Phil Starbuck
Encyclopedia
Philip Michael "Phil" Starbuck (born 24 November 1968) is an English
former professional footballer who scored 43 goals from 245 appearances in the Football League
playing for a number of different clubs. He started out as a striker
then winger before eventually becoming an attacking midfielder
.
Until June 2009 he was manager of Grantham Town
.
, and started his career as an apprentice at Nottingham Forest
. He scored on his First Division
debut at Newcastle United
aged 18 in December 1986 and again in his second outing, a 1–1 draw against Liverpool
on New Year's Day 1987. He spent time on loan at Birmingham City
, Hereford United
and Blackburn Rovers
before moving to Huddersfield Town
on a free transfer in 1991. On 12 April 1993, he set the record for the fastest goal scored by a substitute (since beaten) when he netted against Wigan Athletic
just 3 seconds after entering the game. He then went to play at a higher level with Sheffield United
before appearing for Bristol City
, Oldham Athletic
and Plymouth Argyle
in the Football League
, RKC Waalwijk
in the Dutch Eredivisie
, and Cambridge City
and Burton Albion
in non-league football
, before going into management. His half-season at Cambridge City
was marred by a broken leg sustained in a pre-season friendly against Coventry City
. In all, he made 188 first team starts in the Football League, the most being 120 for Huddersfield, for whom he scored 36 goals.
, appointed in December 2001 and dismissed in June 2003. He joined Leigh RMI
, initially as player-assistant manager, before being appointed manager in November 2003. He resigned in November 2004 and joined Arnold Town
as a player. He went on to manage the club, before joining Hednesford Town on 31 May 2006. A successful first half to the 2006-2007 season saw the Pitmen top the table in the Northern Premier league, before a poor run of form saw them eventually finish seventh. After losing his assistant manager John Ramshaw
to Lincoln United
in the summer of 2007, he brought in the experienced Jimmy Mullen as his new number two. Hednesford started the 2007-2008 season well, but a run of inconsistent form saw them once again miss out on the play-offs, finishing eighth
In May 2008, Hednesford Town
announced that Starbuck had left the club with immediate effect.
In October 2008, he took over as manager of Grantham Town
in the Northern Premier League
Division One South, and was sacked at the end of the 2008–09 season
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
former professional footballer who scored 43 goals from 245 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...
playing for a number of different clubs. He started out as a striker
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
then winger before eventually becoming an attacking midfielder
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...
.
Until June 2009 he was manager of Grantham Town
Grantham Town F.C.
Grantham Town F.C. is a football club, based in Grantham, Lincolnshire, currently playing in the Northern Premier League Division One South. They are nicknamed The Gingerbreads and they play their home matches at the South Kesteven Sports Stadium . They were established in August 1874...
.
Playing career
Starbuck was born in NottinghamNottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
, and started his career as an apprentice at Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
. He scored on his First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
debut at Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
aged 18 in December 1986 and again in his second outing, a 1–1 draw against Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
on New Year's Day 1987. He spent time on loan at 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...
, Hereford United
Hereford United F.C.
Hereford United Football Club is an English professional football club based in the city of Hereford. Founded in 1924, they are competing in Football League Two in the 2011–12 season. Hereford have played at Edgar Street for their entire history and are nicknamed 'The Whites' or 'The Lilywhites',...
and 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....
before moving to Huddersfield Town
Huddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
on a free transfer in 1991. On 12 April 1993, he set the record for the fastest goal scored by a substitute (since beaten) when he netted against Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
just 3 seconds after entering the game. He then went to play at a higher level with 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...
before appearing for 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...
, Oldham Athletic
Oldham Athletic A.F.C.
Oldham Athletic Association Football Club is an English association football club based at Boundary Park, on Sheepfoot Lane in Oldham, Greater Manchester. The club currently competes in the Football League One, the third tier of the English league...
and Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
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...
, RKC Waalwijk
RKC Waalwijk
RKC Waalwijk is a football club currently playing in the Eredivisie. Its name is derived from 'Rooms Katholieke Combinatie' and was a fusion club of HEC, WVB and Hercules.-History:...
in the Dutch Eredivisie
Eredivisie
The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA....
, and Cambridge City
Cambridge City F.C.
Cambridge City Football Club is an English football club currently playing in the Southern League Premier Division.-History:The club was founded in 1908 Cambridge Town F.C., as Cambridge had not been granted city status at that point, and were committed to amateur sport...
and Burton Albion
Burton Albion F.C.
Burton Albion Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire. The club's home ground is the Pirelli Stadium, having moved from Eton Park in 2005...
in non-league football
Non-league football
Non-League football is football in England played at a level below that of the Premier League and The Football League. The term non-League was commonly used well before 1992 when the top football clubs in England all belonged to The Football League; all clubs who were not a part of The Football...
, before going into management. His half-season at Cambridge City
Cambridge City F.C.
Cambridge City Football Club is an English football club currently playing in the Southern League Premier Division.-History:The club was founded in 1908 Cambridge Town F.C., as Cambridge had not been granted city status at that point, and were committed to amateur sport...
was marred by a broken leg sustained in a pre-season friendly against Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
. In all, he made 188 first team starts in the Football League, the most being 120 for Huddersfield, for whom he scored 36 goals.
Management career
His first management job was at Hucknall TownHucknall Town F.C.
Hucknall Town F.C. are an English football club based in the town of Hucknall, Nottinghamshire. The club are members of the Northern Premier League Premier Division and play at Watnall Road.-History:...
, appointed in December 2001 and dismissed in June 2003. He joined 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...
, initially as player-assistant manager, before being appointed manager in November 2003. He resigned in November 2004 and joined Arnold Town
Arnold Town F.C.
Arnold Town F.C. is a football club based in Arnold, a suburb of Nottingham, England.It was formed in 1989 following a merger between Arnold F.C. and Arnold Kingswell F.C. It reached the 5th round of the FA Vase in the season 2001-02 and again in 2005-06.The club plays in the Northern Counties East...
as a player. He went on to manage the club, before joining Hednesford Town on 31 May 2006. A successful first half to the 2006-2007 season saw the Pitmen top the table in the Northern Premier league, before a poor run of form saw them eventually finish seventh. After losing his assistant manager John Ramshaw
John Ramshaw
John Ramshaw is a former professional football player and the manager of Shepshed Dynamo.- Career :In 1960, Ramshaw began playing for professional football clubs. Over 18 years he ended up played at several including Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest, Notts County and Hartlepool United...
to Lincoln United
Lincoln United F.C.
Lincoln United F.C. is an English football team which plays in the Northern Premier League. The club is based in Lincoln. 'The Whites', as they are commonly known, play at the Ashby Avenue ground, which backs on to Hartsholme Country Park.-History:...
in the summer of 2007, he brought in the experienced Jimmy Mullen as his new number two. Hednesford started the 2007-2008 season well, but a run of inconsistent form saw them once again miss out on the play-offs, finishing eighth
In May 2008, Hednesford Town
Hednesford Town F.C.
Hednesford Town Football Club are an association football team based in Hednesford, Staffordshire, England. They play at Keys Park.-History:...
announced that Starbuck had left the club with immediate effect.
In October 2008, he took over as manager of Grantham Town
Grantham Town F.C.
Grantham Town F.C. is a football club, based in Grantham, Lincolnshire, currently playing in the Northern Premier League Division One South. They are nicknamed The Gingerbreads and they play their home matches at the South Kesteven Sports Stadium . They were established in August 1874...
in the Northern Premier League
Northern Premier League
The Northern Premier League, is one of the regional English football leagues which sits directly below the Football Conference featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs. Geographically, the league covers all of Northern England, and the northern areas of the Midlands. Originally just one...
Division One South, and was sacked at the end of the 2008–09 season
2008–09 in English football
The 2008–09 season was the 129th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* West Bromwich Albion, Stoke City and Hull City were all playing in the Premier League after winning promotion from the Championship last season. Stoke returned to the top flight after a 23-year absence, while...
.
External links
- Starbuck's league stats at Neil Brown's site