Bromby: Leigh David (Leigh)

2009-2013 (Player Details)

Right Back/Central Defender

Born: Dewsbury: 02-06-1980

Debut v Stockport County (h): 05-09-2009

5’11” 11st 6lb (2008)

Bromby started his footballing career at Liversedge and played for England Schoolboys before being signed by EPL side Sheffield Wednesday on 9th July 1998. He progressed through the Youth Academy and was then loaned to Third Division Mansfield Town for three months on 10th December 1999, making his debut two days later in a 0-0 draw at Barnet. His first career goal came in a 3–1 home win over Southend United on 22nd January 2000. He scored once in ten League starts at Field Mill before returning to Hillsborough. He made his Wednesday debut on 23rd December 2000 as substitute in a 1–0 home defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers. He went on to make seventeen starts to go with the one game from the bench in the League and another start and one substitute appearance in the F.A. Cup that season. He was loaned to Norwich City on 24th February 2003 as he had not been Manager Chris Turner's first choice in defence and so he was allowed to join the Canaries on loan to gain some experience in competitive matches. On 22nd March 2003, Norwich Manager Nigel Worthington stated that he was keen to bring Bromby to Carrow Road on a permanent basis, even if that started with an extension to the current loan agreement. Worthington had been impressed by Bromby and Wednesday were offered four of Norwich's squad, including striker David Neilsen, to take on loan in place of Bromby to ensure that an extension to the loan deal could take place. No deal could be arranged with Wednesday and Bromby returned to Hillsborough on 27th March 2003 after making five League starts. He stayed with Wednesday until 5th July 2004 when he joined City neighbours CCCL side Sheffield United on a free transfer. While with Wednesday he scored twice in one hundred League appearances, two of which were from the bench, while in the F.A. Cup he made six starts and one game as a substitute and in the League Cup he started eight games. Bromby made his debut for Sheffield United in the 4-1 home win against Leicester City on 7th August 2004, scoring with a diving header at the far post. He played in all forty-six League matches in his first season at Bramall Lane and scored five goals. He made thirty-five starts and scored once as United won promotion to the EPL in the following season. On 15th August 2006, he signed a new three year contract with United, with an option for a further year. He spent much of the next two seasons on the sidelines. On 31st January 2008 he moved to Watford, signing a three and a half year contract, for a fee of £600,000 rising to £850,000 based on appearances. He made his Watford debut at Vicarage Road on 2nd February 2008 against Wolverhampton Wanderers. Within the first minute his trademark long throw set up Steve Kabba to score and Watford cruised to a 3-0 win. On 12th January 2009 Bromby returned to Sheffield United on a six month loan with a view to a permanent deal and on 1st July 2009 he was re-signed by the Blades on a free transfer on a two year contract. While at Vicarage Road he had scored just his debut goal but had started thirty-five League games and also come off the bench three times, and had made one substitute appearance in the F.A. Cup, started five League Cup games and two CCCL play-off final games. However Bromby could not force his way into the Blades’ starting line-up and on 1st September 2009 he moved to Leeds United for a fee reported as being £250,000 on a four year contract. In his various spells at Bramall Lane he had scored seven goals in one hundred and ten League starts and eleven games from the bench, while in the F.A. Cup he had made eight starts and in the League Cup he had made also made eight starts, but with another from the bench and he had aso come on as a substitute in the CCCL play-off finals once. Bromby made his debut for the team he supported as a boy on 5th September 2009 in a 2-0 win over Stockport County at Elland Road. In his first season at Elland Road he initially played mainly in central defence but after losing his place he later became the preferred right back and, while not always commanding a regular spot, he developed as the long throw expert and featured in the majority of United's fixtures. 2010-11 saw Bromby once more down the pecking order in the Leeds defence after a series of new defenders had been bought by the club. He also suffered injury problems but did feature in the second half of the season. He started the 2011-12 season as a substitute at Southampton and in the Carling Cup home tie with Bradford City, before being included in the starting eleven for the home game with Middlesbrough on 13th August 2011. He was sidelined with injurry but was included in the side for the Carling Cup home tie with Manchester United on 20th September 2011 and the away game with Brighton and Hove Albion, three days later, as cover for the suspended Patrick Kisnorbo. He then out of favour, except for one appearance from the bench and four times an unused substitute until the appointment of Neil Warnock. He was a substitute for the game at Portsmouth on 5th February 2012 and returned to the starting eleven for the next home game with Southampton, as stand-in for the injured Alex Bruce. He was again unlucky enough to pick up an injury and was out until he returned to the squad as an unused substitute at home to Watford on 31st March 2012 and was then included in an injury and suspension ravaged Leeds team that put up a valiant rearguard action at Reading on 6th April 2012. He was then an unused substitute at home to Derby County on Easter Monday and was back in the team for Peterborough United at Elland Road and the two away fixtures at Blackpool and Cardiff City. Unfortunately with United's penultimate fixture of the season just thirty minutes old, Bromby picked up a serious injury when, with no opposing player near him he went to ground. The injury was diagnosed as being a snapped patella tendon in the kneecap. It required surgery and first assessments indicate an absence of about a year. Bromby never recovered from his injury and saw out his contract with Leeds. During his rehabilitation he assisted with the youth training and carried on in this role when he retired at the end of the 2012-13 season.