Proud to be THE DABBERS

ALAN GROVES. The late Alan Groves was an old fashioned foraging wing half for the Dabbers for five seasons in the mid-1960s, becoming captain as the club made the transition from the Mid-Cheshire League to the Manchester League. Brought to the club by Manager Alan Ball (snr), Groves assisted in the treble-winning season of 1963/64 as Nantwich won the Mid-Cheshire League title, the Mid-Cheshire League Cup and the Cheshire Amateur Cup.
He netted twice in Nantwich’s record 15-0 victory over Ashton United Reserves in the Manchester League in February 1967 and, in an historic week for the club, had scored twice in the 4-2 defeat to Altrincham seven days earlier when a record post-war crowd of 2100 crammed into the old London Road ground to watch the Cheshire Senior Cup quarter-final tie. Sadly he passed away in December 1970. 1963/64 Goals 3 (2 Lge, 1 Cup) 1964/65 Goals 3 (3 Lge) 1965/66 Goals 4 (4 Lge) 1966/67 Goals 17 (11 Lge 6 Cups) 1967/68 Goals 1 (1 Lge) Total 28

MELFORD KNIGHT The former Witton Albion midfielder was one of Nigel Gleghorn’s close season captures in 2002. Made his debut in the 3-0 home win over Fleetwood, 17/8/02. Contributed nine goals from midfield in his first season and seven more in 2003/04. Moved to Woodley Sports early in 2004/05 season and on to Mossley, scoring 16 goals in 104 appearances before signing for Ashton United during the 2007 close season but after just a few months at Hurst Cross switched to New Mills. Moved on to Runcorn Linnets in November 2008 and then to Glossop North End. Joined Trafford for the 2009/10 campaign. 2002/03 Goals 9 (8 Lge, 1 Cup) 2003/04 Goals 7 (6 Lge, 1 Cup)

STUART HEEPS (Goalkeeper) Born Crewe, 9 February 1973. 6’ 2”. Highly rated keeper, joined Nantwich from Congleton Town in July 1999 for his fourth spell at the club. Made his original Nantwich debut against Bradford Park Avenue back in 1990/91. ‘Heepsy’ was on Burnley’s books and has also played for Whitchurch Alport, Ramsbottom United and Caernarfon Town as well as enjoying two spells at Congleton. Was named as the club’s Player of the Season for 2000/01. Moved to Kidsgrove Athletic in the 2004 close season, becoming Assistant Manager of Biddulph Victoria in January 2006 before stepping up to Manager of the Midland Alliance outfit. Resigned from the post in September 2007 and took up the goalkeeping gloves again with Kidsgrove and then Congleton where he subsequently took over as Reserve team manager.

MARK GRICE (Forward) A 2005 close season capture from neighbours Alsager Town, made a scoring debut in the pre-season friendly against Kidsgrove Athletic. Left Nantwich for Norton United, December 2005, joining Staffs County League outfit Wolstanton United for the start of the 2006/07 season, finishing as the League’s leading scorer and helping them to the title. Repeated the feat with 45 goals as Wolstanton retained the title in 2007/08. After a short spell with Market Drayton Town, joined Leek Town in October 2009 but was released soon afterwards.
2005/06 Appearances 7 Subs 7 Goals 5 (3 Lge, 2 Cups)

SIMON HACKNEY (Forward). Born Manchester 5 Feb 1984. 5’8”. 10st 3lbs. Product of Liverpool’s football academy, he made the left wing position his own after joining the Dabbers in November 2001. Left Nantwich for Woodley Sports where he scored 9 goals in 25 appearances in 2004/05. Moved on to Carlisle United for a £10,000 fee – making three substitute appearances as the Cumbrians won promotion back from the Conference to the Football League in 2004/05. The 5’8” speedy winger made his senior debut in the Carling Cup First Round against Burnley on 23 August 2005 and four days later came on as a substitute midway through the second half for his first league appearance in the 1-0 home defeat to Northampton. By the end of 2008, he had netted 17 goals in 93+46 senior appearances for Carlisle. Transferred to fellow League One outfit Colchester United in January 2009 for an undisclosed six-figure fee. 2001/02 3 Goals (all lge) 2002/03 13 Goals (9 lge, 4 cups)

ROLAND WHITE (Forward) 'Rol' White featured for the club at the turn of the twentieth century, moving on to Rhyl in 1901. Returned to London Road for the 1903/04 season, picking up a runners-up medal in the Cheshire Senior Cup as Nantwich lost the1904 Final to Chester for whom he signed during the summer of 1904. Netted 5 goals in 24 appearances for the Cestrians. He was known to be forever smiling and was reputed to be one of the best dribblers of the ball. Re-joined Nantwich again for the 1905/06 campaign, serving the club to the end of the decade, being made club captain in the process. He also played cricket for Crewe Alexandra in the North Staffordshire League. Appointed Nantwich club secretary in June 1919, he sadly died in September 1920, aged 41.

CHRISTIAN MORRIS (Full Back) Born Gosport, 27 August 1978. Tough tackling defender who initially joined the club in 2000, becoming one of the club’s youngest captains at the age of 20. After three seasons, moved to Whitchurch Alport before returning to the club in 2004/05. Previously with Maine Road. Gained 11 caps for England Police and also represented Great Britain Police against France. After leaving Nantwich spent two and a half seasons at Biddulph Victoria, captaining the side for two of them.

GEORGE WILLIAMS (Forward) Accomplished player who served Nantwich during the 1930s before joining Whitchurch for whom he starred in the 1937/38 season. A resident of Cowfields, Nantwich he was a cutter in Dewhurst’s clothing factory prior to enlisting for the War with the Seaforth Highlanders. Sadly lost his life in the Battle of the Ardennes, 11 January 1945.

TOM CASE (Forward) Stepped up from the Reserves to establish himself in Nantwich’s side in The Combination in 1901/02 Joined Shrewsbury in September 1902 but returned in the 1903 close season. One of the club’s leading scorers in 1903/04, he featured in Nantwich’s side that lost to Chester in the 1904 Cheshire Senior Cup Final, going on to join the Cestrians for the start of the 1904/05 campaign (23 apps,15 goals), returning to Nantwich in September 1905, after making a further two Combination appearances for the Cestrians. Joined Macclesfield in the summer of 1906, picking up another runners-up medal after the 1907 Senior Cup Final and assisted the Manchester League outfit again the following season. Brother of Harry, Walter and John who all played for Nantwich, his other brother Edward served the Cheshire FA and Cheshire County League with distinction for many years.

JOHN DISKIN (Defender) Born Hanley, 24 February 1968. 6’0”. 12st 7lbs. Big strong defender ‘Disco’ was signed in 2002 by Newcastle Town from rivals Kidsgrove Athletic who he helped to the NWCFL title in 2001/02. After leaving ‘Castle, joined Norton United for the 2008/09 campaign. Captained Newcastle, Kidsgrove and Leek Town where he made over 300 appearances. Also played for Stafford Rangers having originally joined Nantwich at the start of the 1991/92 season having been with Ball Haye Green and Moss United. Left Nantwich for Leek Town in the summer of 1993, being selected for an FA XI in January 1998.

VIC FOX (Defender/Midfield) Born Middlesbrough, 8 Jan 1898. Started with South Bank Juniors before joining Middlesbrough (107 apps, 1 goal) in May 1919. Moved on to Wolves (44 apps, 0 goals) in October 1924 before joining Newport County (37 apps, 0 goals) in August 1930. Signed for Exeter City in September 1931, joining Manchester Central two months later and then Nantwich. Played cricket for Worcestershire and, latterly, club cricket for Prestwich and Nantwich for whom he was a professional. Later coached the cricket club and was awarded a deserved benefit game by them. He died in 1949.

PAVOL SUHAJ (Forward) Born Lipany, Slovakia, 14 April 1981. The towering striker was a 2007 close season capture from League One neighbours Crewe Alexandra. 6’3” tall and weighing in at 12st 10lb, Pavol made his Alex debut on 29 August 2005 as a substitute in the home defeat to Sheffield United. He joined Crewe in July 2005 from AS Trencin for whom he scored fifteen goals in the 2004-05 season, having joined them in July 2004. Started his career with his home town club ahead of moving to Slovakian outfits BSC Bardejov, Metallurg Lipetsk and FC Rimavska Sobota and then enjoying a season with Greek club Patraikos Patras. Released by Crewe in May 2007 after making 1 start and 7 substitute appearances he had a trial with Stafford Rangers before joining Nantwich in July 2007. He is best remembered for his remarkable hat-trick as a second half substitute helping the Dabbers win the Cheshire Senior Cup in 2008. Released by the Dabbers at the end of the 2007/08 campaign, he returned to his native Slovakia, joining 2nd Division outfit FK Mesto Prievidza for the 2008/09 season.
2007/08 Appearances 25 Subs 15 Goals 12