| Joseph Rafferty | |
|---|---|
| |
| Personal information | |
| Date of Birth |
6 October 1993 |
| Place of Birth |
Liverpool, England |
| Height |
6,0 |
| Position |
Defender |
| Liverpool statistics | |
| Appearances |
0 |
| Goals |
0 |
Joseph Gerard Rafferty (born 6 October 1993) is an English-born Irish footballer who played for the Liverpool Academy and Reserves. He left the club in 2012.
Liverpool career[]
Rafferty is a product of the Liverpool youth academy. He attended the Maricourt High School in Liverpool- renowned for producing young footballing talents, along with other Liverpool starlets Stephen Darby, Craig Roddan and Peter Aylmer. He is a natural centre back who can also play at right back. In the 2010-11 Academy season, Rafferty played 11 games as Liverpool impressed throughout.
Rafferty was appointed captain of the Under-18s for the 2011-12 Academy Under 18s season, taking over from Conor Coady. Rafferty said of his appointment: "It's hard to describe how pleased I am to be captain. It's especially pleasing because I'm a local lad who has supported Liverpool all of my life and gone to so many matches as a kid." Rafferty remained as captain until the latter stages of the season, when Mike Marsh chose to give Jordan Lussey the armband. Rafferty was a near ever-present for the under-18s during the season, making 26 out of a possible 29 appearances. He also made his bow for the Reserves, appearing in the first two games of the side's season.
In something of a surprise move however, despite the new ground Rafferty broke in the 2011-12 season, the club decided against retaining him and Rafferty was released in the summer of 2012, along with a number of his other young teammates. On 2 July 2012, it was reported that Rafferty had signed a one-year professional contract with Rochdale.