Daniel Joseph Griffin (born 10 August 1977) is a Northern Irish retired footballer. He was primarily a defender, but could also play in midfield. He is a youth coach with his first professional club, St Johnstone.

Career At age 15, Griffin left high school in Belfast six months early to join St Johnstone. He made his professional debut two years later. It was while he was with the McDiarmid Park club that Griffin made his international debut against Germany in a 1–1 draw on 29 May 1996 in Belfast and scored his first international goal in a friendly against the Republic of Ireland three years, to the day, later.

In the following months, English club Derby County offered St Johnstone £1,000,000 for their 18-year-old centre-back. Griffin was beginning to develop a good relationship with St Johnstone and he felt there was much more he could learn from Paul Sturrock, so he turned down the move."Football memories keep the Perth player in the game, Perthshire Advertiser, 13 June 2008."Danny Griffin: I'm kind of hoping I'll be in this job until I'm struggling to walk" – The Courier, 7 July 2018 In 1996, Griffin scored an own goal, the only goal of the game, in the Scottish Challenge Cup Final loss to Stranraer.Danny's blasts from the past, Perthshire Advertiser.

After seven years in Perth, Griffin followed manager Paul Sturrock to Tayside rivals Dundee United. However, he suffered a knee injury that saw him out for four months. By December, Griffin made his return from injury. On 23 December 2000, he made his return to the starting line-up and played 81 minutes before being substituted, in a 3-1 loss against Hearts. On 4 April 2001, Griffin scored his first goal for the club, in a 4-1 loss against Aberdeen.

Ahead of the 2001-02 season, Griffin was eventually become captain. Following injury problems, Griffin lost his regular place and joined English side Stockport County in 2004 as a free agent. After being released by Stockport, in December 2005 he signed for Aberdeen. Just four months later, however, he was informed that the club would not renew his contract at the end of the season.

In June 2006, Griffin became one of new Dundee manager Alex Rae's first signings, agreeing a two-year contract., The Courier. On 8 January 2007 he left the club by mutual consent and joined Ross County a week later."County boss swoops to sign trio", BBC Sport. Griffin was released by Ross County after suffering more injuries.Griffin and Winters move to Livi, BBC Sport, 16 January 2009. He then joined Livingston in January 2009. After winning the third division championship with Livingston, Griffin joined Arbroath in June 2010 on a one-year dealGriffin Joins Lichties Deal , The Courier. where he won the third division title for a second successive season.

International goals

Scores and results list Northern Ireland's goal tally first. # Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition 1 29 May 1999 Dublin, Republic of Ireland 1–0 1–0 Friendly match

Career statistics Club Season League Cup Lg Cup Other Total Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps GoalsSt Johnstone 1996–97 1 1 1 0 2 0 0 0 4 1 1997–98 13 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 14 1 1998–99 19 1 4 0 3 0 0 0 26 1 1999–00 30 1 1 0 1 1 2 0 34 2 Total 63 3 6 0 7 2 2 0 82 5Dundee United 2000–01 18 1 4 0 0 0 0 0 22 1 2001–02 29 2 2 0 3 1 0 0 34 3 2002–03 17 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 17 1 2003–04 13 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 13 0 Total 76 4 6 0 4 1 0 0 86 5Stockport County 2003–04 15 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 15 1 2004–05 16 0 3 1 0 0 2 0 21 1 2005–06 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 5 0 Total 35 1 3 1 0 0 3 0 41 2Aberdeen2005–06 10 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 12 0 Total 10 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 12 0Dundee 2006–07 24 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 27 0 2007–08 7 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 10 0 Total 31 0 2 0 2 0 2 0 37 0Ross County2008–09 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 Total 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 0Career total 221 8 19 1 13 3 7 0 260 12

Honours St Johnstone Scottish Challenge Cup runner-up: 1 1996–97 Scottish League Cup runner-up: 1 1998–99

Livingston Scottish Third Division winner: 1 2009–10

Arbroath Scottish Third Division winner: 1 2010–11

References

External links