Date: Tue 29 Dec 2020

By Steve Whitney

The Record Breakers (Premier Division Central)

Players who top the appearance records for their respective clubs (if anyone can fill in the gaps please let me know).

AFC RUSHDEN & DIAMONDS

SAM BROWN - 331

Defender who was a junior at the centre of excellence at the now-defunct Rushden & Diamonds.

He joined Kempston Rovers in 2009, aged 16, and helped them to reach the United Counties League Premier in 2010.

He signed for AFC Rushden & Diamonds in the summer of 2012 and won the managers` player of the season award in 2012/13.

He finally left Diamonds to join league rivals Banbury United last summer.


ALVECHURCH

KEVIN PALMER - 842

Centre-forward who also scored 282 goals for the club.


BANBURY UNITED

JODY McKAY - 647

Striker who went on to play for the likes of Bicester Town and Easington Sports, where he was also assistant manager for a time.

Had more than one spell with Banbury and totalled 178 goals for the club.


BARWELL

LIAM CASTLE

Goalkeeper who has been with Barwell for 12 years and has been the club's number one goalkeeper for several years.

He was born in Wegberg, Germany and previously served Basingstoke Town and Hinckley United and re-joined Barwell in February 2020 after taking some time out of the game.


BIGGLESWADE TOWN

RAY FITZGERALD


BROMSGROVE SPORTING

JASON COWLEY – 128+

Re-joined Sporting in October 2020 following the sad demise of Macclesfield Town, who he had signed for a month earlier.

He began his career with Midland League Division Two side Redditch Borough back in 2015, where he scored 26 goals in just 19 appearances for the Worcestershire outfit before having a brief spell with Southern Premier Division neighbours Redditch United.

The tenacious and hard-working frontman continued his devastating vein of form with Sporting, as he hit an incredible 107 goals in 128 appearances for the Rouslers as they secured three consecutive promotions in the process.

He signed for Stevenage in the summer of 2019 and scored 5 times in 14 starts.

In addition to this, he also enjoyed a brief loan spell with National League side Solihull Moors prior to the March 2020 lockdown.

Has scored in excess of 100 goals for Sporting.


COALVILLE TOWN

NIGEL SIMMS

Defender who was originally with Burton Albion where he enjoyed success under Neil Warnock in the early 1980s and played in the 1987 FA Trophy Final at Wembley.

Had a spell with Rocester before joining Coalville for the first time in 2000.

Left for Heather St Johns, Gresley Rovers and local side Oakthorpe Athletic.


HEDNESFORD TOWN

KEVIN FOSTER - 470

Midfielder who enjoyed a testimonial match against Guernsey in March 1994.

Was previously with Willenhall Town and Stourbridge and had two spells with the Pitmen.


HITCHIN TOWN

PAUL GIGGLE - 769

One of Hitchin’s most well-loved and consistent players. Made his debut in 1968 and finally hung his boots up in 1986/87 after scoring 214 goals.

A tricky winger who was a member of the club’s FA Cup fighting sides of the mid-1970s.


KINGS LANGLEY

CALLUM ADEBIYI – 380+

He signed from Hemel Hempstead Town in August 2012 and he has been a regular on the left side of the club`s defence since then, apart from a half season spell at Hayes & Yeading United in 2016/17.


LEISTON

GARETH HEATH - 201

Central midfielder currently with league rivals Needham Market, having joined from near-neighbours Leiston in 2017.

Rated as one of the finest players at this level of football, regularly featuring in the Isthmian team of the year when Leiston were members of that league.

His other former clubs include AFC Sudbury, Halstead Town, Maldon Town and Heybridge Swifts.


LOWESTOFT TOWN

CHARLIE PECK - 629

Veteran centre-half who regularly made comebacks after being 'written off' as finished.

He joined Lowestoft during the 1949/50 season having been Town boys' captain and Lowestoft Corinthians captain.

Played 21 times for Suffolk and captained the side.

Rewarded with a benefit match in April 1961.


NEEDHAM MARKET

RHYS BARBER - 365

He first came to prominence at Bury Town then he went on to captain and play for the Marketmen for a number of seasons under the guidance of Danny Laws where he won a host of honours including reaching an FA Vase semi-final.

One of the top non-League players in the area, he has also been with Felixstowe & Walton United and is currently with Thurlow Nunn League side Ipswich Wanderers.


NUNEATON BOROUGH

ALAN JONES - 545

Made his Boro debut against Ramsgate in February 1962 on the left-wing.

Was described as a `manager’s dream` and the `ideal Southern League player` and `the perfect professional` from the managers he served under at Manor Park.

He broke the previous club appearance record, held by Malcolm Allen, in November 1972.

He was finally released by Geoff Coleman at the end of the 1974/75 season.


PETERBOROUGH SPORTS

OLLY MEDWYNTER

Equally at home in midfield or defence. Joined Sports in the summer of 2015 from St Ives Town.

He has also worn the colours of Huntingdon Town and Yaxley.


REDDITCH UNITED

PAUL MOLLOY

Defender who numbered Stafford Rangers, Bromsgrove Rovers, Worcester City, Malvern Town and Gloucester City amongst his former clubs.

Had two lengthy spells with Redditch, including one as player-coach, and also managed Malvern.


ROYSTON TOWN

FRED BRADLEY - 713


RUSHALL OLYMPIC

ALAN DAWSON - 420


ST IVES TOWN

WILL FORDHAM - 520

Centre-back who had several spells with St Ives in the 2000s.

In between, he took in stops at St Neots Town and Soham Town Rangers before hanging up his boots in 2015.


STOURBRIDGE

LEON BROADHURST - 780

Stourbridge `legend` who finally left the War Memorial Ground to sign for home-town club and then-new Southern Premier Central rivals Bromsgrove Sporting in June 2019. He left the Glassboys after making 780 appearances and scoring 154 goals in a 16-year spell. He initially left Stourbridge for Leamington in May 2009 after originally joining way back in 2006 from Bromsgrove Rovers after starting out at Fairfield Villa.


STRATFORD TOWN

ANDY SMITH

Defender who was voted as Midland Alliance player of the season.

Also had spells with Tamworth, Evesham United, Redditch United, Solihull Borough and Alcester Town.


TAMWORTH

DAVE SEEDHOUSE - 869

Forward who served the Lambs from 1957 for an amazing 20 seasons playing 869 games and scoring 92 goals.

Returned to manage the Lambs from 1984 to 1986 in the West Midlands (Regional) League and is a current club vice president.

  • Player still with the club.

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