PUBLISHED
18:39 4th November 2014
by Adam Tighe
Greg has an abundance of experience not only in the Championship but also in the Premier League"
Sami Hyypia
Sami Hyypia
Brighton & Hove Albion have signed Nottingham Forest centre-back Greg Halford on a short-term loan deal.The 29-year-old is Albion’s third loan signing in the past week, joining winger Elliott Bennett and keeper Ali Al-Habsi in Sami Hyypia’s squad.
Albion manager Hyypia said, “With Aaron Hughes out injured we were faced with a similar problem we have had in goal and needed cover.
“Greg has an abundance of experience not only in the Championship but also in the Premier League, and with Aaron out we wanted that level of experience to be replaced as well, so he is a good fit."
Halford started his career with Colchester United as a trainee and is known as a long-throw specialist, and after five years and more than 100 appearances for the Us he was snapped up by Reading in January 2007 for an estimated £2.5million.
Halford left that summer for fellow top-flight side Sunderland, making his debut on the opening day of the season during the Black Cats’ 2-2 draw with Birmingham City, but midway through the season the defender joined Championship Charlton on loan.
LATEST NEWS FROM SEAGULLS.CO.UK
- AL-HABSI: PRIVILEGE TO SIGN FOR CLUB
- PREVIEW: ALBION V WIGAN
- BENNETT RELISHING ALBION CHALLENGE
- INSIDE WIGAN EDITION OF SEAGULL
- HYYPIA: TAKE CONFIDENCE FROM SATURDAY'S DISPLAY
In the summer of 2008 the centre-half joined Sheffield United on a season-long loan and was part of the side that reached the play-off final. Halford scored the winning goal against Preston North End in the play-off semi-final second leg but the Blades would go on to lose the final 1-0 to Burnley at Wembley.The defender did not return to his parent club Sunderland as newly-promoted Wolverhampton Wanderers gave the centre-back a route back into the Premier League
The following season Halford joined Championship Portsmouth on loan before making the move permanent in June 2011.
Halford hit seven goals in the 2011/12 campaign that saw Pompey eventually relegated to League One, before heading to current club Nottingham Forest in July 2012 where he has spent the last two seasons.
Halford a regular in his first season, also made 42 appearances during the 2013/14 season where the Reds narrowly missed out on the play-offs.
[h=3]ALBION V WIGAN
[/h]TUESDAY 4TH November, KICK-OFF 7.45PM
[h=3]ALBION V blackburn
[/h]saturday 8th november, KICK-OFF 3PM
[h=3]Albion v fulham
[/h]SATURDAY 29TH NOVEMber, kick-off 3pm
Original article