[citation needed] Able to play left back, centre-back or left-sided midfield, he made his first-team debut on 17 April 2006 in a 0–0 draw at Forest Green Rovers.
[7] His Exeter career took off in the 2007–08 season when he was integral to the side that won promotion to the Football League after defeating Cambridge United in the play-off final at Wembley Stadium.
[9] After playing in Exeter's opening matches in the Football League, he moved to Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Championship on 1 September 2008, signing a two-year contract, with the option of a third year,[10] for an initial fee of £350,000.
[citation needed] To gain regular playing time, he spent a month's loan at League One club Millwall during August to September 2009, before returning to Wolves.
[15] Friend was recalled by Wolves as extra cover after injuries struck, giving him his first Premier League appearance on 15 December 2009 against Manchester United.
[citation needed] At the end of the 2009–10 season it was announced that his deal at Wolves would not be extended,[19] and Friend switched to Championship club Doncaster Rovers on a two-year contract[20] despite being linked with a return move to Exeter City.
[citation needed] Friend managed to regain his place in the starting eleven in the left back position but the club was relegated to League One after three seasons in the Championship.
[citation needed] On 23 July 2012, despite interest from Ipswich Town and Nottingham Forest, it was announced that Doncaster had agreed a fee with Middlesbrough for Friend.
[23] On 15 August 2020, he signed a two-year deal with the option of a third with fellow Championship club Birmingham City, where the head coach was his former manager at Middlesbrough, Aitor Karanka.