Tony Battersby
Encyclopedia
Tony Battersby is a footballer who plays as a striker for Grantham Town
. Battersby is one of football's journeymen and has played for many clubs both The Football League
and non-League
.
Battersby started his career at Sheffield United
, later moving to Notts County
, Bury
and Lincoln City
, before dropping into non-League.
In the summer of 1995 Battersby joined Finnish
second division club BK-IFK
on loan, scoring 24 goals in just 18 appearances for the Vasa club. He attracted the attention of the Premier League-team VPS Vaasa with his performances with the city rivals BK-IFK, but no deal was ever to be as Battersby returned to Sheffield United
in the autumn.
.
on a three month contract. He scored on his Boston debut in the 4-2 Football League Trophy
home victory over Yeovil Town
on 23 October 2002 before marking his league debut with another goal in the 3-1 victory over Rochdale
at York Street just three days later. However, he failed to score in his next ten league games for the club and departed at the end of his contract. In January 2003, Battersby linked up with Hucknall Town
, scoring a penalty on his debut in the 2-0 away victory over Lincoln United
in the UniBond Chairman's Cup quarter-final on 25 January 2003. After impressing in two reserve team games, he agreed to join Rushden & Diamonds
on a non-contract basis, debuting in the 2-2 draw at Darlington
on 8 February 2003. With Rushden having a free Saturday, Battersby returned to Hucknall to play in their 1-1 home draw with Wakefield & Emley on 15 February 2003 before turning out a further four times for Rushden before being released. He moved onto Football Conference
side Stevenage Borough
, scoring on his debut in a 2-0 home victory over Kettering Town
on 25 March 2003. He scored twice more in four further appearances but his season ended early due to suspension following his sending-off in the 3-1 home victory over Leigh RMI
on 5 April 2003.
. In February 2004, having seen a move to Crawley Town
for a club record £10,000 fall through, Battersby left Stevenage to join Gravesend & Northfleet
. His spell with the Fleet would be short as having come on to make his debut as a 63rd minute substitute in the 6-0 home victory over Morecambe
on 28 February 2004, a groin injury saw him forced off the field just twenty minutes later and Battersby was released from his contract. Returning to fitness, Battersby saw out the remainder of the season with Cambridge City
.
. In October 2004, he joined Grays Athletic
, debuting in a 4-2 home victory over Welling United
on 9 October 2004. Battersby would make 20 league appearances, scoring six times, as Grays went on to claim the Football Conference South title. Grays, with Battersby in the starting eleven, capped the season by claiming the FA Trophy
with a victory, on penalties, over Hucknall Town
at Villa Park on 22 May 2005.
in fine form, enjoying a run of fifteen games without defeat. Battersby also began the season well, scoring Grays's first ever goal in the conference in the 1-1 away draw to Burton Albion
on 13 August 2005 and netting twice more in his next four games. However, he sustained an injury in the 2-2 home draw with Kidderminster Harriers
on 10 September 2005 and would be sidelined for three months. Returning to fitness, he failed to fing the net and in March 2006 he moved on, joining AFC Wimbledon
. He made his Dons debut in the 2-1 away victory over Harrow Borough
on 21 March 2008 and scored his solitary goal for the club in the return fixture against Harrow Borough
on 22 April 2088 which also resulted in a 2-1 victory. However, Wimbledon's dreams of promotion from the Isthmian League
ended when Fisher Athletic
defeated them 2-1 in the promotion play-off on 2 May 2006; the game would be Battersby's last for the club.
, making his debut as a final minute substitute in the 1-1 home draw with Bromley
on 19 August 2006. He struggled to make an impression with Chelmsford: making just three league starts with a further six from the bench and failing to find the net. He moved on to join Welling United
debuting as a late substitute in the 1-0 away victory over Cambridge City
on 9 December 2006. Battersby was forced to miss the final ten league games of the season in order to undergo tests on a heart complaint. The Welling manager Adrian Pennock
was quoted in the Bexley Times as saying "Everyone at the club has got their fingers crossed for Tony and that everything works out for him. He has an enlarged heart muscle and it is better to be safe than sorry." Fortunately, Battersby was able to resume his football career though his time with Welling was at an end.
and Battersby was one of seven Stamford players to follow him to the Northamptonshire club.
on loan, debuting in the 2-0 home defeat to Deeping Rangers
on 19 August 2008. In November, Battersby moved on to join Bedford Town
, debuting in the goalless draw at home to Clevedon Town
on 22 November 2008.
but, after 37 appearances for the club in all competitions in which he scored nine goals, he rejoined Stamford, debuting in the 2-0 away victory over Cammell Laird
on 31 October 2009.
In March 2011 he departed Stamford to join St Albans City
. In June 2011 he was appointed player-coach at Deeping Rangers
. In late November 2011, Battersby linked up with Northern Premier League Division One South
club 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...
. Battersby is one of football's journeymen and has played for many clubs both 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...
and non-League
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...
.
Battersby started his career at 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...
, later moving to Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
, 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...
and 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....
, before dropping into non-League.
In the summer of 1995 Battersby joined Finnish
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
second division club BK-IFK
Vasa IFK
Vasa IFK is a Finnish football club, located in Vaasa. It was founded in 1900. The club changed its name in 1988 after a merger with another club BK-48, and was called BK-IFK during the late 1900s. The name was changed back to VIFK in year 2000....
on loan, scoring 24 goals in just 18 appearances for the Vasa club. He attracted the attention of the Premier League-team VPS Vaasa with his performances with the city rivals BK-IFK, but no deal was ever to be as Battersby returned 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...
in the autumn.
Lincoln City
In the summer of 2001, Battersby agreed a new three-year contract with Lincoln CityLincoln 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....
.
2002–03 season
In October 2002, Lincoln announced that a severance package had been agreed with Battersby and he duly left the club, quickly linking up with neighbours Boston UnitedBoston United F.C.
Boston United Football Club are an association football club based in Boston, Lincolnshire, England. They currently play in the Conference North. The club is known as 'the Pilgrims' in reference to the Pilgrim Fathers, who fled from Boston to the USA and founded Boston, Massachusetts. The club's...
on a three month contract. He scored on his Boston debut in the 4-2 Football League Trophy
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...
home victory over Yeovil Town
Yeovil Town F.C.
Yeovil Town F.C. are an English association football team based in Yeovil, Somerset. The club play in League One after having won the League Two championship in 2004–05...
on 23 October 2002 before marking his league debut with another goal in the 3-1 victory over 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...
at York Street just three days later. However, he failed to score in his next ten league games for the club and departed at the end of his contract. In January 2003, Battersby linked up with Hucknall Town
Hucknall 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:...
, scoring a penalty on his debut in the 2-0 away victory over 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 UniBond Chairman's Cup quarter-final on 25 January 2003. After impressing in two reserve team games, he agreed to join Rushden & Diamonds
Rushden & Diamonds F.C.
Rushden & Diamonds Football Club was an association football club based in Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire, England. Formed by a merger of Rushden Town and Irthlingborough Diamonds in 1992, the club played in the Conference National following a short spell in the Football League at the start of...
on a non-contract basis, debuting in the 2-2 draw at Darlington
Darlington F.C.
Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003...
on 8 February 2003. With Rushden having a free Saturday, Battersby returned to Hucknall to play in their 1-1 home draw with Wakefield & Emley on 15 February 2003 before turning out a further four times for Rushden before being released. He moved onto Football Conference
Football Conference
The Football Conference is a football league in England which consists of three divisions called Conference National, Conference North, and Conference South. Some Football Conference clubs are fully professional, such as Luton Town, but most of them are semi-professional...
side Stevenage Borough
Stevenage Borough F.C.
Stevenage Football Club is an English football club based in Stevenage, Hertfordshire. The club currently participate in League One, the third tier of English football, having won promotion from League Two in the 2010–11 season...
, scoring on his debut in a 2-0 home victory over Kettering Town
Kettering Town F.C.
Kettering Town Football Club are a football club originating in Kettering, Northamptonshire but currently based in the nearby village of Irthlingborough. The club play in the Conference National after winning the Conference North in 2007–08...
on 25 March 2003. He scored twice more in four further appearances but his season ended early due to suspension following his sending-off in the 3-1 home victory over 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...
on 5 April 2003.
2003–04 season
Battersby began the season in fine fettle, scoring five times, four in an eight minute spell, in a 11-0 pre-season victory over Metropolitan PoliceMetropolitan Police F.C.
Metropolitan Police F.C. is the football club of the Metropolitan Police Service, although in recent years there has been a relaxation in the rule that players had to be serving members of the police force...
. In February 2004, having seen a move to Crawley Town
Crawley Town F.C.
Crawley Town Football Club is an English football club based in Crawley, West Sussex. They won the title of the Football Conference, by a record 15 point margin on second place, and with it promotion to The Football League, in April 2011.-1896–2009:...
for a club record £10,000 fall through, Battersby left Stevenage to join Gravesend & Northfleet
Gravesend & Northfleet F.C.
Ebbsfleet United Football Club is an English professional football team currently playing in the Conference National. The team plays their home matches at Stonebridge Road in Northfleet, Kent. However, the club is now looking to build a new stadium in the Ebbsfleet Valley vicinity in...
. His spell with the Fleet would be short as having come on to make his debut as a 63rd minute substitute in the 6-0 home victory over Morecambe
Morecambe F.C.
Morecambe Football Club is an English football club based in Morecambe, Lancashire. It plays its football in League Two, the fourth division of English football, having been promoted in 2007 for the first time in their history to the Football League. They played their home matches at Christie Park...
on 28 February 2004, a groin injury saw him forced off the field just twenty minutes later and Battersby was released from his contract. Returning to fitness, Battersby saw out the remainder of the season with 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...
.
2004–05 season
In May 2004, Battersby agreed a deal to join King's LynnKing's Lynn F.C.
King's Lynn F.C. was an English football club based in King's Lynn, Norfolk. Established in 1879, they were wound up at the High Court on 25 November 2009 with debts of £77,000 and went out of business in December after a failed appeal...
. In October 2004, he joined 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...
, debuting in a 4-2 home victory over Welling United
Welling United F.C.
Welling United Football Club are an English football club, based in Welling in the London Borough of Bexley. They currently play in the Conference South. The 2010–11 season was not a good one for them as the club had financial problems, nearly going bankrupt but lots of supporters chipped in and...
on 9 October 2004. Battersby would make 20 league appearances, scoring six times, as Grays went on to claim the Football Conference South title. Grays, with Battersby in the starting eleven, capped the season by claiming the FA Trophy
FA Trophy
The Football Association Challenge Trophy, commonly known as the FA Trophy, is a knockout cup competition in English football, run by and named after The Football Association and competed for primarily by semi-professional teams...
with a victory, on penalties, over Hucknall Town
Hucknall 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:...
at Villa Park on 22 May 2005.
2005–06 season
Grays began their inaugural season in the Football ConferenceFootball Conference
The Football Conference is a football league in England which consists of three divisions called Conference National, Conference North, and Conference South. Some Football Conference clubs are fully professional, such as Luton Town, but most of them are semi-professional...
in fine form, enjoying a run of fifteen games without defeat. Battersby also began the season well, scoring Grays's first ever goal in the conference in the 1-1 away draw to 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...
on 13 August 2005 and netting twice more in his next four games. However, he sustained an injury in the 2-2 home draw with Kidderminster Harriers
Kidderminster Harriers F.C.
Kidderminster Harriers F.C. are an English football club based in Kidderminster, Worcestershire formed in 1886 They currently play in the Conference National and have played at Aggborough Stadium since they were formed...
on 10 September 2005 and would be sidelined for three months. Returning to fitness, he failed to fing the net and in March 2006 he moved on, joining AFC Wimbledon
AFC Wimbledon
AFC Wimbledon is a professional English football club that traces its origins to Wimbledon in the London Borough of Merton. Based at Kingsmeadow, Kingston upon Thames, the club are members of Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football....
. He made his Dons debut in the 2-1 away victory over 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....
on 21 March 2008 and scored his solitary goal for the club in the return fixture against 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....
on 22 April 2088 which also resulted in a 2-1 victory. However, Wimbledon's dreams of promotion from the 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...
ended when Fisher Athletic
Fisher Athletic F.C.
Fisher Athletic F.C. was a semi-professional football club from South East London, which last played in the Conference South, which is one of the two leagues that form the sixth tier of the English football league system. The Bermondsey-based club ground-shared at Champion Hill Stadium, the home...
defeated them 2-1 in the promotion play-off on 2 May 2006; the game would be Battersby's last for the club.
2006–07 season
Battersby began the season with Chelmsford CityChelmsford City F.C.
Chelmsford City F.C. is an English semi-professional football club based in the town of Chelmsford, Essex. The club are currently members of the Conference South and play at the Melbourne Stadium.-Chelmsford:...
, making his debut as a final minute substitute in the 1-1 home draw with Bromley
Bromley F.C.
Bromley Football Club are an English football club based in Bromley, in Greater London, England. They currently play in the Conference South, and play their home matches at Hayes Lane.-Early years:...
on 19 August 2006. He struggled to make an impression with Chelmsford: making just three league starts with a further six from the bench and failing to find the net. He moved on to join Welling United
Welling United F.C.
Welling United Football Club are an English football club, based in Welling in the London Borough of Bexley. They currently play in the Conference South. The 2010–11 season was not a good one for them as the club had financial problems, nearly going bankrupt but lots of supporters chipped in and...
debuting as a late substitute in the 1-0 away victory over 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...
on 9 December 2006. Battersby was forced to miss the final ten league games of the season in order to undergo tests on a heart complaint. The Welling manager Adrian Pennock
Adrian Pennock
Adrian Barry Pennock is a retired English footballer player turned manager. His playing career was spent mainly at AFC Bournemouth and Gillingham.-Playing career:...
was quoted in the Bexley Times as saying "Everyone at the club has got their fingers crossed for Tony and that everything works out for him. He has an enlarged heart muscle and it is better to be safe than sorry." Fortunately, Battersby was able to resume his football career though his time with Welling was at an end.
2007–08 season
In July 2007, Battersby returned to Lincolnshire to link up with Stamford. In February 2008, Stamford's manager Graham Drury departed to manage Corby TownCorby Town F.C.
Corby Town F.C. is an English football club based in Corby, Northamptonshire. They will be members of the Conference North for the 2011–12 season. The Steelmen play their home games at the newly built Steel Park, adjacent to their previous ground, Rockingham Triangle Sports Stadium, which is...
and Battersby was one of seven Stamford players to follow him to the Northamptonshire club.
2008–09 season
In August, Battersby moved to Bourne TownBourne Town F.C.
Bourne Town Football Club is an English football team based in Bourne, England, currently playing in the United Counties Football League Division One. They were established in 1883 and joined the United Counties Football League in 1947, where they have been champions on three occasions - in...
on loan, debuting in the 2-0 home defeat to Deeping Rangers
Deeping Rangers F.C.
Deeping Rangers F.C. is a football club based in Market Deeping, Lincolnshire, England. They were established in 1964 and originally played at Maxey Road until 1982, but did not move to Outgang Road until 1985; the move was due to a rent dispute with the land owner...
on 19 August 2008. In November, Battersby moved on to join Bedford Town
Bedford Town F.C.
Bedford Town F.C. is an English football club based in the Borough of Bedford. The club are currently members of the Southern League Premier Division and play at The New Eyrie in Cardington, a parish on the outskirts of Bedford....
, debuting in the goalless draw at home to Clevedon Town
Clevedon Town F.C.
Clevedon Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Clevedon, North Somerset. They currently play in the Southern League Division One South & West.-History:...
on 22 November 2008.
2009–10 season
Battersby commenced the season with Bedford TownBedford Town F.C.
Bedford Town F.C. is an English football club based in the Borough of Bedford. The club are currently members of the Southern League Premier Division and play at The New Eyrie in Cardington, a parish on the outskirts of Bedford....
but, after 37 appearances for the club in all competitions in which he scored nine goals, he rejoined Stamford, debuting in the 2-0 away victory over Cammell Laird
Cammell Laird F.C.
Cammell Laird Football Club is an English Semi Professional football club based in Birkenhead, Merseyside. The club are currently members of the Northern Premier League Division One North, The 8th Tier of English Football, and play at the Kirklands Stadium....
on 31 October 2009.
In March 2011 he departed Stamford to join 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...
. In June 2011 he was appointed player-coach at Deeping Rangers
Deeping Rangers F.C.
Deeping Rangers F.C. is a football club based in Market Deeping, Lincolnshire, England. They were established in 1964 and originally played at Maxey Road until 1982, but did not move to Outgang Road until 1985; the move was due to a rent dispute with the land owner...
. In late November 2011, Battersby linked up with Northern Premier League Division One South
Northern Premier League Division One South
Division One South is one of the two second-tier divisions of the Northern Premier League. It is at Step 4 of the National League System, placing it seven divisions below the Premier League...
club 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...
.