10 FACTS: PATRICK BAMFORD

10 FACTS: PATRICK BAMFORD

We find out more about Leeds United's new number 9

1. Patrick James Bamford was born on the 5th September 1993 in Grantham, Lincolnshire. Six days later, Leeds United would head to The Dell, where they’d beat Southampton 2-0 thanks to goals from Brian Deane and Gary Speed.
   
2. After playing for Muskham Cougars, Patrick joined Nottingham Forest’s Academy when he turned 8, playing alongside the likes of Jamaal Lascelles and Ben Osborn. He would go onto make his debut against Cardiff City on 31st December 2011, as a second-half substitute for Matt Derbyshire.
  

Bamford

3. After having previously represented the Republic of Ireland at youth level, Patrick switched his allegiance to England in November 2010, and made his debut for Noel Blake’s U18s in a 3-0 win against Poland. 
   
4. In January 2012, Patrick featured in Nottingham Forest’s 9-1 FA Youth Cup win over Wigan, scoring five goals and setting up a further three. He then followed this up with four goals against Southampton in the same competition.
   

Bamford

5. His prolific scoring in January 2012, saw Andre Villas-Boas’ Chelsea pay £1.5 million to secure his services. Bamford settled in quickly, training with the first-team, and scored two goals on his Reserves debut, as The Blues defeated Gillingham 5-4.
  
6. After finishing his first season with Chelsea’s Reserves, which saw the striker rack up six goals in eight appearances on the right wing, Bamford joined MK Dons in November 2012. Making his debut against Colchester, Patrick went on to score 21 goals in 44 games, and picked up the Football League’s Player of the Month award for December 2013.
   

Bamford

7. Switching his loan from MK Dons to Derby County during the January 2014 transfer window, the Chelsea striker would continue his goalscoring form, netting in his second game for The Rams, against Brighton Hove & Albion. He’d finish the season with 8 goals in 23 appearances.
   
8. Bamford moved to Middlesbrough on loan for the 2014/15 season, which would again prove fruitful. With 19 goals in 44 appearances, including the opener in a 2-0 win over Premier League champions Manchester City, the 21-year old was named the Championship’s Player of the Year
   

Bamford

9. Further loan spells at Crystal Palace, Norwich and Burnley followed, before Bamford made the permanent move from Chelsea to Middlesbrough in January 2017. After six months in the Premier League with Boro, Bamford scored 13 goals in 44 appearances during the 2017/18 Championship campaign, which included his first-ever hat-trick, coincidentally against Leeds United.
  
10. On 31st July 2018, after much speculation, Patrick Bamford signed a permanent four-year contract with Leeds United, becoming The White’s new number 9.
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