Michael Newberry (30 December 1997 – 30 December 2024) was an English professional footballer who played as a defender. He began his career at Newcastle United, before spells in Iceland with Víkingur Ólafsvík and in Northern Ireland with Linfield and Cliftonville.[1][2] Born in England, he represented Northern Ireland internationally at youth level. He could operate as a centre-back or full-back.[3]
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 30 December 1997 | ||
| Place of birth | Newcastle upon Tyne, England | ||
| Date of death | 30 December 2024 (aged 27) | ||
| Position(s) | Defender | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2009 | Red House Farm JFC | ||
| 2009–2018 | Newcastle United | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2018–2020 | Víkingur Ólafsvík | 60 | (0) |
| 2021–2024 | Linfield | 55 | (3) |
| 2024 | Cliftonville | 19 | (0) |
| Total | 134 | (3) | |
| International career | |||
| 2014 | Northern Ireland U19 | 6 | (2) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Early life
editNewberry grew up in Newcastle upon Tyne, England but had familial background from Northern Ireland.[4]
Career
editNewberry joined the youth academy of English side Newcastle United at the age of 11,[5] from the Gosforth based club, Red House Farm JFC.[6] Awarded the Wor Jackie Trophy in 2016,[7] he was regarded as a prospect while playing for the club but never made an appearance for their first team.[8][9] This was attributed to the fact he had hairline fractures in his spine that led to eight months out after the injury recurred during rehabilitation.[4] In 2018, he went on loan to Iceland's Víkingur Ólafsvík before making the move permanent.[9] He played in 65 first time matches for them.[10] In 2021, Newberry joined the Northern Irish club Linfield.[11] During his time with Linfield, he won two NIFL Premierships and one Irish Cup.[12] In 2024, he moved to Cliftonville.[13]
International career
editNewberry represented Northern Ireland internationally at youth level due to his family connections.[4][14] In the Autumn of 2015, he played for the Northern Ireland U19s in the European Championship qualification,[15][16] but he was unable to take part in the elite round the following spring due to back injuries.[17]
Death
editAfter having played in the Boxing Day North Belfast derby against Crusaders,[18] Newberry died suddenly on 30 December 2024, his 27th birthday.[19][20][21][13][22] Cliftonville and Linfield's scheduled matches that day were postponed as a mark of respect.[23] Other matches in the NIFL Premiership held a minute's silence prior to kick-off.[24]
Career statistics
editClub
edit| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Ungmennafélagið Víkingur | 2018 | 1. deild karla | 20 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 22 | 0 | |||
| 2019 | 21 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 21 | 0 | ||||||
| 2020 | 19 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 20 | 0 | |||||
| Total | 60 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 63 | 0 | |||||
| Linfield | 2020–21 | NIFL Premiership | 6 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 8 | 1 | |||
| 2021–22 | 18 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6[a] | 1 | — | 26 | 4 | |||
| 2022–23 | 15 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2[b] | 0 | 3[c] | 0 | 24 | 1 | ||
| 2023–24 | 16 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2[d] | 0 | — | 24 | 0 | |||
| Total | 55 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 10 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 82 | 6 | ||
| Cliftonville | 2024–25 | NIFL Premiership | 19 | 0 | — | — | 2[d] | 0 | 1[e] | 0 | 22 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 134 | 3 | 9 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 12 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 167 | 6 | ||
- ^ Two appearances in UEFA Champions League, Four appearances, 1 goal in UEFA Europa Conference League
- ^ One appearance in UEFA Europa League, One appearance in UEFA Europa Conference League
- ^ One appearance in NIFL Charity Shield, Two appearances in Scottish Challenge Cup
- ^ a b Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa Conference League
- ^ Appearance(s) in NIFL Charity Shield
Honours
editLinfield
References
edit- ^ "Getting to play for someone like Healy was key factor in agreeing to join Linfield, claims Newberry". Belfasttelegraph.co.uk. 31 January 2021.
- ^ "Michael Newberry was happy to make impact". Belfasttelegraph.co.uk. 4 January 2023.
- ^ "Five youngsters to look out for". Chroniclelive.co.uk. 16 May 2017.
- ^ a b c Fullerton, Darren (9 July 2021). "Linfield defender Michael Newberry on his Geordie roots, 'horrendous' Icelandic winters and trying to decipher Conor Pepper's accent on Call of Duty". Belfast Live. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
- ^ "Michael Newberry: It's all about the three points in senior football". Archive.today.
- ^ "The Newcastle-born defender, who played youth football for Red House Farm, won the coveted Wor Jackie trophy during his time at St. James' Park". Newcastle United.
- ^ McCormick, Sean (6 March 2020). "Previous Wor Jackie Trophy winners: Where are these Newcastle United wonderkids now?". Chronicle Live. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
- ^ "Newberry traded Newcastle United for a new 'lease of life' in Iceland". Chroniclelive.co.uk. 18 July 2020.
- ^ a b "Linfield's new signing was once tipped for big time at Newcastle Utd". Belfast Live. 29 January 2021. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
- ^ "Fyrrverandi leikmaður Ólafsvíkinga látinn". MBL (in Icelandic). 30 December 2024. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
- ^ "Irish Premiership: Linfield bring in defender Newberry". BBC Sport. 29 January 2021.
- ^ "Cliftonville defender Newberry dies suddenly". BBC Sport. 30 December 2024. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
- ^ a b "Michael Newberry: Cliftonville defender dies suddenly aged 27". BBC Sport. 30 December 2024. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
- ^ Hanna, Gareth (29 January 2021). "Who is Michael Newberry?". Belfasttelegraph.co.uk.
- ^ "Northern Ireland U19's Win Opener". Irish FA. 12 November 2015. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
The Side won 2–1 thanks to goals from Ben Kennedy and Michael Newberry.
- ^ "Norway-Northern Ireland | UEFA Under-19 2016". UEFA.com. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
- ^ "Craigan on Under 19 European Championships Elite Stage". Irish FA. 23 March 2016. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
- ^ Bailie, Keith (30 December 2024). "Michael Newberry's untimely death has united rivals Cliftonville and Linfield in grief". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
- ^ RTE (30 December 2024). "Cliftonville defender Michael Newberry dies aged 27". RTÉ.ie.
- ^ Mirror (30 December 2024). "Ex-Newcastle footballer Michael Newberry dies suddenly aged just 27 as club pay tribute". Daily Mirror.
- ^ Donaghy, Gerard (30 December 2024). "Belfast football club Cliftonville have said they are devastated following the sudden death of player Michael Newberry". The Irish Post. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
- ^ Madden, Andrew (30 December 2024). "Cliftonville player Michael Newberry dies suddenly". Belfasttelegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
- ^ "Cliftonville defender Michael Newberry dies suddenly aged 27, club announce". Extra.ie. 30 December 2024. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
- ^ "Irish Premiership holds minute's silence for Michael Newberry as dad devastated by son's sudden death". Belfast Telegraph. 30 December 2024. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
- ^ Michael Newberry at Soccerway. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
- ^ "THE CURTAIN FALLS ON 2020/21 LEAGUE SEASON". NI Football League. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
- ^ "LINFIELD – DANSKE BANK PREMIERSHIP CHAMPIONS 2021/22!". NI Football League. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
- ^ "Linfield win Sadler's Peaky Blinder Irish Cup". IFA. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
- ^ "Linfield 2–0 Coleraine: BetMcLean Cup success delights Blues boss Healy after 'tough year'". BBC Sport. 13 March 2023. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
- ^ "2024-03-10 – Linfield v Portadown". NI Football League. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
External links
edit- Michael Newberry at the Football Association of Iceland (in Icelandic)