Finn Cousin-Dawson (born 4 July 2002) is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Blyth Spartans, on loan from Bradford City. Born in England, he represents Northern Ireland at youth international level.
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Finn Cousin-Dawson[1] | ||
Date of birth | 4 July 2002 | ||
Place of birth | Stockton-on-Tees, England | ||
Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)[2] | ||
Position(s) | Centre-back, Right-back | ||
Team information | |||
Current team |
Blyth Spartans (on loan from Bradford City) | ||
Number | 5 | ||
Youth career | |||
Bradford City | |||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2019– | Bradford City | 34 | (0) |
2019–2020 | → Brighouse Town (loan) | 7 | (0) |
2022–2023 | → Spennymoor Town (loan) | 21 | (0) |
2023 | → Blyth Spartans (loan) | 15 | (0) |
2023– | → Blyth Spartans (loan) | 27 | (2) |
International career | |||
2021–2022 | Northern Ireland U21 | 7 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 14:34, 14 January 2024 (UTC) |
Born in Stockton-on-Tees,[2] Cousin-Dawson began his career with the Bradford City youth team. He moved on loan to Brighouse Town in November 2019,[3] being recalled in January 2020,[4][5] ahead of Bradford City's FA Youth Cup game against Chelsea.[6] He turned professional in July 2020, signing a one-year contract.[7]
He made his senior debut for Bradford City on 8 September 2020, in the EFL Trophy.[8][9][10] In November 2020 he was one of a number of young Bradford City players playing in the first team who were praised by manager Stuart McCall.[11] In December 2020 he spoke about the impact of coronavirus on football, including lack of fans at stadiums.[12]
In January 2021 he signed a new contract with the club, running until summer 2024.[13][14] In February 2021 he was dropped from the starting line-up after making 9 consecutive starts, with club joint manager Mark Trueman saying that Cousin-Dawson would help him cope with the mental and physical stress of first-team football.[15] In April 2021 club joint manager Conor Sellars said he was happy for young players like Cousin-Dawson and Kian Scales to be playing regular first team football.[16]
At the start of the 2021–22 season, it was announced that Cousin-Dawson would start the club's second game of the season, an EFL Cup game away to Nottingham Forest.[17][18] He later said that his skills were improving, due in part to the expected standards of new manager Derek Adams.[19]
In July 2022 he signed on loan for Spennymoor Town.[20] Cousin-Dawson said that the loan was the "best thing" for him so that he could get regular playing time again.[21] He was recalled by Bradford City in January 2023, with a view to making a further loan move.[22] On 2 February, Cousin-Dawson returned to the National League North on an initial one-month loan deal with Blyth Spartans.[23][24] Later that month the loan was extended until the end of the season.[25]
In July 2023, he returned on loan to Blyth Spartans for the 2023–24 season.[26]
In March 2021 Cousin-Dawson was called-up to a training camp with the Northern Ireland under-21 team.[27] He left early in order to return to Bradford City for a match.[28] He received a second call up in May 2021.[29] He made his under-21 international debut in June 2021 in a friendly against Scotland,[30][31] and received a further call-up in August 2021.[31][32]
In October 2021 Bradford City boss Derek Adams said that Cousin-Dawson's international experience was helping him mature as a player.[33] He made two appearances for the under-21s that month.[34] In November 2021 he made a further appearance, his first full international match.[35]
He was recalled by Northern Ireland under-21s in March 2022.[36] Club manager Mark Hughes said it was an opportunity for the player to impress him.[37] Cousin-Dawson made one appearance, playing 90 minutes in a friendly against France, having not played in the earlier Under-21 Euro Qualifier against Slovakia.[38]
Primarily a centre-back, Cousin-Dawson has also played a right-back and was used as a holding midfielder for the first time on 6 October 2020 in the EFL Trophy, with Bradford City manager Stuart McCall suggesting it could become his permanent new position.[39]
Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Bradford City | 2019–20[40] | League Two | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2020–21[8] | League Two | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3[a] | 0 | 26 | 0 | |
2021–22[41] | League Two | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 14 | 0 | |
2022–23[42] | League Two | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
2023–24[43] | League Two | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Total | 34 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 40 | 0 | ||
Brighouse Town (loan) | 2019–20[44] | NPL D1 NW | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
Spennymoor Town (loan) | 2022–23[2] | National League North | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2[b] | 0 | 23 | 0 |
Blyth Spartans (loan) | 2022–23[2] | National League North | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 0 |
Blyth Spartans (loan) | 2023–24[2] | National League North | 27 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2[b] | 0 | 29 | 2 |
Career total | 104 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 114 | 2 |