Club career Dougie Freedman

1 club career

1.1 barnet
1.2 crystal palace (1995–1997)
1.3 wolverhampton wanderers
1.4 nottingham forest
1.5 crystal palace (2000–2008)
1.6 leeds united (loan)
1.7 southend united

club career
barnet

freedman began career top flight queens park rangers in 1992, never made first team. moved third division barnet on free transfer in july 1994, aged 20. made league debut in august 1994 , became club s leading player struck 24 goals in debut season. bright start following season attracted interest of crystal palace.

crystal palace (1995–1997)

freedman signed crystal palace fee of £800,000 in september 1995. instantly showed continue goalscoring form @ higher level when netted 20 times in 1995–96 season. haul included 11 minutes hat-trick grimsby town on 5 march 1996.

the following, 1996–97 season saw less prolific 11 goals helped club promotion play-offs. scored crucial goals in 89th , 90th minutes of play off semi-final tie wolves after coming off bench 17 minutes left. palace went on win promotion in wembley play off final, beating sheffield united 1–0. freedman s experience of premier league football in 1997–98 season proved short-lived though managed 7 top flight games before being sold wolves.

wolverhampton wanderers

freedman joined wolves, on loan, in october 1997. after impressing 2 goals in many games, wolves made contract permanent in £800,000 combined deal palace defender kevin muscat. however, freedmans s time @ wolves lasted until end of 1997–98 season. team s top goalscorer 13 in total in season saw wolves fail mount serious promotion challenge. emergence of striker robbie keane during season helped convince wolves sell freedman.

nottingham forest

in august 1998 freedman signed newly promoted premier league side nottingham forest fee of £900,000. made first appearance forest on 17 august 1998 substitute in 2–1 defeat @ arsenal. in first full campaign in top flight in 1998–99 scored 9 goals forest relegated season division one. in second season @ forest in 1999–2000 club languished in mid-table under manager david platt. freedman made total of 83 appearances, , scoring 23 goals, before being sold crystal palace in october 2000.

crystal palace (2000–2008)

freedman rejoined palace in october 2000 transfer fee of £600,000. rejoined club during relegation threatened campaign, 1 ended perhaps famous goal club. relegation third tier loomed in final game of season @ stockport county, 3 minutes left , no score. freedman scored vital goal kept palace in division, , relegated huddersfield town.

the following season saw freedman bag 21 goals in competitions, best seasonal tally palace. earned him call-up scottish national team, add earlier under 21 caps. however, next season less of personal success dropped scotland side, , began find appearances limited @ palace, manager trevor francis largely preferred ade akinbiyi, dele adebola, , andy johnson him.

his fortunes revived in 2003–04 though, re-established himself first choice regular under new manager iain dowie. strong surge in second half of season saw club go relegation contenders promotion play-offs. freedman scored during penalty shootout victory @ sunderland in semi finals club final. unused substitute in final though, saw club beat west ham, second time had been promoted club.

however, life in premier league in 2004–05 saw freedman overlooked team employed 1 striker in games, andy johnson being preferred choice in role. despite attracting interest leeds united midway through season, remained committed palace cause of consolidating premier league status rejecting loan bid championship contenders. stayed score top flight goal club in vital final fixture @ charlton athletic, drawing them level @ 1–1. however, eventual 2–2 result saw club endure record fourth premier league relegation.

back in championship, remained down pecking order behind england international andy johnson , republic of ireland international clinton morrison. however, injuries johnson , jon macken, , lack of form morrison brought him team , scored 100th , 101st goals crystal palace in 3–2 win @ rivals brighton & hove albion on 20 november 2005. made him seventh player in palace history have reached century mark.

he managed stay in line-up after johnson s return, having made great impression on palace boss iain dowie, who, later, made public call scotland boss walter smith striker given chance in national side. ended season 7 league goals, club comfortably reached play-offs. however, beaten watford in semi final tie deny him chance of third promotion.

the appointment of peter taylor manager in summer 2006 limited freedman s chances, , manage 3 league goals. however, extended contract further 2 years @ conclusion of season. taylor replaced neil warnock in 2007–08 season, strong goalscoring form of clinton morrison limited freedman rare substitute appearances.

leeds united (loan)

with morrison keeping him out of palace side, freedman, after rejecting move (as had done during 2004–05 season), decided move league 1 club leeds united on loan until end of season.

he in excellent form elland road club, scoring 5 goals ensure play-off place including brace against carlisle united in 3–2 win @ elland road, , receiving praise leeds manager gary mcallister. form earned him league 1 s player of month award april, while vital late play-off goal in first leg of leeds semi-final tie carlisle united , assist last minute jonny howson goal in second leg helped whites wembley, featured in play-off final on day of 34th birthday, leeds downed 1–0 doncaster rovers. after season ended freedman revealed wanted join leeds permanently, leeds signed luciano becchio , freedman had elsewhere.

freedman still held in high regard leeds united s supporters day despite such short spell @ club, impact in helping team playoff final , impressive interviews during time @ leeds means remembered cult hero.

southend united

after returning palace @ end of season, freedman granted testimonial match reward him ten years service @ club on 2 spells, match first-team pre-season friendly fixture against fulham @ selhurst park ended in 0–0 draw. following match, warnock allowed freedman depart selhurst. heavily linked permanent move leeds, never materialized.

instead freedman moved southend united on free transfer, scoring 4 goals in first 4 outings shrimpers. first season plagued injury. following season saw form of lee barnard keep freedman out of side.

in march 2010 freedman had contract @ southend terminated mutual consent rejoin palace part of coaching staff, signaling end of playing career.