Position : Left back (also played at centre half)
Played : 2004-05 to 2005-06
Appearances : 68
Goals : 0
Tony was signed on a free from Barnsley although contrary to popular belief he hadn't been there at the time Parkin was manager. They probably did know each other from Stoke where Tony began his career in the youth team in the late 80s. Tony struggled for first team games making 11 appearances between 1990 and 1993 and having two loan spells at Carlisle in 1991 and 1992 playing in 8 games each time. Eventually Carlisle coughed up £15,000 in March 1993 and were well rewarded , Tony being almost ever-present over the next three years and scoring 9 goals. In March 1996 he went into the First Division with Grimsby for £125,000 . Tony had the tough job of replacing their star man Gary Croft but 273 appearances over 7 seasons suggests he succeeded. In his last couple of seasons he struggled with injury and was released following Grimsby's relegation in 2003. He moved to Barnsley but injuries restricted him to just 20 appearances.
With memories of Shaun Smith still fresh and Tony's recent injury record there was widespread scepticism about the wisdom of signing him especially when he wasn't fit to start the season. However after a shaky first couple of games he soon proved to be an asset. His reading of the game was excellent, few wingers got much change out of him and he was good in the air for a not particularly tall guy. He didn't have great pace going forward but had a decent cross and could take corners. Even better he was just as good a centre half so we could often play both him and Alan Goodall in the same side.
Tony was a smarter guy than your average footballer apparently getting some stick from his team-mates for his interest in documentary programmes. He was also very accessible to fans and not averse to making indiscreet observations about team-mates such as Jon Boardman. Tony's assertiveness probably hastened his departure. He had an on-field spat with Gary Jones away at Bury in 2006 and was known to be critical of aspects of Matt Gilks's game. That was a factor in his release in 2006 though at 34 his career was coming to a close anyway.
He followed Gareth Griffiths to Northwich but wasn't a regular and was put on the transfer list in the autumn. He went on loan to Hucknall Town for a couple of months. In the summer of 2007 he decided to retire. He now works for a scaffolding firm in Grimsby and still plays in the local sunday league.
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