Prior to signing for a professional club, Darby played as a youth for Halas Hawks Junior F.C, a junior football club based at Halesowen in the West Midlands.
After scoring 27 times in 78 league games he moved on a 'Bosman' to newly promoted Notts County[REF] on 2 July 1998, but missed most of his first season with the Magpies through injury.