Career
Early career
Rafferty started his career at Darlington but left the club aged 16. Upon leaving, Rafferty had trials at Southampton, Reading and Wigan Athletic but a broken finger left him unable to sign. Hartlepool United
Rafferty joined Hartlepool United in the summer of 2010 from Guisborough Town.
Shortly into the new season, Rafferty broke his hand and two bones in his finger in September 2010.
When he returned from injury, Rafferty spent the majority of the season as back-up to Scott Flinders before making his Hartlepool United debut in a 1–1 draw against Tranmere Rovers in April 2011. A knee injury during pre-season in the 2012-2013 season ruled Rafferty out for the majority of the season which led to him undergoing an intricate operation to repair the patella tendon in his left knee and return to training for the first time at the start of March.
He was named on the Hartlepool team-sheet as a substitute for the first time of the season in a 2–2 draw against Crawley Town on the final game of the season. Rafferty started in April 2014 in a 1–0 defeat to Portsmouth in which he saved a penalty from Ryan Taylor and was named the Manitoba of the Match.
He made three further appearances before the end of the season.
On 14 August 2014 he left Hartlepool United his contract was cancelled by mutual consent. Dover Athletic
On 19 September 2014 Rafferty joined Conference Premier side Dover Athletic Football Club. Dover lost the match 4 0, Rafferty"s performance earned him second place in the Football Association"s Third Round Top Five Saves. Dover Athletic F.C. beat Wrexham F.C.2 0 on 20 January 2015 to maintain their record 13 games unbeaten.
