George Andrew J. Friend (born 19 October 1987) is an English footballer who plays for Scunthorpe United as a defender, on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers.

[edit] Career

Born in Barnstaple, Devon, Friend began his career at non-League Exeter City as a youth team player, signing a two-year professional contract in March 2006. Able to play left back, centre-back or left-sided midfield, he made his first team debut on 17 April 2006 in a 0–0 draw at Forest Green Rovers.

During his early career, he also loan spells with Tiverton Town (at the start of the 2005–06 season), Team Bath (in December 2006) and Folkestone Invicta. His Exeter career, however, really took off in the 2007–08 season when he was integral to the side that won promotion to the Football League after defeating Cambridge United in the play-off Final at Wembley Stadium.

After playing in Exeter's opening games in the Football League, he moved to Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Championship on 1 September 2008, signing a two-year contract, with the option of a third year,^[2] for an initial fee of £350,000.^[3] He made six first team appearances for Wolves during the 2008–09 season as they were promoted to the Premier League as champions.

To gain regular playing time, he spent a month's loan at League One club Millwall during August to September 2009, before returning to Wolves.^[4] He soon went out on a month's loan again on 18 September to another League One club, Southend United,^[5] where he scored his first league goal with a free-kick against Southampton. After a proposed extension to his stay with Southend was cancelled due to the club's financial troubles, he instead moved on a month's loan to Championship side Scunthorpe United.^[6]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• George Friend profile at the Wolverhampton Wanderers website
• George Friend career stats at Soccerbase