Tony Adcock
Encyclopedia
Anthony "Tony" Charles Adcock (born 27 February 1963) is an English
former professional footballer. He was born in Bethnal Green
, London
.
, turning professional in March 1981. He made 210 league appearances for Colchester, scoring 98 goals. This high scoring rate attracted the attention of higher level teams and Adcock moved to Manchester City
for a fee of £75,000 in June 1987. On 7 November 1987 he was one of three players, the others being David White
and Paul Stewart to score a hat-trick
in a 10–1 victory over Huddersfield Town
.
However, his stay at Maine Road
was short and he moved to Northampton Town
in January 1988 as part of an exchange deal for Trevor Morley
. The fee for Adcock was £85,000, then a record fee for Northampton.
He again hit rich goalscoring form, scoring 30 times in 72 league games before a £190,000 move to Bradford City
in October 1989. He scored on his Bradford debut but struggled to establish himself and returned to Northampton Town
in January 1991 for a fee of £75,000. In February 1992, a financial crisis came to a head at Northampton, and with the club in administration, both Adcock and his strike partner Bobby Barnes
were sold to Peterborough United
.
Adcock's next move was to Luton Town
in August 1994, this time costing £20,000. He made only three first team appearances for Luton, all as a substitute, before returning to Colchester United
on a free transfer in August 1995. He scored 28 times in 108 league games in his second spell at Colchester before leaving league football in May 1999, joining Heybridge Swifts
after a loan spell towards the end of the previous season.
In 2008 he was inducted into Colchester United's Hall of Fame.
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. He was born in Bethnal Green
Bethnal Green
Bethnal Green is a district of the East End of London, England and part of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, with the far northern parts falling within the London Borough of Hackney. Located northeast of Charing Cross, it was historically an agrarian hamlet in the ancient parish of Stepney,...
, 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...
.
Career
Tony Adcock began his football career as an apprentice with Colchester UnitedColchester United F.C.
Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910....
, turning professional in March 1981. He made 210 league appearances for Colchester, scoring 98 goals. This high scoring rate attracted the attention of higher level teams and Adcock moved to 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...
for a fee of £75,000 in June 1987. On 7 November 1987 he was one of three players, the others being David White
David White (English footballer)
David White is a former English footballer, best remembered for his eight-year spell at Manchester City. He also played for Leeds and Sheffield United, and was capped once by England....
and Paul Stewart to score a hat-trick
Hat-trick
A hat-trick or hat trick in sport is the achievement of a positive feat three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes. The term was first used in 1858 in cricket to describe HH Stephenson's feat of taking three wickets in three balls. A collection was held for Stephenson, and he...
in a 10–1 victory over 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...
.
However, his stay at Maine Road
Maine Road
Maine Road was a football stadium in Moss Side, Manchester, England that was home to Manchester City F.C. from its construction in 1923 until 2003...
was short and he moved to Northampton Town
Northampton Town F.C.
Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season...
in January 1988 as part of an exchange deal for Trevor Morley
Trevor Morley
Trevor Morley is an English former professional footballer who played as a striker.-Playing career:Morley played for Northampton Town, having previously seen non-league football with Corby Town and Nuneaton Borough...
. The fee for Adcock was £85,000, then a record fee for Northampton.
He again hit rich goalscoring form, scoring 30 times in 72 league games before a £190,000 move to Bradford City
Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
in October 1989. He scored on his Bradford debut but struggled to establish himself and returned to Northampton Town
Northampton Town F.C.
Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season...
in January 1991 for a fee of £75,000. In February 1992, a financial crisis came to a head at Northampton, and with the club in administration, both Adcock and his strike partner Bobby Barnes
Bobby Barnes (footballer)
David Oswald 'Bobby' Barnes is an English former professional footballer. He made over 300 appearances in the Football League and represented England at youth level.-Career:...
were sold to 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...
.
Adcock's next move was to Luton Town
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
in August 1994, this time costing £20,000. He made only three first team appearances for Luton, all as a substitute, before returning to Colchester United
Colchester United F.C.
Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910....
on a free transfer in August 1995. He scored 28 times in 108 league games in his second spell at Colchester before leaving league football in May 1999, joining Heybridge Swifts
Heybridge Swifts F.C.
Heybridge Swifts are a non-league football club based in Heybridge, near Maldon, Essex. They were established in 1880 and were founding members of the Essex Senior League in 1971...
after a loan spell towards the end of the previous season.
In 2008 he was inducted into Colchester United's Hall of Fame.