We have received today, confirmation from the Unibond League, that the following 19 players have been registered to Witton Albion:
LIAM COYNE – Central Defender born 8/5/87 in Manchester who has joined us from Chorley. On Bolton Wanderers’ books initially he signed for Leigh RMI early in 2004. In the summer of 2006 he joined FC United of Manchester and during his spell there not only went back on loan to Leigh but in a similar spell for Winsford United he helped our local rivals gain promotion, along the way picking up a NWCL Player of the Month award. Warrington Town then secured his services prior to his move to Chorley where last season he made 25 appearances.
PAUL DONNELLY – Wing Back born 16/2/81 in Newcastle-under-Lyme who was signed after having had three highly successful seasons with Nantwich Town. Paul joined Port Vale as a Trainee in 1998 and progressed to make 13 appearances for the Valiants’ 1st Team, five of which were in Vale’s Football League starting line-up. Upon his release he played for Stone Dominoes prior to joining Nantwich.
MARK DREW – Midfielder born 16/12/83 in Bolton who after spending time with his home team’s Academy joined Leigh RMI for the 2004/05 season. He then moved to Rossendale United before joining Chorley in November 2007. He made 19 appearances for the Magpies, scoring 6 times, before a small fee secured his services for us during the summer.
TONY DUNNE – Defender who was born in 1984 in Liverpool who signed in July after making 17 appearances for Warrington Town last season. Prior to that he had two spells on the books of Leigh RMI for whom he made 13 appearances in the 2006/07 campaign. Sandwiched in between he made 13 appearances for Welsh Premier League club Newi Cefn Druids in the 04/05 season.
ZANE GOULDBOURNE – Attacking Midfield player who was born in Jamaica on 7/1/87 and prior to joining Albion for this season played Amateur football around his now hometown Manchester.
BEN HUNT – Midfield player born 11/12/89 in Warrington who’s joined us after spending last season as a member of Macclesfield Town’s Youth Team.
KIERAN LUGSDEN – Forward who is a twin and born 4/4/86 in Stockport who’s joined us after last season making several appearances for Buxton in the UniBond League and Glossop North End in the N.W.C.L. In April 2003 he joined Altrincham from New Mills and was very much a squad player with the Robins, over 70% of his appearances coming from the subs’ bench. He did get to make though get to make regular starting appearances whilst twice on loan to Radcliffe Borough along with an extended loan period with Leigh RMI.
MATT PEARSON – Midfield player born 30/12/89 in Crewe who’s also joined us after spending last season as a member of Macclesfield Town’s Youth Team.
BRIAN PRITCHARD - Central Defender and Captain born 5/11/74 in Liverpool who joined from Southport in August 1995. By the end of last season he’d amassed 618 club appearances thus breaking Witton’s all-time record. It’s impossible to praise him enough for his loyalty, although being voted “Player of the Season” on five occasions maybe goes some way! A devoted clubman, he’s also been Commercial Manager as well as a couple of spells as joint caretaker manager. His “tackle” in the 2004 Cheshire Senior Cup Final saw him – and the naked recipient - receive world-wide media coverage.
DAN SCHWARZ – Defender born in Crewe on 5/11/89 who has joined us after being released by Walsall FC where he played in their Youth Team alongside his twin brother Tom. Winsford base Dan has also been on Stoke City’s books.
GARY SCOTT – Wing Back born 3/2/78 in Liverpool who began his career at Tranmere Rovers before joining Rotherham United for whom he made 23 1st team appearances. Released in 1999 he had a season playing for Leigh RMI before finally settling down with Altrincham. He made almost 300 appearances for the Robins a figure that would have been significantly bettered but for a few spells out of match action due to various injuries.
STEVE SETTLE – Wide Midfielder born 1/6/82 in Bolton who has joined the club from Leigh RMI for whom he made 60 appearances. He joined them in November 2006 having been with North West Counties outfit Atherton L.R. previously. Prior to then he had a spell playing United Counties football for Kempston Rovers whilst studying in Bedford. Tall for a winger in modern day football but also very tricky and therefore should please Wittoners.
DAN SKELTON – Midfielder born 3/1/90 in Stoke-on-Trent who made a couple of cup match appearances for us last season. Dan’s potential was spotted by Nigel at the M.M.U., and previously he made several appearances at North West Counties club Stone Dominoes.
STEVE SMITH – Midfield player born in Salford on 9/6/84 who was with Flixton in the NWCL for the end of last season having earlier made 19 appearances for Warrington Town. Steve previously played 22 times in the Football Conference for Leigh RMI before spending a couple of seasons with the fledgling FC United of Manchester club. He then joined Leek Town for whom he made 30 appearances in the 06/07 season.
GREG SMITH – Goalkeeper born 30/5/85 in Stoke-on-Trent who has joined Albion from Hucknall Town for whom he played against us in a FA Trophy tie last season. Greg’s career commenced with a three year trainee spell at Notts County before August 2004 saw him signed by Graham Barrow, as a cover keeper for Bury. Only getting to make first team appearances in friendlies, Gregg initially signed for Hucknall in January 2005. By the end of that year though he was with Alfreton Town, prior to rejoining Hucknall in August 2006.
ROSS THAKER – Winger who was born in Hammersmith, London on 25/11/89. Now living in Knutsford, Tejal-Ross, to give him his full Christian name, has featured strongly in Oldham Athletic’s Youth Team. A very exciting young prospect who looks sure to entertain with his dazzling footwork.
BEN THORNLEY – Midfielder born 21/4/75 in Bury who signed for us in March. Ben spent until June 1998 on the books of Manchester United. He was part of the same squad as the likes of David Beckham and Paul Scholes that won the FA Youth Cup in 1992 and got to make 13 appearances in United’s 1st team. Following a loan spell, a £175,000 transfer took him to Huddersfield Town where he made a total of 127 appearances. A sixteen month spell then saw him making 35 appearances for Aberdeen before coming back south to play for Blackpool, Bury and Halifax Town. Now running his own coaching school in Wilmslow Ben is keen to renew his own 11 a side playing, following his recent performances for the Man Utd veterans’ team.
ROD THORNLEY – Forward born 2/4/77 in Bury who was signed from Altrincham at the end of August 2007 after scoring 79 goals in his 226 appearances(183 starts). Prior to then Rod scored 50 goals in 102 appearances for Congleton Town and also had spells with Warrington Town, Doncaster Rovers and Salford City plus spells on loan with Radcliffe Borough and Leek Town. Rod works as a masseur for Manchester United as well as the England national side, a role which will see him sometimes obliged to miss Witton matches. Resisting attempts to prise him away during the summer has endeared both Rod and his family even more to Albion supporters.
SCOTT WILLIS – Midfielder born 20/2/82 in Liverpool who has amassed a wealth of experience since setting out at Wigan Athletic in 1999. On the books of several Football League clubs since then he made the 1st team at Carlisle United and Lincoln City where he got to make 40 appearances. He’s also had several loan spell with clubs, before the last two seasons saw him playing at AFC Telford United sandwiched between two spells with Leigh RMI.
