MANGOTSFIELD UNITED PLAYER PROFILES 2009/10

 

Tony Court (Goalkeeper) : Returned to the club for a second spell after signing from local rivals Yate Town in May 2009. An experienced goalkeeper Tony began his career as a junior with Bristol Rovers before signing for Weston Super Mare. A move to Mangotsfield United followed in November 1998 where he made 26 appearances during the promotion season of 1999/2000. Tony left Mangotsfield United and joined Almondsbury Town during the 1999/2000 season. In 2001 he signed for Yate Town where he's spent the past eight seasons.

 

Sam Alexander (Goalkeeper) : Promising young goalkeeper who has progressed from the clubs highly successful youth team to become reserve team goalkeeper and understudy to Tony Court. To date Sam has made two appearances for the first team.
Geraint Bater (Defender) : Geraint came to the club from Clevedon Town in June last year. He began his career as a professional with Bristol Rovers before having a brief period at Tiverton Town after being released. Spells at Clevedon Town, Brislington and Bristol Manor Farm were followed by a second stint at Clevedon Town where he remained for three seasons. In the summer of 2005 he made the switch to Taunton Town under the management of Peter Beadle whom he followed to Newport County in October 2005. After a season with The Exiles Geraint returned to Clevedon Town in July 2006.
Neil Arndale (Defender) : Voted Supporters Player Of The Season for 2008/09 Neil is now in his fourth season with the club after signing in June 2006 from Cirencester Town where he had been club captain. Neil, a former England under eighteen international started his career at Bristol Rovers where he spent two seasons as a professional after coming through their academy ranks. After being released by Bristol Rovers he signed for Cirencester Town in August 2004.

 

Rob Smith (Defender) : Summer signing who quickly progressed from the clubs reserve team to become a first team regular. Rob previously played for Cadbury Heath and Almondsbury Town. Former Mangotsfield United youth team player.
Scott Hendy (Defender) : Returned for a fourth spell at the club in July 2008 after spending three successful seasons at Clevedon Town, where he played an integral part in their promotion from the South & West Division of British Gas Business Football League and subsequent Premier Division campaigns. Scott originally joined 'The 'Field' in August 1997 from Bristol Manor Farm. He left for Backwell United but returned for a second time before leaving for Bath City at the start of the 2003/04 season for a fee of £5,000. Injury curtailed his progress at Twerton Park and he again came back to Cossham Street. A further injury spell restricted his chances of a first team place and he moved on to the Hand Stadium in November 2005.

 

Mike Trought (Defender) : Experienced central defender who joined Mangotsfield in August after a short period out of the game. Mike began his career as a trainee at Bristol Rovers and went onto make over thirty appearances for the club before moving to Bath City in 2002. A move to Clevedon Town followed in the summer of 2005 where he featured in the promotion winning side under then manager Phil Bater. More recently Mike had been at local rivals Paulton Rovers.

Ryan Bennett (Defender) : A product of the clubs youth team eighteen year old Ryan has impressed since breaking into the first team last season and looks to have a bright future in the game. As a youngster Ryan was with Bristol Rovers for six years and has also had a spell at Almondsbury Town in The Hellenic League Premier Division.

 

 

Rob Scott (Defender) : Rob returned to the club in May 2009 after a short period at Western League Premier Division Bitton. Initially signed in the summer of 2008 from Clevedon Town he made twenty five appearances before signing for Bitton. Rob began his career as a YTS player at Bristol Rovers. After being released in December 2002 he signed for Clevedon Town where as club captain he led the club to promotion to the Southern League Premier Division in 2006.
Jack Allward (Defender/Midfielder) : After a season in the midlands at Halesowen Town Jack re-signed for Mangotsfield in August. A versatile player who can play on the left side of defence or midfield. He began his career as a trainee at Bristol City and signed for Mangotsfield in the summer of 2006 after being released. Impressive performances led to a trial spell with Yeovil Town before he moved full time to Halesowen Town in June 2008.
 

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Danny Haines (Defender/Midfielder) : Another player to return to the club after a previous spell during the promotion season of 2004/05. Danny rejoined Mangotsfield in January 2010 signing from Hellenic League Premier Division Almondsbury Town where he was voted Supporters Player Of The Season 2008/09, he was also Club Captain. Able to play on the left side of defence or midfield Danny began his career at Bristol City before spells at Cheltenham Town, Merthyr Tydfil, Tiverton Town, Mangotsfield United and Clevedon Town.

Josh Brigham (Defender/Midfielder) : Josh who signed in January 2010 from Clevedon Town is comfortable as a right sided defender or midfielder. He began his career as a youngster with Bath City where he progressed through the youth team to make three first team appearances. Despite being offered terms with Bath City he opted for a move to Chippenham Town. A spell at Melksham Town followed before moving to Clevedon Town in July 2007.
Dan Spill (Midfielder): A summer signing from Somerset County League Premier Division Cutters Friday. Dan began the season in the reserve team but was soon promoted to the first team where he's held down a starting place in central midfield. As a youngster he featured for Keynsham Town's youth team.

James Pilling (Midfielder) : Youngster who after featuring prominently for the clubs Reserve team last season was elevated to the senior squad where he acquitted himself well in what was a difficult season for the club. He made sixteen appearances for the first team during the 2008/09 season.

 

 

Harley Purnell (Midfielder) : Signed for Mangotsfield in October from Somerset County League Premier Division Cutters Friday. After impressing in the reserve team Harley has become a regular member of the first team squad. Previously played for Backwell United and Brislington Youth team.
Ricky Bush (Midfielder) : Another player who's made the step up from reserve team to the senior side this season. Ricky joined the club in the summer as joint manager of the clubs restructured youth team set up and also as a reserve team player. His former clubs include Bishop Sutton, DRG Stapleton and Pucklechurch Sports.

Michael Meaker (Midfielder/Striker) : Returned to the club for a second time in November after a two and half year spell at Bitton in which he helped them to the league title. Now aged thirty eight, Meaker first signed for The 'Field in December 2004, after playing in the Hellenic League for Henley Town and Southall Town and was an integral part of our promotion winning side of 2004/05. He left to play for Hounslow Borough where he scored a club record forty four goals, before returning to Cossham Street during the 2006/07 campaign. Meaker began his career as a professional at QPR where he played in the Premier League. Whilst at QPR he had a loan spell with Plymouth Argyle. In July 1995 a £550,000 transfer to Reading followed where he made sixty seven appearances. In the summer of 1998 and after three seasons with Reading he signed for Bristol Rovers. After a loan period at Swindon Town in 2000 he left Rovers and returned to Plymouth Argyle in 2001. He was released in the summer of 2001 and opted to move into non league football with Northwich Victoria.
 
Mitchell Page (Striker) : A product of local rivals Clevedon Town's youth team Mitchell signed for Mangotsfield in August 2008. After breaking into Clevedon's first team in the 2005/06 season Mitchell became a regular in the side scoring fifteen goals during the 2007/08. Mitchell was Mangotsfield's leading scorer last season with nine goals.

Tom Knighton (Striker) : A former Mangotsfield United youth team player Tom returned to Mangotsfield from Tiverton Town in June 2009. After leaving Mangotsfield and signing for Cadbury Heath a short spell at Frome Town followed before making the switch back to Cadbury Heath where his impressive goal scoring record earned him a move to Bitton. After continuing to impress Tiverton Town won the race for his signature when snapping him up in the summer of 2007, he was the Devon clubs joint top scorer last season with fourteen goals.
Daine O'Connor (Striker) : After a period out of the game Daine signed for Mangotsfield for a second time in March 2009. He began his career as a youth team player at Bristol Rovers before having a brief period at Cossham Street in 2003/04. After leaving Mangotsfield Daine had spells with Clevedon Town and Taunton Town whilst more recently he's featured for Frome Town and Devizes Town.
Luke Prosser (Striker) : Highly regarded young striker who signed for the club in August. Luke was a regular scorer for Newport County's Academy team last season and comes to Cossham Street despite interest from a number of other clubs.
Lee Williams (Sports Therapist) : Lee came to the club in the summer of 2005 from Western League Premier Division Brislington. Lee is a fully qualified Sports Therapist who has impressed with his thorough knowledge and professionalism. A real asset to the club.

Phil Bater (Manager) : After a three month spell as Caretaker Manager at the start of 2009 Phil was appointed as manager in April. Phil began his football career as an apprentice at Bristol Rovers in 1973 where he made over 200 appearances before moving to Wrexham in 1981. After spending two seasons at Wrexham a return to Bristol Rovers followed, making a further 90 appearances for the club. In 1986 Phil moved to Brentford before finishing his playing days in his home town city of Cardiff. Phil returned to Bristol Rovers for a second time after taking up a role on the coaching side, including twice over seeing first team affairs as caretaker manager. In October 2005 he was appointed manager of Clevedon Town and led them to promotion to the Southern League Premier Division in his first season in charge. Further success followed as for the first time in the clubs history Clevedon made the first round proper of the FA Cup and also reached the final of the Errea League Cup. After consolidating the clubs place in the Southern League Premier Division he opted to leave the club in April 2008.

Andy Eisentrager (Assistant Manager) : Joined the club as then Caretaker Manager Phil Bater’s assistant in January 2009 and was appointed in a permanent role in April. Andy has extensive coaching experience at semi professional level and was assistant manager at Paulton Rovers, Bath City and more recently Clevedon Town. He is currently head coach at Richard Huish College and also has a development role with Bristol Rovers. Andy holds the UEFA B coaching badge and is working towards his 'A' licence, he also has a diploma in sports psychology. During his playing career he played for Weston Super Mare and Clevedon Town.

 

 

 


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