Jonathan Hunt (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Jonathan Richard Hunt is an English footballer who plays for A.F.C. Hornchurch
. He made more than 200 appearances in the Football League
for a variety of clubs and played in the Premier League for Derby County
.
, London
, Hunt was a striker in youth football before converting to midfield
, and developed into a skilful right-sided midfielder. He played under manager Barry Fry
at Barnet
, winning promotion to Division Two
in his first full season, and Southend United
before following Fry to Birmingham City
in September 1994 for a fee of £500,000.
The most successful time of Hunt's career was spent at Birmingham where he played over a hundred games. His first season was disrupted by injury, but he was still able to contribute to Birmingham becoming Division Two champions, and he played in the final of the Auto Windscreens Shield
at Wembley, the game won by Paul Tait's golden goal
. While at the club he scored 18 league goals, and was leading scorer in the 1995–96 season
with 15 goals in all competitions.
Hunt then moved on to Premier League Derby County
, again for £500,000. Although he did play (and score) in the top flight he only made seven first team starts, and his career started to go downhill from there. He made loan moves to Sheffield United
and Ipswich Town
, both of the Championship
, before joining Sheffield United on a permanent basis in a swap deal for Vassilis Borbokis
. He played regularly until Neil Warnock
took over as manager, and was then made available for transfer. A trial at Norwich City
proving unsuccessful, Hunt made yet another loan move, this time to Cambridge United
of Division Two. At the end of the 1999–2000 season
Sheffield United cut their losses, paid up the remaining two years of his contract and released him.
He joined Wimbledon
of the Championship in September 2000 but appeared only intermittently. The highlight of his Wimbledon career came when he scored the extra-time goal to seal a 3–1 victory over Premier League Middlesbrough
in the FA Cup
fifth round. With the transfer window about to close, he agreed to link up yet again with former manager Barry Fry, now at Peterborough United
, but changed his mind at the last minute. He played no more first team games for Wimbledon and was released at the end of the season.
He eventually joined Fry at Second Division Peterborough in September 2002 on non-contract terms. Although Fry reportedly said he would have "no hesitation" about giving him his debut in the weekend's game, Hunt made no first team appearances for Peterborough and was released at the end of the season.
Having been out of the game for five years, in February 2008 Hunt signed a short-term contract until the end of the season for St Albans City
of the Conference South
, managed by former Birmingham and Peterborough colleague Steve Castle
. In August 1990, as an 18-year-old, he had made one previous appearance for the club. He remained with the club until the end of the 2008–09 season, scoring nine goals from 57 appearances in all competitions. After four matches for Harrow Borough
without scoring, Hunt joined Isthmian League
Premier Division club A.F.C. Hornchurch
in September 2009.
A.F.C. Hornchurch
AFC Hornchurch are an English football club based in Hornchurch, Greater London. The club are currently members of the Isthmian League Premier Division and play at the Hornchurch Stadium....
. He made more than 200 appearances in 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...
for a variety of clubs and played in the Premier League for Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
.
Football career
Born in CamdenLondon Borough of Camden
In 1801, the civil parishes that form the modern borough were already developed and had a total population of 96,795. This continued to rise swiftly throughout the 19th century, as the district became built up; reaching 270,197 in the middle of the century...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Hunt was a striker in youth football before converting to midfield
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
, and developed into a skilful right-sided midfielder. He played under manager Barry Fry
Barry Fry
Barry Francis Fry is an English football manager. A former Manchester United apprentice as a winger, his playing career involved brief spells with Bolton Wanderers, Luton Town and Leyton Orient, before he retired prematurely due to injury.He has managed Dunstable Town, Bedford Town, Maidstone...
at Barnet
Barnet F.C.
Barnet Football Club is an English football team from High Barnet, London, England, currently playing in Football League Two. The ground is in the town of Barnet within the London Borough of Barnet....
, winning promotion to Division Two
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
in his first full season, and Southend United
Southend United F.C.
Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had...
before following Fry to Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
in September 1994 for a fee of £500,000.
The most successful time of Hunt's career was spent at Birmingham where he played over a hundred games. His first season was disrupted by injury, but he was still able to contribute to Birmingham becoming Division Two champions, and he played in the final of the Auto Windscreens Shield
Football League Trophy
The Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
at Wembley, the game won by Paul Tait's golden goal
Golden goal
The golden goal is a method used in association football, field hockey, ice hockey and korfball to decide the winner of games in elimination matches which end in a draw after the end of regulation time. It is a type of sudden death. Golden goal rules allow the team that scores the first goal during...
. While at the club he scored 18 league goals, and was leading scorer in the 1995–96 season
1995-96 in English football
- Premiership :Newcastle United were 12 points clear at the top of Manchester United, but Alex Ferguson's relatively young and inexperienced side overhauled them during the second half of the season to win the title....
with 15 goals in all competitions.
Hunt then moved on to Premier League Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
, again for £500,000. Although he did play (and score) in the top flight he only made seven first team starts, and his career started to go downhill from there. He made loan moves to Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
and Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....
, both of the Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
, before joining Sheffield United on a permanent basis in a swap deal for Vassilis Borbokis
Vassilis Borbokis
Vassilis Borbokis is a former Greek football player. He is the brother of former Greek football player Stefanos Borbokis, who was also a PAOK FC player...
. He played regularly until Neil Warnock
Neil Warnock
Neil Warnock is an English former footballer who is currently manager of English Premier League club Queens Park Rangers....
took over as manager, and was then made available for transfer. A trial 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...
proving unsuccessful, Hunt made yet another loan move, this time to Cambridge United
Cambridge United F.C.
Cambridge United Football Club is a professional football club from Cambridge, England. They are currently playing the 2011-2012 season in the Conference National, the fifth tier of the English league system, where they have competed since 2005 following their relegation from the Football League...
of Division Two. At the end of the 1999–2000 season
1999-2000 in English football
-Premier League:Manchester United were crowned FA Premier League champions with an 18-point margin over runners-up Arsenal and with just 3 league defeats all season. This was despite their failure to retain the European Cup and withdrawal from the FA Cup in order to compete in the FIFA Club World...
Sheffield United cut their losses, paid up the remaining two years of his contract and released him.
He joined Wimbledon
Wimbledon F.C.
Wimbledon Football Club was an English professional association football club from Wimbledon, south-west London. Founded in 1889 as Wimbledon Old Central Football Club, the club spent most of its history in amateur and semi-professional non-League football before being elected to the Football...
of the Championship in September 2000 but appeared only intermittently. The highlight of his Wimbledon career came when he scored the extra-time goal to seal a 3–1 victory over Premier League Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
in 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. With the transfer window about to close, he agreed to link up yet again with former manager Barry Fry, now at Peterborough United
Peterborough United F.C.
Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is...
, but changed his mind at the last minute. He played no more first team games for Wimbledon and was released at the end of the season.
He eventually joined Fry at Second Division Peterborough in September 2002 on non-contract terms. Although Fry reportedly said he would have "no hesitation" about giving him his debut in the weekend's game, Hunt made no first team appearances for Peterborough and was released at the end of the season.
Having been out of the game for five years, in February 2008 Hunt signed a short-term contract until the end of the season for St Albans City
St Albans City F.C.
St Albans City Football Club is a football club based in St Albans, Hertfordshire, England. It was founded in 1908 and plays its home matches at Clarence Park, about 800 yards from the city centre. The club is in the Premier Division of the Southern League...
of the Conference South
Conference South
Conference South is one of the second divisions of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National...
, managed by former Birmingham and Peterborough colleague Steve Castle
Steve Castle
Steve Castle is a former English football Midfielder who played in the Football League between 1984 and 2002. Castle started his career playing alongside Tony Cottee for Romford Royal in the Havering district as a child. He later played for Leyton Orient in three separate spells, amassing a total...
. In August 1990, as an 18-year-old, he had made one previous appearance for the club. He remained with the club until the end of the 2008–09 season, scoring nine goals from 57 appearances in all competitions. After four matches for Harrow Borough
Harrow Borough F.C.
Harrow Borough Football Club is a semi-professional English association football club based in Harrow, in Greater London. The club are currently members of the Isthmian League Premier Division and play at Earlsmead Stadium....
without scoring, Hunt joined Isthmian League
Isthmian League
The Isthmian League is a regional football league covering London and South East England featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs. It is sponsored by Ryman, and therefore officially known as the Ryman League. It was founded in 1905 by amateur clubs in the London area...
Premier Division club A.F.C. Hornchurch
A.F.C. Hornchurch
AFC Hornchurch are an English football club based in Hornchurch, Greater London. The club are currently members of the Isthmian League Premier Division and play at the Hornchurch Stadium....
in September 2009.
Honours
- Barnet
- Division ThreeFootball League Third DivisionThe Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
promotion
- Division Three
- Birmingham City
- Division TwoFootball League Second DivisionFrom 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
champions 1995 - Football League TrophyFootball League TrophyThe Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
winners 1995
- Division Two