Jesper Hjorth Uncovered

He was one of David Hodgson foreign signings and one which typified this era in Darlington Football Clubs history.  We had a reputation of bringing in unknown foreign players who nobody had heard of and making their name at the club. Darlo Uncovered has tracked down one such player and that player is Jesper Hjorth.  The former Danish Under 21 signed for Darlington at the start of the Reynolds revolution and ended up leaving not long after David Hodgsons departure.  Now back in his native Denmark, Hjorth is now working as a joiner for his fathers business.

After playing his football in his home country Hjorths career highlight must surely be back in 1994 when, at the age of 19, he scored in the UEFA cup for Odense BK.  What made it more special was the it was in the Bernabau stadium against Real Madrid.

But what of his time at The Quakers?  Uncovered asks the questions other do not dare.  We ask him his favourite memories and worst aswell as how he ended up at Darlo.

“Well, I ended up in a club Called FC Midtjylland and for some reason they let me go on to try something new. And my agent at that time, a man called Doc. Hubert, knew Hodgy, so thats how I ended in Darlo”

“There is lots of good memories from my time in Darlo.  The FA Cup against Aston Villa and Nottingham Forrest. The worst memory, that’s easy. I got injured against Hartlepool in the last playoff game at Feethams and I missed the Final at Wembley. I’m sure the outcome of that game would have been another........ ha ha”

Hjorth played in a team full of great talent.  Marco Gabbiadini, Neil Heaney, Craig Liddle, Martin Gray, and Hjorth revealed that Gabbas was his favourite whilst Lidds was the best defender he has ever seen.

Of his own talents Hjorth was known as a great player who was more well known for coming off the bench and changing games. “My best goaaaaaal? Well I still remember it as if was yesterday. Playing at home at mighty Feethams, I was still on trial at the club, Hogdy hadn’t decided if he wanted to sign me. I can’t remember who we played against.”

“I came on second half, Gabbas had the ball, he didn’t know what to do, so he gave it to me just outside the penalty box on the right side, then just one touch and I hammered it behind the goalkeeper, no chance ha ha ha..... The Tin Shed and the most of The Feethams was Singing Sign Him Up, Sign Him Up......... Never forget that night .”

Hjorth was released by Darlington in the summer of 2001.  But what happened after his departure as we never heard his name again.   “Nowadays I live in Denmark, with my Wife and 3 girls, I work as a Joiner in my Dads Firm.  After Darlo I went back to play some lower league football in Denmark for a few years, still playing once a week for the local Old Boys team.”

Many thanks to Jesper for taking time out to answer the questions.  Uncovered will be loading up our Where Are They Now archive from a couple of years ago over the new few weeks so keep your eyes peeled for the likes of Steve Tutill, Danny Mellanby and Mark Kilty.

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DFCAnth - 11th May 2010 17:23:29

I've met him!


Also a privilege that he set it as his default on Facebook