Born in Birmingham, Darren started his career at Torquay United, where he made over 100 League appearances and helped them reach the Division Three play-offs in 1993-94. In July 1995 he joined Rovers for a fee of around £60,000. In his first season he made 35 League appearances in a team that finished in mid-table in Division Three. The following season was more of a struggle for Rovers, with off-field issues dominating matters, but Darren remained one of the club’s most consistent performers. Powerful in the air, he was a commanding presence in both penalty boxes, and his five League goals, mostly from towering headers, in 1996-97 made him the club’s third-top scorer, behind Colin Cramb and Jon Schofield.
In June 1996 he was sold to Bradford City for £300,000, helping them earn promotion to the Premier League two years later. He also appeared in the top-flight with West Bromwich Albion and Derby County, and played as well for Portsmouth, Barnsley and Burton Albion. In total he made 595 League appearances, scoring 31 goals. He was also capped three times by the Jamaica national side.
After his playing career ended in 2012, Darren joined the coaching staff at one of his former teams, West Bromwich Albion. In April 2018 he took over as caretaker-manager after Alan Pardew left the club and despite Albion being relegated, he was appointed Head Coach for the following season. In March 2019 he left Albion and he was appointed Rovers’ manager in July 2019. Always a popular figure among fans as a player, he has now become so as a manager too.
Rovers Debut: 12th August 1995, Division Three vs. Scarborough (home) won 1-0.
Final game: 3rd May 1997, Division Three vs. Torquay United (home) won 2-1.
Career: Football League: 76 appearances, 7 goals.
All senior games: 88 appearances, 8 goals
Honours: Yorkshire Electricity Cup winner 1995-96.