Alex Meechan
Encyclopedia
Alexander Thomas "Alex" Meechan (born 29 January 1980) is an English footballer who plays for AFC Telford United
as a striker. He is currently on loan at Harrogate Town.
, England and attended St Boniface's Catholic College. He was an Associate Schoolboy at Norwich City
in the 1994–95
season. He moved to Swindon Town
in 1997. He was signed by Bristol City
in 1998. During this spell he spent time on loan with Yeovil Town
, who were in the Conference National
at the time.
Meechan was signed by Forest Green Rovers
in 2001. Meechan's goals helped Rovers continually avoid relegation from the Conference National
. He was signed by Dagenham & Redbridge
on a two-year deal in 2003. Dagenham had come within a whisker of promotion to The Football League
in the previous two seasons but this spell was not to provide the dream ticket for Meechan, as the Daggers languished in mid-table in the 2003–04
season. Meechan re-joined Forest Green on a three-month loan in November 2003, after which he was released by the club. Meechan was re-signed by Forest Green Rovers
following his release by Dagenham. He was signed by Leigh RMI
in 2004.
Meechan was signed by Halifax Town
in November 2004. After his release by Halifax, Meechan was spoken to by Barrow
but instead returned for his third spell with Forest Green Rovers
in 2005. He was released by Forest Green and joined Chester City
on 30 January 2007 until the end of the season. This provided Meechan with a surprise return to Football League circles, although he was to rarely be in the starting line-up. He was moved from striker to the wing, a position he struggled in. He was released in May 2007 after failing to establish himself in the Chester side.
Meechan was signed by York City
on 10 July 2007 on a short-term contract. He was left out for eight games after his performance against Forest Green Rovers but returned to the side against Halifax Town, where he scored a winning goal from the substitute bench. He was released by the club when his short-term contract came to an end in November 2007. He signed for Conference North
side Stalybridge Celtic
in November 2007. He returned to the Conference National after joining Altrincham
in July 2008. On March 27, 2009 Meechan had his contract canceled by mutual consent and immediatally rejoined former club Stalybridge Celtic later that day. on 9TH July Meechan joined Tameside rivals Droylsden. At the end of the season Meechan moved to fellow Conference North side AFC Telford United
. After earning promotion to the Conference Premier through the play offs, Meechan agreed a new one year deal with the club for the 2011-12 season. In the 2011-2012 season he went on a 1 month loan spell at Harrogate Town where he scored on his debut
A.F.C. Telford United
A.F.C. Telford United are an English football club based in Telford, Shropshire, playing in the Conference National league at the fifth level of the English football pyramid. The club plays its home matches in Wellington, which forms part of the new town of Telford...
as a striker. He is currently on loan at Harrogate Town.
Career
Meechan was born in PlymouthPlymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
, England and attended St Boniface's Catholic College. He was an Associate Schoolboy at Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
in the 1994–95
1994-95 in English football
-Premiership:Blackburn Rovers ended their 81-year wait for the league title thanks to the strike partnership of Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton which scored a total of more than 50 league goals. Manchester United would have made it three league titles in a row if they had been able to turn a 1-1 draw...
season. He moved to Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
in 1997. He was signed by Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
in 1998. During this spell he spent time on loan with Yeovil Town
Yeovil Town F.C.
Yeovil Town F.C. are an English association football team based in Yeovil, Somerset. The club play in League One after having won the League Two championship in 2004–05...
, who were in the Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
at the time.
Meechan was signed by Forest Green Rovers
Forest Green Rovers F.C.
Forest Green Rovers Football Club is an English football club based in Nailsworth, Gloucestershire, currently the longest-serving members of the Conference National. The club is affiliated to the Gloucestershire County FA.-Early years:...
in 2001. Meechan's goals helped Rovers continually avoid relegation from the Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
. He was signed by Dagenham & Redbridge
Dagenham & Redbridge F.C.
Dagenham & Redbridge Football Club , informally known as Daggers, is an English association football club based in Dagenham, in the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham, East London. It was formed in 1992 after a merger between Redbridge Forest and Dagenham...
on a two-year deal in 2003. Dagenham had come within a whisker of promotion to The Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
in the previous two seasons but this spell was not to provide the dream ticket for Meechan, as the Daggers languished in mid-table in the 2003–04
2003-04 in English football
The 2003-04 season was the 124th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Arsenal completed the entire campaign without losing a single league game....
season. Meechan re-joined Forest Green on a three-month loan in November 2003, after which he was released by the club. Meechan was re-signed by Forest Green Rovers
Forest Green Rovers F.C.
Forest Green Rovers Football Club is an English football club based in Nailsworth, Gloucestershire, currently the longest-serving members of the Conference National. The club is affiliated to the Gloucestershire County FA.-Early years:...
following his release by Dagenham. He was signed by Leigh RMI
Leigh RMI F.C.
Leigh Genesis Football Club, formerly known as Horwich Railway Mechanics Institute F.C. and Leigh Railway Mechanics Institute F.C. , was an English semi-professional association football team that folded after relegation from the Northern Premier League in 2011...
in 2004.
Meechan was signed by Halifax Town
Halifax Town A.F.C.
Halifax Town Association Football Club were an English football team who most recently played in the Conference National, although prior to that they participated in the Football League for over eighty years...
in November 2004. After his release by Halifax, Meechan was spoken to by Barrow
Barrow A.F.C.
Barrow A.F.C. are an English football club founded in 1901 based in the town of Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria. Following promotion at the end of the 2007–08 season, they currently play in the Conference National. The club spent over fifty years in the Football League between 1921 and 1972, and have...
but instead returned for his third spell with Forest Green Rovers
Forest Green Rovers F.C.
Forest Green Rovers Football Club is an English football club based in Nailsworth, Gloucestershire, currently the longest-serving members of the Conference National. The club is affiliated to the Gloucestershire County FA.-Early years:...
in 2005. He was released by Forest Green and joined Chester City
Chester City F.C.
Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the...
on 30 January 2007 until the end of the season. This provided Meechan with a surprise return to Football League circles, although he was to rarely be in the starting line-up. He was moved from striker to the wing, a position he struggled in. He was released in May 2007 after failing to establish himself in the Chester side.
Meechan was signed by York City
York City F.C.
York City Football Club is an English football club based in York, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Conference National, the fifth tier of English football. Founded in 1922, they joined the Football League in 1929, and have spent most of their history in the lower divisions...
on 10 July 2007 on a short-term contract. He was left out for eight games after his performance against Forest Green Rovers but returned to the side against Halifax Town, where he scored a winning goal from the substitute bench. He was released by the club when his short-term contract came to an end in November 2007. He signed for Conference North
Conference North
The Conference North also known as Blue Square Bet North for sponsorship reasons, is a division of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National. Along with Conference South it is at Step 2 of the National League System and the sixth overall tier of...
side Stalybridge Celtic
Stalybridge Celtic F.C.
Stalybridge Celtic are an English full time professional football club from Stalybridge, Greater Manchester in North West England. The club, which plays its home matches at Bower Fold, is currently in the Conference North in the sixth tier of the English football league system...
in November 2007. He returned to the Conference National after joining Altrincham
Altrincham F.C.
Altrincham Football Club is an English association football club from Altrincham, Greater Manchester. They currently play in the Conference North, having been relegated from the Conference National at the end of the 2010–11 season.-History:...
in July 2008. On March 27, 2009 Meechan had his contract canceled by mutual consent and immediatally rejoined former club Stalybridge Celtic later that day. on 9TH July Meechan joined Tameside rivals Droylsden. At the end of the season Meechan moved to fellow Conference North side AFC Telford United
A.F.C. Telford United
A.F.C. Telford United are an English football club based in Telford, Shropshire, playing in the Conference National league at the fifth level of the English football pyramid. The club plays its home matches in Wellington, which forms part of the new town of Telford...
. After earning promotion to the Conference Premier through the play offs, Meechan agreed a new one year deal with the club for the 2011-12 season. In the 2011-2012 season he went on a 1 month loan spell at Harrogate Town where he scored on his debut