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A classy, cultured midfielder who started his career as a schoolboy with Chelsea before coming through the youth ranks at Queens Park Rangers, Doughty first joined Swindon in January 2016, on an initial month's loan from the Loftus Road outfit. After making his debut in a 1-1 draw at Sheffield United, his loan was immediately extended until the end of the season - with five goals in twenty appearances, and missing just thirty minutes of the action until the end of the season, Town boss Luke Williams was prompted to re-sign him on a season long loan for the following campaign. That season started with a win over Coventry City inspired by Doughty, and he contributed three goals and four assists until surprisingly being recalled by parent club QPR in the January. He left Rangers to sign for Peterborough over the following close season - released after a season at London Road, he was brought back to the County Ground on a two-year contract by now Town manager Phil Brown - with a statement of unfinished business reaffirming his desire for happier times at STFC. Doughty marked his return by playing a pivotal role in a sensational opening day fixture against Macclesfield - scoring a hat-trick, including two injury time penalties, as the Town incredibly came back to win 3-2 - two further goals before the month was out led him to being named as the League Two Player of the Month for August. The goals and performances continued to flow - including five in a four match spell in January 2019 - and despite only starting 26 matches in the league due to injury, he ended the season as top scorer with thirteen goals, partly thanks to seven penalties, including one scored using an ice-cold "Panenka" style to seal victory at MK Dons in February, having performed the same move against Newport in the Football League Trophy. After being named Player of the Season, Town boss Richie Wellens persuaded Doughty to sign a new contract, keeping him at the County Ground until 2022, despite interest from other clubs - Doughty stating that of all the clubs he had played for, Swindon was the one he felt most connected to, and was where he had managed to produce his best football. Though not as prolific - only scoring once throughout the entire 2019/20 campaign - Doughty was an instrumental part of the squad that won the League Two title, in a season ended prematurely by the global coronavirus pandemic. Sadly though, his stay at Swindon came to a premature end - after featuring in the opening game of the season, a 3-1 home defeat to Charlton in the League Cup - Doughty shocked everyone by requesting for his contract to be cancelled, and he left the club in September 2020, citing unspecified personal reasons for his decision. It was later revealed that he quit the Town to concentrate his efforts on his sustainable sports footwear business that he co-founded, Hylo Athletics - his departure leaving a noticeable gap in the Town's midfield. PLAYING RECORD:
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date of birth
usual positions central midfield youth career senior career website links |
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