He played a significant number of games for Torquay United and Hull City, and also helped both Rushden & Diamonds and Shrewsbury Town gain promotion from the Conference to the Football League.
After scoring 27 times in 78 league games he moved on a 'Bosman' to newly promoted Notts County[1] on 2 July 1998, but missed most of his first season with the Magpies through injury.
[2] In November 2003, Shrewsbury Town, recently relegated to the Football Conference signed Darby in order to bolster their striking force.
[3] The signing was well received, with Shrewsbury fans hoping that Darby's experience and proven goalscoring record in the lower leagues would assist them towards promotion, especially when linked with highly regarded striker Luke Rodgers.
[citation needed] In the final, Darby scored an equalising goal against Aldershot Town at Stoke City's Britannia Stadium.
[8] On 3 August 2007, Halesowen Town confirmed that Darby had joined the club along with two other former league players, in the shape of Terry Fleming and Stephen Cooke.
[9] After a short spell at The Grove, he moved to local rivals Bromsgrove Rovers, taking over as caretaker player-manager just days after arriving at the club after Rod Brown's departure.