Carl Griffiths

Carl Brian Griffiths (born 16 July 1971) is an English-born Welsh former footballer and manager.

He started his career with Shrewsbury Town in 1988, and after being voted onto the PFA Team of the Year, moved on to Manchester City for £500,000 in October 1993. In August 1995 he transferred to Portsmouth for £200,000, moving on to Peterborough United for £225,000 in March 1996. He joined Leyton Orient for £65,000 in March 1997, where he stayed for four years, interrupted by short spells at Wrexham (on loan) and Port Vale. He played for Luton Town between July 2001 and 2003 following a £65,000 transfer, later dropping into non-League football with Harlow Town, Braintree Town, Brentwood Town, and Maldon Town. He also represented Wales at under-21 level and also for the "B" team. Within his three spells with Leyton Orient he achieved cult status and in 2004 received 9% of the vote for all-time cult hero behind Peter Kitchen and Terry Howard.

In 2008, he turned to management and took charge of Brentwood Town for a year. In 2010, he was made manager of Aveley before leaving this post the following year.

Playing career Griffiths started his career with Shrewsbury Town in September 1988 under the stewardship of Ian McNeill. The "Shrews" were relegated out of the Second Division in 1988–89 after finishing five points behind Hull City. They finished 11th in the Third Division in 1989–90 and 18th in 1990–91 under Asa Hartford, before suffering relegation under new boss John Bond in 1991–92 after finishing six points behind 20th place Exeter City, a team they had beaten 6–1 early in the campaign. He scored 27 goals in 1992–93 to become joint-top scorer (with Darren Foreman) in the Third Division. He was named to the PFA Team of the Year for this achievement. Hitting 62 goals in 170 games during a difficult period at the Gay Meadow, he had done enough to be picked up by Brian Horton's Manchester City in October 1993 for a fee of £500,000. He scored four goals in 18 Premier League games in 1993–94 and 1994–95.

He was moved on to Portsmouth as a £200,000 make-weight in the Kit Symons transfer in August 1995. He was utilized almost exclusively as a substitute by manager Terry Fenwick, making just two starts in 1995–96. He moved on to Peterborough United for £225,000 in March 1996. He scored a hat-trick of headers in a 5–1 win over Torquay United at Kenilworth Road on 22 September 2001. However, injuries limited him to just ten appearances in 2001–02 and three appearances in 2002–03. Griffiths then moved into non-League football with Harlow Town, Brentwood Town and Braintree Town. He left the club after one season, despite the chairman's open pleas for him to stay. He later was appointed assistant manager at Barkingside of the Essex Senior League.

On 19 November 2010, Aveley announced that Griffiths had been appointed manager of the club with immediate effect and would bring together his ex-management team from Brentwood, consisting of Scott Canham, Gary Foley, Harry McCullum and Dean Parratt. He left Aveley in November 2011.

Career statistics

Honours Individual PFA Team of the Year (Third Division): 1992–93