Darren Sarll

Darren Sarll (born 2 February 1983) is an English professional football manager and coach who is manager of National League club Woking.

Darren Sarll
Personal information
Date of birth (1983-02-02) 2 February 1983
Place of birth Hitchin, England[1]
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Woking (manager)
Youth career
0000–1999 Ipswich Town
1999–2001 Hitchin Town
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2001–2002 Hitchin Town 38 (0)
2002 Berkhamsted Town
2002–2004 Bedford Town 72 (0)
2004 St Albans City 8 (0)
2004 → Chelmsford City (loan) 5 (0)
2004–2005 Dunstable Town 25 (0)
2005–2006 Hemel Hempstead Town 14 (0)
2006 Chesham United 8 (0)
Biggleswade United
Managerial career
2016–2018 Stevenage
2019–2022 Yeovil Town
2022– Woking
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Sarll began his career in football as a midfielder in non-League football and entered management with English Football League club Stevenage in 2016. Following his departure in 2018, he managed National League clubs Yeovil Town and Woking.

Playing career

A midfielder, Sarll began his career in the Ipswich Town youth system and later joined the youth team at Isthmian League Premier Division club Hitchin Town,[1] from which he graduated into the first team, before departing in 2002.[2][3] He subsequently played in the Conference South, the Southern League and the Spartan South Midlands League for Berkhamsted Town, Bedford Town,[4][5] St Albans City,[2] Chelmsford City, Dunstable Town,[6] Hemel Hempstead Town,[7] Chesham United and Biggleswade United.[8][9] After taking up coaching and dropping out of non-League football, he moved into Sunday league football.[10]

Managerial and coaching career

Stevenage Borough

Sarll began his coaching career with Conference club Stevenage Borough and served as a coach in a variety of youth and reserve roles.[11] During the 2006–07 season, he managed the youth team to the final of the Colwyn Cup, which was lost to Dunstable Town.[12]

Brentford

Sarll joined League Two club Brentford as youth team manager prior to the beginning of the 2008–09 season.[13] After the promotion of first team assistant manager Andy Scott to the full-time managerial post halfway through the season,[14] Sarll also assisted Scott as first team coach and also became the first manager of the reformed reserve team in 2009.[15] He left the club at the end of the 2010–11 season.[13]

Rotherham United

Sarll followed Andy Scott to League Two club Rotherham United in July 2011 and took over the role of Head of Player Development.[16] After Scott's sacking in March 2012,[17] Sarll departed the Don Valley Stadium at the end of the 2011–12 season.[18]

Return to Stevenage

Sarll returned to Stevenage, then having risen through the pyramid to League One, in June 2012.[19] He held the role of Head of Youth until 2 June 2015, when he was promoted to first team coach after the appointment of Teddy Sheringham as manager.[20] After the sacking of Sheringham on 1 February 2016, Sarll was named as caretaker manager.[21] Five days later, Sarll's first match in charge resulted in a 1–0 League Two defeat to Crawley Town.[22] After losing six of his first 9 matches,[22] Stevenage sought the services of Glenn Roeder to advise Sarll.[23] Under Sarll's guidance, Stevenage ended the season with one loss from their final 9 matches and rose from the relegation places to finish 18th.[22] Sarll was given the manager's job on a permanent basis in May 2016.[24]

The 2016–17 season proved to be one of inconsistency,[25] despite an undefeated run of eight wins in 9 matches establishing the club in the playoff zone by March 2017.[26] 16 points from six matches in February won Sarll the League Two Manager of the Month award.[27] Any promotion hopes were extinguished with a winless run in the final six matches of the season and the club finished in 10th place.[25][28] During the season, Sarll oversaw the transition of Dale Gorman, Jamie Gray, Mark McKee and Luke Wade-Slater from the academy set-up into the first-team.[29][30] The 2017–18 season began with wins in six of the opening 11 matches, before the inconsistency of the previous seasons set in.[31] Despite strengthening the squad with a number of new signings in January 2018, a run of just four wins from 26 league matches between October 2017 and March 2018 led to Sarll's sacking on 18 March 2018.[30][31]

Two days after Sarll's departure as manager, chairman Phil Wallace stated he had a "very high opinion" of Sarll and that it was always his intention to keep him on in a "technical development role".[32] Sarll was appointed to oversee all of the club's youth development, both domestically and overseas and he took up the new position on 28 March 2018,[33] before departing Broadhall Way in June 2018.[34]

Watford

On 13 June 2018, it was announced that Sarll had joined the academy at Premier League club Watford and he would work with the older age groups and share the role of Head of Academy.[34][35] He was suspended, following allegations of bullying,[36] on 30 January 2019 and "amicably parted ways" with the club two weeks later.[37]

Yeovil Town

On 19 June 2019, Sarll signed a three-year contract to manage newly-relegated National League club Yeovil Town.[38][39] He got off to a good start, taking maximum points in September 2019 to win the National League Manager of the Month award.[40] The club's 2019–20 season ended with defeat in the National League playoff quarter-finals and a mid-table 2020–21 followed.[41][42] Following a slow start to the 2021–22 season, Sarll won his second National League Manager of the Month award after four wins from five in November 2021.[43] Sarll departed Huish Park on 28 March 2022.[44]

Woking

On 28 March 2022, Sarll signed a two-year contract to manage National League club Woking.[45] An impressive start to the season saw Woking firmly in the play-off picture, leading to Sarll winning the Manager of the Month award for November 2022.[46] A strong start to the new year saw Woking do the double over their rivals Aldershot. Alongside these results Sarll's Woking were the only team to take any points from the Racecourse ground in the 22/33 season in a 1-1 draw with Wrexham. Following a 1-1 draw with Southend Woking secured their first playoff finish in the club's history where, in a 2-1 loss at home to Bromley, they would be eliminated in the quarter finals.

Career statistics

Player
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Hitchin Town 2000–01[47] Isthmian League Premier Division 14 0 0 0 3[lower-alpha 1] 0 17 0
2001–02[47] 24 0 5 1 8[lower-alpha 2] 0 37 1
2002–03[47] 0 0 ― 1[lower-alpha 3] 0 1 0
Total 38 0 5 1 12 0 55 1
Bedford Town 2002–03[4] Isthmian League Premier Division 27 0 ― 0 0 27 0
2003–04[5] 45 0 0 0 1[lower-alpha 4] 0 46 0
Total 72 0 0 0 1 0 73 0
St Albans City 2004–05[48] Conference South 8 0 0 0 3[lower-alpha 5] 0 11 0
Chelmsford City (loan) 2004–05[6] Isthmian League Premier Division 5 0 ― 0 0 5 0
Dunstable Town 2004–05[6] Southern League Premier Division 15 0 ― 0 0 15 0
2005–06[7] Southern League First Division West 10 0 0 0 0 0 10 0
Total 25 0 0 0 0 0 25 0
Hemel Hempstead Town 2005–06[7] Southern League First Division West 14 0 ― 0 0 14 0
Chesham United 2005–06[7] Southern League Premier Division 8 0 ― 0 0 8 0
Career total 170 0 5 1 16 0 191 1
  1. 2 appearances in Isthmian League Full Members' Cup, 1 appearance in Herts Charity Cup
  2. 3 appearances in Isthmian League Cup, 3 appearances in Herts Senior Cup, 1 appearance in FA Trophy, 1 appearance in Herts Charity Cup
  3. Appearance in Herts Charity Cup
  4. Appearance in Isthmian League Premier Division play-offs
  5. 1 appearance in Isthmian League Cup, 1 appearance in Herts Senior Cup, 1 appearance in Herts Charity Cup

Manager
As of match played 24 October 2023
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team From To Record Ref
PWDLWin %
Stevenage 1 February 2016 18 March 2018 114 41 26 47 036.0 [49]
Yeovil Town 19 June 2019 28 March 2022 134 55 30 49 041.0 [49][50]
Woking 28 March 2022 Present 77 35 16 26 045.5 [49]
Total 325 131 72 122 040.3 —

Honours

References
  1. Three Valleys Radio (10 September 2020). "In Conversation with Yeovil manager Darren Sarll" (Podcast). Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  2. "Darren Sarll". St Albans City F.C. Statistics. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  3. "Darren Sarll". fishpondersfactsandstats.info. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
  4. "Player Details – 2002–03". SoccerFactsUK. Archived from the original on 19 March 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  5. "Player Details – 2003–04". SoccerFactsUK. Archived from the original on 19 March 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  6. "Player Details – 2004–05". SoccerFactsUK. Archived from the original on 19 March 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  7. "Player Details – 2005–06". SoccerFactsUK. Archived from the original on 19 March 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  8. "Darren Sarll Profile". Aylesbury United F.C. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  9. "All Competitions : Player's Appearances – Sarll Darren". Football Mitoo. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  10. "Comet Stevenage Sunday Football League Premier Division Cup Final" (PDF). Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  11. "Sarll sees youth potential". Stevenage F.C. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  12. "Dunstable Town 1 v Stevenage Borough 0 HT1-0 Colwyn Cup – Pipeman's reports 2006/07 – Forum". Dunstable Town Football Club. Archived from the original on 3 July 2017. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  13. "Darren departs". Brentford F.C. 24 May 2011. Archived from the original on 12 February 2018. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  14. "History Boys – 2008/09 Uncovered: Andy Scott". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  15. Roberts, Damion (19 June 2015). "Interview pt1.: Darren Sarll on stepping up to become Stevenage boss Teddy Sheringham's first team coach". The Comet. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  16. "Coaching team confirmed". Rotherham United F.C. 1 August 2011. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  17. "Club statement". Rotherham United F.C. 19 March 2011. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  18. "Stevenage FC Football Academy". Stevenage F.C. Football Academy. Archived from the original on 7 February 2016. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  19. Roberts, Damion (2 June 2015). "Teddy Sheringham continues overhaul of staff by appointing first team coach". The Comet. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  20. Toyn, Dave. "Darren Sarll appointed First Team Coach at Stevenage FC". Stevenage F.C. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  21. Toyn, Dave. "Stevenage FC part company with Teddy Sheringham". Stevenage F.C. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  22. "Stevenage results for the 2015–2016 season". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 26 April 2017. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  23. "Glenn Roeder appointed managerial advisor". Stevenage F.C. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
  24. Branowsky, Dan. "Sarll and Roeder to remain in charge of management team". Stevenage F.C. Retrieved 10 May 2016.
  25. "Stevenage Results 2016/17". Soccer Base. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  26. "Stevenage 1–0 Barnet". BBC Sport. 1 April 2017. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
  27. "Darren Sarll named Sky Bet League Two Manager of the Month". www.efl.com. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
  28. Stevenage F.C. at the Football Club History Database
  29. "Best since Burnley star Boyd, says Boro boss". Hertfordshire Mercury. 11 April 2017. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
  30. Branowsky, Dan (18 March 2018). "Sarll managerial reign over". Stevenage F.C. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  31. "Stevenage Results 2017/18". Soccer Base. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  32. "Stevenage FC in sensational twist: Chairman Phil Wallace insists he did not sack Darren Sarll – and wants to keep him in Lamex 'technical' role". The Comet. 21 March 2018. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
  33. "Sarll to oversee Youth Development". Stevenage F.C. 28 March 2018. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
  34. "Sarll to leave for Watford". Stevenage F.C. 13 June 2018. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
  35. "Sarll: "I'm Eager To Get My Teeth Into It"". WatfordFC. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  36. "Hornets suspend Academy boss". Watford Observer. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  37. "Academy: Sarll Departs". WatfordFC. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  38. "News | Darren Sarll announced as manager". www.ytfc.net. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  39. "Darren Sarll". Yeovil Town. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  40. Collard, Sam (4 October 2019). "Superb September for Sarll". Yeovil Town F.C. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  41. "Yeovil Town v Barnet". BBC Sport. 18 July 2020. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  42. "Tables – National League – England". Soccerway. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  43. "National League's November Monthly Award Winners Announced!". www.thenationalleague.org.uk. 13 December 2021. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  44. Collard, Sam. "Club Statement | Darren Sarll". Retrieved 28 March 2022.
  45. "Darren Sarll named first-team manager". Woking F.C. 28 March 2022. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
  46. "Darren Sarll wins Manager of the Month for November". Woking Football Club. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  47. "Fixtures 2000–2009". fishpondersfactsandstats.info. Archived from the original on 30 August 2018. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
  48. "St Albans City F.C. Statistics". St Albans City F.C. Statistics. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  49. Darren Sarll management career statistics at Soccerbase
  50. "Matches". Yeovil Town. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
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