performance			League		Cup		League Cup		Continental		Total
Season	Club	League	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
England			League		FA Cup		League Cup		Europe		Total
1992–93	Carlisle United	Third Division	1	0	-		-		-		1	0
1993–94			1	0	-		-		-		1	0
1994–95			3	0	-		-		-		3	0
1995–96		Second Division	19	3	-		1	0	-		20	3
1996–97		Third Division	32	4	3	0	3	0	-		38	4
1997–98		Second Division	9	0	-		1	0	-		10	0
1997–98	Derby County	Premier League	13	0	-		-		-		13	0
1998–99			23	0	1	0	3	1	-		27	1
1999–00			34	8	1	0	2	0	-		37	8
2000–01			33	3	1	0	2	1	-		36	4
2001–02	Southampton	Premier League	28	2	-		1	0	-		29	2
2002–03			24	0	4	0	2	0	-		30	0
2003–04			27	1	-		3	0	2	0	32	1
2004–05			37	2	4	0	2	1	-		43	3
2005–06		Championship	16	0	-		2	0	-		18	0
2005–06	Sunderland	Premier League	6	1	-		-		-		6	1
2006–07		Championship	6	0	-		1	0	-		7	0
2006–07	Stoke City	Championship	2	0	-		-		-		2	0
2007–08			44	1	1	0	1	0	-		46	1
2008–09		Premier League	15	1			1	0	-		16	1
Total	England		373	26	15	0	25	3	2	0	415	29
Career Total			373	26	15	0	25	3	2	0	415	29

[edit] Personal life

Rory's father is John Delap from Letterkenny and his mother Maura Delap from Kells.^[38] He moved to Carlisle when he was six months old. Rory is the nephew of Paddy Delap, a Letterkenny businessman, golfer,^[39] athletics coach and anti-government activist^[40] who runs Clarkes Newsagents and organises an annual charity cycling event in aid of cancer noted for launching the career of Cervélo TestTeam member Philip Deignan.^[41][42] Another uncle, Anthony, is an award winning actor-playwright whose works have been performed at An Grianán Theatre in the town.^[43] He nows lives in Derby due to his playing days at Derby County.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Rory Delap player profile at stokecityfc.com
• Rory Delap career stats at Soccerbase
• Republic of Ireland international profile
• “Delap Special” analysis. Courtesy of The Guardian

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