Ross Flitney
Encyclopedia
Ross Daniel Flitney is an English
football goalkeeper, currently playing for Gillingham
before moving to Fulham
in 2003 where he made a number of appearances on the Fulham bench in the Premiership as cover for senior keepers such as Edwin van der Sar
and Mark Crossley
, but never made the first team. He did however have two loan spells with Brighton & Hove Albion
and a further loan spell with Doncaster Rovers
where he gained league experience. In March 2005 he joined Isthmian League
side Yeading
on loan. He was released by Fulham in May 2005, joining Barnet
the following month.
On 26 October 2005, he became the recipient of the quickest red card
in the history of Old Trafford
. In a League Cup
match for Barnet against Manchester United
, he was sent off for handling the ball outside his penalty area, only 80 seconds into the game. It was his first touch in the match, and Barnet went on to lose 4-1. The red card was later rescinded on appeal. During the 2005/06 season, he lost his place to Lee Harrison
who had rejoined Barnet as a player/coach in the summer. He was told he could leave Barnet in November 2006, but was finally released at the end of the season, joining Grays Athletic
in June 2007.
Flitney signed for Croydon Athletic
on loan in December 2008, and just one month later he was transfer listed by Grays, with financial pressures and manager Wayne Burnett
's plans being cited as the reason. A fortnight later, Flitney had his contract with the Essex side terminated by mutual consent, and signed a contract to stay with Croydon Athletic until the end of the season.
In January 2010, Flitney signed for Conference South
club Dover Athletic
. Dover manager Andy Hessenthaler
said; "He's a keeper I've had my eye on. He brings something different to the table in that he is 6ft 3in and kicks the ball a mile!". Flitney made his debut for Dover in the 2–0 defeat to Woking
on 23 January.
He was signed by Hessenthaler again, when he joined Gillingham
in July 2011, and made his debut for Gillingham in the 1–0 win over Cheltenham Town
on 6 August 2011.
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...
football goalkeeper, currently playing for 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...
Football career
He started as a youth player at ArsenalArsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
before moving to Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
in 2003 where he made a number of appearances on the Fulham bench in the Premiership as cover for senior keepers such as Edwin van der Sar
Edwin van der Sar
Edwin van der Sar OON is a former footballer who played as a goalkeeper for AFC Ajax, Juventus, Fulham and Manchester United. He is the most capped player in the Netherlands national football team's history...
and Mark Crossley
Mark Crossley
Mark Geoffrey Crossley is a former English-born Wales international football goalkeeper, who is currently employed as the Goalkeeping Coach of Football League One side Chesterfield....
, but never made the first team. He did however have two loan spells with Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....
and a further loan spell with Doncaster Rovers
Doncaster Rovers F.C.
Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in...
where he gained league experience. In March 2005 he 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...
side Yeading
Yeading F.C.
Yeading F.C. were an English football club from Yeading in the London Borough of Hillingdon, West London.-Club history:Their roots trace to a youth club formed in Yeading in 1960. However, there was a Victorian amateur team by the same name which folded in the 1920s, so the club's history can be...
on loan. He was released by Fulham in May 2005, joining 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....
the following month.
On 26 October 2005, he became the recipient of the quickest red card
Misconduct (football)
Misconduct in association football is any conduct by a player that is deemed by the referee to warrant a disciplinary sanction in accordance with Law 12 of the Laws of the Game. Misconduct may occur at any time, including when the ball is out of play, during half-time and before and after the...
in the history of Old Trafford
Old Trafford (football)
Old Trafford is a football stadium in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, England, and the home of Manchester United. With a capacity of 75,811, Old Trafford is the second-largest football stadium in England after Wembley, the third-largest in the United Kingdom and the eleventh-largest in Europe...
. In a League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
match for Barnet against Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
, he was sent off for handling the ball outside his penalty area, only 80 seconds into the game. It was his first touch in the match, and Barnet went on to lose 4-1. The red card was later rescinded on appeal. During the 2005/06 season, he lost his place to Lee Harrison
Lee Harrison
Lee David Harrison is an English footballer who last played for Newport County as a goalkeeper where he was also Assistant Manager. He has spent most of his career at Barnet...
who had rejoined Barnet as a player/coach in the summer. He was told he could leave Barnet in November 2006, but was finally released at the end of the season, joining Grays Athletic
Grays Athletic F.C.
Grays Athletic Football Club is an English football club currently based in Corringham, Essex after leaving the New Recreation Ground in Grays at the end of the 2009–10 season...
in June 2007.
Flitney signed for Croydon Athletic
Croydon Athletic F.C.
Croydon Athletic F.C. are an English football club based in Thornton Heath in the London Borough of Croydon, London, England. They currently play in the Isthmian League Division One South.-History:...
on loan in December 2008, and just one month later he was transfer listed by Grays, with financial pressures and manager Wayne Burnett
Wayne Burnett
Wayne Burnett is an English former footballer who is most notable for playing at Plymouth Argyle, Huddersfield Town and Grimsby Town. Having also had spells with Leyton Orient, Blackburn Rovers, Bolton Wanderers, Woking, Grays Athletic, Fisher Athletic and Peterborough United...
's plans being cited as the reason. A fortnight later, Flitney had his contract with the Essex side terminated by mutual consent, and signed a contract to stay with Croydon Athletic until the end of the season.
In January 2010, Flitney signed for 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...
club Dover Athletic
Dover Athletic F.C.
Dover Athletic Football Club is an association football team based in the town of Dover, Kent, England. The club was formed in 1983 after the dissolution of the town's previous club, Dover, whose place in the Southern League was taken by the new club...
. Dover manager Andy Hessenthaler
Andy Hessenthaler
Andrew "Andy" Hessenthaler is an English football manager and former player, currently in his second spell as manager of Gillingham. Hessenthaler began his career in non-league football and did not turn professional until he joined Watford at the age of 26...
said; "He's a keeper I've had my eye on. He brings something different to the table in that he is 6ft 3in and kicks the ball a mile!". Flitney made his debut for Dover in the 2–0 defeat to Woking
Woking F.C.
Woking Football Club is a football club from in Woking, Surrey, England, formed in 1889. They are playing in the Conference South in the 2011–12 season. For the 2011/2012 season, Woking are sharing their ground with Conference National club Hayes & Yeading United.-Promotion to the...
on 23 January.
He was signed by Hessenthaler again, when he joined 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...
in July 2011, and made his debut for Gillingham in the 1–0 win over Cheltenham Town
Cheltenham Town F.C.
Cheltenham Town Football Club is an English football club playing in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. Founded in 1887, the team has played at four different grounds, namely Agg-Gardner's Recreation Ground, Carter's Field and now the Abbey Business Stadium, although it is more...
on 6 August 2011.