Calum Davenport

Calum Ray Paul Davenport (born 1 January 1983) is an English former professional footballer who currently plays for Tavistock in the Southern League Division One South.

During his career he has played for Coventry City, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United, Southampton, Norwich City, Watford, Sunderland, Wootton Blue Cross and Elstow Abbey.

He plays as a defender.

Davenport joined Coventry City as a trainee in August 2000.

He made his debut, in the final game of the 2000–01, a 0–0 draw against Bradford City, the season which saw the club relegated from the Premier League.

It was not until the 2002–03 season that he became a regular first team player, earning the accolade of Young Player of the Year.

During the 2003–04 season he gained another accolade, winning the Player of the Year award.

He made 84 appearances for Coventry City in all competitions, scoring three goals.

Davenport moved to Tottenham in August 2004 for a fee of £1.3 million.

While at Spurs, Davenport had short loan spells at West Ham, Southampton and Norwich City.

However, since joining Tottenham in 2004, he had struggled to establish himself in the first team and in January 2007, transferred to West Ham.

Davenport made twenty appearances for Tottenham in all competitions, scoring one goal.

While on loan, he made ten appearances for West Ham, twelve appearances for Southampton and 16 appearances for Norwich.

After returning to Tottenham in January 2006, he made his Premier League debut in the 2–1 home defeat to Manchester United in April 2006.

He was the subject of transfer talk during the 2006 close season but remained at Spurs following a series of injuries to other defenders in pre-season.

Davenport scored his first league goal for Tottenham on 17 December 2006, being the first goal in a 2–1 victory away to Manchester City, scored from a Tom Huddlestone free-kick.

Davenport joined West Ham United for an undisclosed fee, reported to be £3 million, on 18 January 2007.

He signed a three-and-a-half-year contract.

He made his first start in his second spell for the club two days later in a 2–2 draw against Newcastle United.

He had a goal disallowed during this match by referee Uriah Rennie.

On 18 January 2008, he joined Championship side Watford on a month's loan, with a view to a permanent deal.

Watford manager Aidy Boothroyd had previously been interested in signing Davenport when he was at Tottenham, and he was to provide cover for Danny Shittu whilst he was at the African Cup of Nations.

Davenport made his debut against Charlton Athletic on 19 January 2008, but had to be substituted before half-time after a collision with teammate Darius Henderson.

He was stretchered off and taken to hospital, where he spent a number of days and was diagnosed with a fracture to a bone in his neck.

His injury meant the loan deal was cancelled.

After a lengthy spell on the sidelines Davenport returned to competitive action for the start of the 2008-09 campaign.

Injuries meant he found himself in the starting eleven against Wigan Athletic on the opening day.

Davenport took his chance in the first team, impressing many critics with both his defending and goal threat from set pieces.

He scored his first goal for The Hammers against Blackburn Rovers on 30 August 2008 when he headed in Julien Faubert's corner.

On 2 February 2009 he joined Premier League club Sunderland on loan until the end of the 2008–09 season.

He made eight appearances for Sunderland.

Davenport returned to West Ham for the start of the 2009–10 season but in August was involved in a stabbing incident.

He did not play again for West Ham and in March 2010 his contract was terminated by mutual consent.

He played fourteen games in all competitions for West Ham scoring one goal.

After being released by West Ham, Davenport joined Nottingham Forest on trial during the club's 2010 pre-season.

In August 2010, Davenport started training with Leeds United.

He started a trial period which was later confirmed by manager Simon Grayson.

In September 2010 Davenport returned home to think over his options.

On 8 September 2010, Grayson revealed that Leeds were still interested in the player and were awaiting Davenport to think over his future.

In September 2010 Davenport signed for United Counties team Wootton Blue Cross in order to gain some match fitness before returning to the professional ranks and made his debut in a 4–0 defeat to Bourne Town.