Harry Jonathan Worley (born 25 November 1988) is an English former professional footballer who played as a defender.
Career
Chelsea
Born in Lymm, Cheshire, Worley began his football career at Stockport County from age eleven and left the club at age sixteen when he was signed by Chelsea from Stockport County in the summer of 2005, with Chelsea beating many clubs to his signature. A tribunal set an initial transfer fee of £150,000 with further payments depending upon progress. He turned professional in November 2005 and in his first season made the most appearances at youth level.
He joined Doncaster Rovers on a month loan on 6 March 2007, making his debut in a vital 1–0 win at Nottingham Forest. He said at the time "I've come here to gain some experience and be part of a first team set up, I don't know what the future holds, although I still have another year on my contract at Chelsea." After extending his loan spell until the end of the season, Worley went on to make ten appearances for the club.
Worley was included in the squad for the 2007 FA Community Shield against Manchester United on 5 August 2007, at the new Wembley Stadium. He was an unused substitute as United won 3–0 on penalties. He joined Carlisle United on a one-month loan on 31 August 2007. He made his debut for the Cumbrians in a 1–0 victory over Cheltenham Town, the only game he would play for Carlisle.
Leicester City
Worley was given a trial by Leicester City on 6 February 2008, impressing in a reserve match. He then joined the club on loan until the end of the season, in the expectation of signing a signing a three-year contract the following summer. Worley made his league debut in a 3–0 defeat to Sheffield United on 5 April 2008, playing in the last game of the season in a 0–0 draw against Stoke City on 4 May as Leicester were relegated. His permanent move to Leicester became official on 5 May 2008.
On 18 September 2008, Worley joined Luton Town on loan for a month, making his debut in a 1–0 defeat to Rotherham on 20 September. The club managed to extend his loan for another month in October. He made a total of eight league appearances while Luton remained bottom of League Two before ending his loan spell in late-November.
On 14 August 2009, Worley again moved on loan, this time joining Crewe Alexandra until January 2010; after the signing, Crewe manager Gudjon Thordarson said he had wanted to make it a permanent deal but had to settle for a loan deal. Worley made his Crewe Alexandra debut the following day, where he made his first start and helped the club keep their first clean sheet of the season, in a 4–0 win over Grimsby Town. Then on 29 September 2009, Worley scored his first career league goal against Bury at Gresty Road. Despite the injury that kept him out for six weeks, Worley made his return to the first team on 26 December 2009, in a 4–1 loss against Macclesfield Town. Shortly after, Worley had his loan spell extended until the end of the season. Despite suffering from another injury, Worley went on to make twenty-three appearances for the club.
Oxford United
On 14 July 2010, Worley parted company with Leicester City by mutual consent, having failed to make more than a handful of first-team appearances during his two-year stint at the East Midlands club. He joined Oxford United on 22 July on a three-year deal after appearing on trial in two pre-season games against Scottish opposition.
Worley made his Oxford United debut, in the opening game of the season, making his first start and playing 90 minutes, as well as, keeping a clean sheet in a 0–0 draw against Burton Albion. Worley then provided assist for Jack Midson, who went on to score a hat-trick, in a 4–3 win over Torquay United on 3 January 2011. His first goal for Oxford United turned out to be the winner in a 2–1 away win against Port Vale at Vale Park on 12 March 2011. Despite missing three matches, due to suspension, Worley went on to make forty-three appearances and scoring once in his first season at Oxford United.
Worley made his first appearance of the 2011–12 season, where he came on as a late substitute for Paul McLaren, in a 1–0 win over Dagenham & Redbridge on 13 September 2011. However, Worley was soon on the sidelines for a month with ankle injury, which he sustained in training. Worley made his return from injury, where he made his first start of the season, in a 2–1 loss against Southend United on 5 November 2011. However, throughout the 2011–12 season, with eleven appearances in all competition, Worley spent most of the season on the substitute bench and lost his first team place by newly signing, Michael Duberry and his own injury concern.