David Flitcroft
Encyclopedia
David Flitcroft is a former professional footballer who is now assistant manager at Barnsley
. He is a younger brother of the former Blackburn Rovers
and Manchester City
player Garry Flitcroft
.
Flitcroft began his career as an apprentice with Preston North End
, who he signed professional forms with in May 1992. He was to spend the following season briefly involved in the first-team at Deepdale
, but after a loan spell with Lincoln City
, he was allowed to join Chester City
in December 1993. Flitcroft was to make eight appearances as Chester pipped Preston to promotion from Division Three. Apart from some long spells out injured, Flitcroft was a regular in the Chester midfield until the end of the 1998–99 season
when he rejected a new contract and joined Rochdale
.
In four years at Spotland
, Flitcroft helped Rochdale qualify for the Division Three play-offs in 2001–02
and reach the FA Cup
fifth round the following season. He switched to Macclesfield Town
in July 2003 before moving on again, to fellow north-west side Bury
just six months later. He was to spend three years as a regular with the Shakers, making exactly 100 league appearances until he joined non-leaguers Hyde United.
But Flitcroft returned to Rochdale as assistant manager to Keith Hill
midway through the 2006–07 season
. Towards the end of the 2008–09 season Flitcroft was required to dig out his playing boots again, and came on as sub in the last scheduled game of the season at home to fellow play off rivals Gillingham
.
On 1 June 2011, Flitcroft was appointed assistant manager at Barnsley
after following Keith Hill to Oakwell.
Barnsley F.C.
Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's...
. He is a younger brother of the former Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
and Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
player Garry Flitcroft
Garry Flitcroft
Garry William Flitcroft is an English football manager and former footballer. Since May 2010 he has been the manager of Northern Premier League team Chorley.-Playing career:...
.
Flitcroft began his career as an apprentice with Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
, who he signed professional forms with in May 1992. He was to spend the following season briefly involved in the first-team at Deepdale
Deepdale
Deepdale is a stadium in the Deepdale area of Preston, England, the home of Preston North End F.C. and, up to 2010, England's National Football Museum. Preston North End are one of the founder members of the Football League.- History :...
, but after a loan spell with Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
, he was allowed to join 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...
in December 1993. Flitcroft was to make eight appearances as Chester pipped Preston to promotion from Division Three. Apart from some long spells out injured, Flitcroft was a regular in the Chester midfield until the end of the 1998–99 season
1998-99 in English football
-Premier League:Manchester United overcame close competition from Arsenal, Aston Villa and Chelsea to win their fifth Premiership title in seven seasons thanks to the comeback of Roy Keane after his long-term injury and a transfer raid totalling nearly £30 million which netted Aston Villa striker...
when he rejected a new contract and joined Rochdale
Rochdale A.F.C.
Rochdale Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. They play their home matches at Spotland Stadium. Formed in 1907, they were accepted into the Football League in 1921...
.
In four years at Spotland
Spotland
Spotland is a district of Rochdale in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on the River Spodden, and is the home of Spotland Stadium.Historically a part of Lancashire, Spotland was formerly its own township within the ancient parish of Rochdale....
, Flitcroft helped Rochdale qualify for the Division Three play-offs in 2001–02
2001-02 in English football
The 2001-02 season was the 122nd season of competitive football in England.-Arsenal cruise to title glory:In what had earlier been one of the most closely fought Premiership title races for years, Arsenal won the championship by seven points. Their crown was won in the penultimate game of the...
and reach the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
fifth round the following season. He switched to Macclesfield Town
Macclesfield Town F.C.
Macclesfield Town Football Club is an English football team. The club was formed in 1874 and is based in the town of Macclesfield in Cheshire. The team play its home games at the 6,355 capacity Moss Rose stadium...
in July 2003 before moving on again, to fellow north-west side Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
just six months later. He was to spend three years as a regular with the Shakers, making exactly 100 league appearances until he joined non-leaguers Hyde United.
But Flitcroft returned to Rochdale as assistant manager to Keith Hill
Keith Hill (footballer)
Keith John Hill is an English former footballer, currently manager of Barnsley. As a player, Hill was a central defender...
midway through the 2006–07 season
2006-07 in English football
The 2006–07 season was the 127th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* The number of divisions at Level 8 of the English football league system increased from four to five...
. Towards the end of the 2008–09 season Flitcroft was required to dig out his playing boots again, and came on as sub in the last scheduled game of the season at home to fellow play off rivals Gillingham
Gillingham F.C.
Gillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent. The only Kent-based club in the Football League, they play their home matches at the Priestfield Stadium...
.
On 1 June 2011, Flitcroft was appointed assistant manager at Barnsley
Barnsley F.C.
Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's...
after following Keith Hill to Oakwell.