Douglas: Jonathan

2005-2009 (Leeds Player Details)(Player Details)

Midfield

Born: Monaghan, Ireland: 22-11-1981

Debut v Wolverhampton Wanderers (h) (substitute): 20-08-2005

6’0” 12st 5lb (2007)

Capped by the Republic Of Ireland at Youth, Under-Twenty-One and full levels, he first joined Blackburn Rovers after having trials at Glasgow Celtic from his local team Monaghan United, where he first played for them at the age of only sixteen. He made his English debut against West Ham United in the Worthington Cup in October 2000. A cruciate ligament injury in 2001 hampered his progress, and he was out for a significant length of time, managing to make it back in early 2002. In March 2003, he was loaned firstly to Chesterfield for six weeks, where he scored once in seven League starts, and then to Blackpool for three months from 2nd August 2003, where he made a significant impact, scoring three goals, in the League from sixteen League games, including one from the bench, and a further three starts in the League Cup and one other game. However, with Blackburn struggling in the League, he found himself returning to action on a regular basis, and shining for the first team. His first Blackburn goal, at a very useful time for the team, came in a 4-3 victory over Fulham. He soon earned international caps, the first against Poland in April 2004. He then went on two months loan to Gillingham on 10th March 2005. Jonathan arrived at Elland Road on a season long loan spell from Blackburn Rovers on 19th August 2005. He made his bow for the club as a second half substitute against Wolves in a 2-0 win and made his full home debut in the Carling Cup win over Oldham. A roving midfielder, he showed himself to be a fierce competitor whose fitness was one of his major strengths, giving him the ability to roam from box to box. He won his second Irish cap against Nigeria in May 2004. After making over forty appearances for Leeds in their unsuccessful promotion push, which finished in defeat in the play-off final against Watford in Cardiff in the 2005-06 season, Douglas signed a three year deal to sign permanently for Leeds at the start of the following season, when once again he was a regular. Unfortunately, his poor disciplinary record saw him watch on helplessly from the bench as Leeds slid ignominiously out of the Coca Cola Championship League that season. He was appointed captain for a short spell and remained a regular until injury forced him to sit out much of the second half of the 2007-08 season. He was a regular in the Republic of Ireland squad and took his tally to eight full caps. After being a regular at Leeds for so long, it came as a surprise to many when he was released, after Leeds failed to get promotion via the play-offs on 22nd May 2009. It appeared that he and the club could not agree upon his wages. He was quickly signed by Swindon Town on a free transfer on 10th July 2009. He soon established himself as a regular with the Wiltshire club and played forty-three League, two F.A. Cup, two League Cup, three play-off games and two Johnstone Paint Trophy appearances in the 2009-10 season and was the club's "Player of the Year". Things fell apart for the Wiltshire club and they were relegated to Division Two at the end of the 2010-11 season.He received an offer from Brentford and joined them on 30th June 2011 on a free transfer, on a two year contract. He had scored once in the League in eighty-four starts and one substitute appearance. He also started three F.A. Cup games, three League Cup and four Johnstone's Paint Trophy games. He soon established himself as a regular at Griffin Park, playing almost thirty games by the end of November 2011.