Alan Judge (footballer, born 1988)

Blackburn Rovers

Born in Dublin, Ireland, Judge began his career at St. Joseph's National School in Dún Laoghaire, appearing for the school's Senior Boys team. In 2006, Judge joined the academy at Premier League club Blackburn Rovers. He turned professional at age 17 and was a regular in the reserve team during the 2007–08 season, scoring seven goals. He made his debut for the senior team as a substitute in a 4–1 League Cup second round win over Grimsby Town in August 2008 and his first start followed in a narrow FA Cup third round victory over Blyth Spartans in January 2009. Shortly afterwards, he signed a new contract running until the end of the 2010–11 season. Judge spent the majority of the following two years away on loan and departed Ewood Park in January 2011.

Plymouth Argyle (loans)

Judge joined Championship club Plymouth Argyle on loan on 29 January 2009, for the remainder of the 2008–09 season. He featured regularly in the starting XI for then manager Paul Sturrock's team and scored the first senior goal of his career against Burnley in March. The season ended with Judge having made 17 appearances in all competitions.

Judge rejoined Argyle on loan for the duration of the 2009–10 season. He continued to feature regularly in the first-team and scored his first brace in senior football with two goals in an impressive 4–1 win over Reading on 28 December. The Pilgrims were relegated from the Championship at the end of the season and Judge returned to Blackburn. He made 40 appearances and scored five goals during his second spell. In 2013, the Plymouth Herald named Judge as Argyle's fifth best-ever loan signing.

Notts County (loan & permanent signing)

On 31 August 2010, Judge signed a six-month loan deal with League One club Notts County. His loan expired on 1 January 2011, but County re-signed Judge on a further one-month loan so he would be available for forthcoming matches whilst a permanent deal was finalised. He made 14 appearances during his loan spell and scored no goals. On 14 January 2011, Judge completed a permanent move to Notts County, signing a two-year deal with the club. Just days after signing, Judge broke a metatarsal bone in his right foot in a match against Hartlepool United. After a seven-week spell on the sidelines, Judge returned to action against Swindon Town. He scored the equaliser, before setting up Lee Hughes to give County the three points in a 2–1 victory. He made 21 appearances and scored one goal during the 2010–11 season.

Judge scored his first goal of the 2011–12 season in a 3–1 away win against Chesterfield. His form saw him pick up consecutive player of the month awards for November and December respectively. He flourished under manager Martin Allen and finished the season with 8 goals and 13 assists. Judge scooped both the Notts County Players' Player of the Year and Supporters' Player of the Year awards for the 2011–12 season.

Judge scored his first goal in the 2012–13 season in a 2–0 win over Bury on 1 September 2012. In February 2013 and playing under his sixth different manager since arriving at Meadow Lane, Judge revealed he was "sick" of the high turnover of managers and captain Neal Bishop backed up Judge's comments. Despite his unrest, Judge's performances throughout the 2012–13 season saw him named in the League One PFA Team of the Year. He finished the season with 43 appearances and eight goals. On 27 April 2013, it was announced that Judge would depart Meadow Lane.

Return to Blackburn Rovers

Judge re-signed for Blackburn Rovers, now in the Championship, on a three-year deal on 1 July 2013. He scored his first Blackburn goal in a 3–3 League Cup first round shootout defeat to Carlisle United on 7 August 2013. He made 12 appearances during the 2013–14 season, scoring one goal. Despite manager Gary Bowyer insisting that Judge was in his plans, Judge departed Ewood Park for a second time on 2 June 2014, after making just 14 appearances and scoring one goal during four years with the club as a first team player.

2013–14

On 8 January 2014, Judge joined League One side Brentford on loan for the remainder of the 2013–14 season. He featured as a regular starter and scored his first Bees goal on his fourth appearance, netting the second in a 3–1 win over Bristol City on 28 January. On 18 April, Judge scored the penalty which saw Brentford beat Preston North End 1–0 at Griffin Park, to confirm the Bees' promotion to the Championship with three games to spare. He scored his seventh goal of the campaign in a 2–0 win over Stevenage on the final day. He made 22 appearances during his spell with the Bees and on 2 June 2014, Judge signed for Brentford permanently on a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee.

2014–15

Judge began the 2014–15 Championship season in a defensive midfield role alongside Jonathan Douglas, with Alex Pritchard having assumed his attacking role on the left side of midfield. He scored his first goal of the season on his twentieth appearance, sliding home the opener in a 4–0 demolition of Wolverhampton Wanderers at Griffin Park on 29 November. Judge missed his first league game of the season on 10 January 2015, having been forced off with a knee injury during the previous week's 2–0 FA Cup third round defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion. After over four months without a goal, Judge scored a free kick to help send the Bees on the way to a 4–1 victory over West London rivals Fulham at Craven Cottage on 3 April. A successful season ended in defeat to Middlesbrough in the playoff semi-finals, with Judge having made 41 appearances and scored three goals.

2015–16 and injury

Judge scored his first goal of the 2015–16 season on 15 August 2015, when he cancelled out Jonathan Kodjia's opener to send Brentford on the way to a 4–2 comeback victory over Bristol City and he was retrospectively credited with a second goal in the same match. Three goals and four assists during a four-match winning run in October won Judge the Championship Player of the Month award. Another six goals through to January 2016 led to his nomination for the Football League Player of the Year award at the 2016 London Football Awards. Judge's season came to a premature end on 9 April 2016, when he suffered a double lower-leg fracture after being "felled by sickening challenge" from Ipswich Town's Luke Hyam. He scored a seasonal-best 14 goals during the 2015–16 season and also provided 11 assists. At the 2016 Football League Awards, Judge was shortlisted for the Championship Player of the Year award and was named in the Football League Team of the Year. He was also named in the Championship PFA Team of the Year at the PFA Awards and won the Brentford Supporters' and Players' Player of the Year awards. Judge signed a new two-year contract on 29 March 2017, but underwent further surgery to improve the healing of the bone in April 2017. In August 2017, Judge reported that he was on course to return in November 2017.

Youth

Judge made his international debut with the Republic of Ireland U17 team in October 2004, winning five caps and scoring two goals during the team's failed 2005 European U17 Championship qualifying campaign. He represented the U18 side at the 2005 European Youth Olympic Festival in Lignano Sabbiadoro, Italy. A 4–2 victory over Switzerland in the third-place playoff saw the U18s win the bronze medal. Judge made his U19 debut in a 2–1 friendly win over Ukraine at Terryland Park on 15 August 2006. He was a regular for the U19s during their qualifying campaign for the 2007 European U19 Championship and scored his first goal in a 2–1 qualifying win away to Macedonia on 6 October 2006. Judge appeared in all three of the U18s' elite qualification games, but despite victories over Bulgaria and Hungary, defeat to Germany saw the Germans qualify for the finals. Judge also represented the U19s in the 2007 Oporto Tournament in Portugal, but went home without any silverware.

Judge made his U21 debut in a 3–2 friendly victory over Sweden on 12 October 2007, coming on as a substitute for Jim O'Brien after 68 minutes. Judge made two appearances during the U21s' unsuccessful 2009 UEFA U21 Championship qualifying campaign. He appeared in all of the qualifying games for the 2011 UEFA U21 Championship, with an early goal scored in a 1–1 draw with Georgia being the sole highlight of a campaign which saw the U21s finish bottom of their group. He won 13 U21 caps and scored two goals. Judge made four appearances for the U23s in the 2008 Inter Continental Cup, but came away without the trophy.

Full

Judge's form in the Championship with Brentford saw him named in provisional Republic of Ireland squads in May, August and October 2015 and he was finally named in a matchday squad for a crucial Euro 2016 qualifying playoff first leg match versus Bosnia and Herzegovina on 13 November 2015. He was an unused substitute during the 1–1 draw. Judge made his debut with a start in a friendly versus Switzerland on 25 March 2016, playing the full 90 minutes of the 1–0 victory.

Style of play

Judge is known for his energy and his driving runs, as well as his ability to score spectacular long range goals. This has led to him being nicknamed "The Irish Messi" by players, fans and pundits. Brentford teammate Maxime Colin commented that Judge "feels the football and he has a really good kick, good cross. He never gives up. He gives a lot of strength and power. He's not afraid".

Personal life

Judge's father Dermot played for Shamrock Rovers and captained Bray Wanderers to success in the 1990 FAI Cup Final.

Club

International

Individual

Career statistics