Darren Powell

Playing career

Brentford Powell began his career with Hampton, where he quickly established himself in the starting eleven for the side. His performance attracted interests from Stevenage and Hayes before he joined Brentford for £15,000.

Powell made his debut for Brentford, where he played the whole game, in a 3–0 win over Mansfield Town. At the end of the 1998–99 season, Powell had made 37 appearances, scoring twice in all competitions.

In the 1999–2000 season, Powell continued to be a first team regular. On his return from injury, he was sent–off on his first appearance on 13 January 2001, in a 0–0 draw against Bristol Rovers. On 21 March 2001, Powell was sent–off for the second time that season, in a 2–1 win over Southend United, This was followed up by scoring his first goal of the season, in a 1–0 win over Wrexham on 31 March 2001. On 18 September 2001, he scored his first goal of the season, in a 2–2 draw against Bristol Rovers. During a 0–0 draw against Chesterfield on 12 March 2002, he tore his hamstring early in the first half and was substituted as a result. Powell returned to the first team on 6 April 2002, in a 3–0 win over Huddersfield Town. At the end of the 2001–02 season, Powell had made 48 appearances, scoring twice in all competitions.

Crystal Palace In the summer transfer window of 2002, it was expected that Powell would stay at Brentford for the 2002–03 season. However, in August, he signed for Crystal Palace for £400,000, having previously been targeted by the Eagles manager Trevor Francis.

Powell made his Crystal Palace debut in the opening game of the season against Preston North End, starting and scoring the first goal, in a 2–1 win. On 10 September 2002, Powell scored again in the first round of the League Cup, in a 2–1 win over Plymouth Argyle. Powell went on to make 46 appearances, scoring twice in all competitions. but was subsequently plagued with injuries. Powell was also suspended when he received a second bookable offence, in a 1–1 draw against Derby County on 14 October 2003. After seven months away from the first team, he returned to training. Powell made his first appearance from injury on 14 May 2004, where he came on as a late substitute in a 3–2 first-leg Play-off semi-final win over Sunderland. and were promoted to the Premiership, following a play-off final win over West Ham. At the end of the 2003–04 season, Powell had made 15 appearances, scoring once in all competitions. only appearing three times in the League Cup.

Upon returning to Palace, Powell made his first Premier League appearance, where he played the whole game, in a 2–0 win over Aston Villa on 3 January 2005. At the end of the 2004–05 season, Powell had made 10 appearances, scoring once in all competitions,

Southampton In July 2005, he was out of contract and signed for Harry Redknapp at Southampton on a Bosman free transfer.

Powell made his Southampton debut, where he played the whole game in a centre–back partnership with Tomasz Hajto, in a 0–0 draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers. He then helped the Saints keep three clean sheets during August against Sheffield Wednesday, Norwich City and Crewe Alexandra. Powell's first goal for Southampton was against Ipswich Town on 13 September 2005. On 22 November 2005, he returned to the starting line-up after a month away, in a 1–1 draw against Hull City. At the end of the 2005–06 season, Powell had made 26 appearances, scoring once in all competitions. While on the sidelines, Powell was the subject of a transfer bid from Leeds United, which was rejected by the club. He did not make his return to the first team until 6 January 2007, where he played the whole game, in a 2–0 win over Torquay United in the first round of the FA Cup. Once again, Powell helped the side keep two clean sheets in a row against Wolverhampton Wanderers and Luton Town between 31 March 2007 and 7 April 2007. Following this, Powell was incurred an injury that ultimately ruled him out for the rest of the season. At the end of the 2006–07 season, Powell had made ten appearances. His suspension came after he was sent–off for violent conduct after reacting angrily to a heavy challenge from Phil Mulryne, in the club's win at AFC Bournemouth the previous month. After serving a three-match suspension, he made his return to the first team against Stoke City on 25 August 2007, in a 3–2 win. After returning to training from injury in early–December, Powell did not make his return to the first team until 29 December 2007, where he came on as a second–half substitute, in a 2–2 draw against Barnsley. Powell scored his second goal for the club with a first minute tap in from Adam Hammill's cross in a 3–2 home defeat to Queens Park Rangers. At the end of the 2007–08 season, Powell had made thirteen appearances, scoring once in all competitions.

Derby County He trained with Charlton Athletic whilst searching for a club and was handed a trial at Derby County in November 2008. On 21 November 2008, Powell signed an initial two-month contract for Derby, and made his debut in the 2–0 defeat to Ipswich Town a day later. Powell played eight times for the club. However, after making two reserve appearances, the club decided against offering him a contract. He re-signed for his first professional club, Brentford, on 21 March 2009 on a contract until the end of the season.

Powell made his second Brentford debut on 28 March 2009, He managed only a handful of appearances before being sent–off on 14 April 2009, in a 1–0 win over Bournemouth following an altercation with teammate Karleigh Osborne. Powell never played for the side again; he had made four appearances and was released at the end of the season.

Milton Keynes Dons On 7 August 2009, Powell agreed a one-year contract with League One team Milton Keynes Dons.

He played his first game for the club in a 0–0 draw against Hartlepool United on 8 August 2009. Then, on 3 October 2009, Powell played a vital role when he set up the only goal of the game, in a 1–0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion. However, he was plagued by injuries during the season. At the end of the 2009–10 season, Powell had made twenty–seven appearances, scoring once in all competitions.

Hampton & Richmond Borough In January 2012, Hampton & Richmond Borough Chairman Steve McPherson claimed that Powell was close to making a comeback with the club. a move which was confirmed on 27 January.

He made his second debut for the club the next day coming off the bench at half time in a 2–2 draw away to Havant & Waterlooville. He made 15 appearances for the side and subsequently announced his retirement from playing.

Coaching career Hampton & Richmond Borough In April 2013, Powell and first-team coach Paul Barry took charge of Hampton & Richmond Borough, now in the National League South, on a caretaker basis until the end of the season after manager Mark Harper resigned his position. The pair were installed as the permanent management team in May 2013.

The pair helped the side go nine matches unbeaten between 3 December 2013 and 21 January 2014. At the end of the 2013–14 season, the side finished in twelfth place in the league. The club went on to win the Middlesex Senior Cup after beating Wealdstone 3–2.

However, a poor start to the 2014–15 season saw Powell sacked along with Barry after Hampton & Richmond lost 3–2 to VCD Athletic in the FA Cup qualifying round on 13 September 2014. After leaving the club, Powell enrolled on the Elite Coaches Apprenticeship Scheme and acquired his A Licence.

Crystal Palace On 24 February 2015, Powell joined the academy coaching team at Crystal Palace. In March 2023, after Roy Hodgson returned as manager with Paddy McCarthy as his assistant, Powell was appointed as head-coach of the under-21 team.

Career statistics

Honours Brentford Football League Third Division: 1998–99

Crystal Palace Football League First Division play-offs: 2004

Individual Brentford Supporters' Player of the Year: 1998–99