A (updated Oct 2011)

A’COURT Alan (Manager)  born Rainhill, 1934.  Alan was a former Liverpool winger who earned five international caps for England.  Born in Rainhill, he started out with Prescot Cables before signing for Liverpool in September 1952.  He made over 350 League appearances for the Reds before having a spell at Tranmere Rovers.  He was coach at Norwich City and Assistant and then Caretaker Manager at Stoke City before joining Crewe Alexandra as Assistant Manager.  Living locally, he took a keen interest in Nantwich Town and with the club floundering in the Second Division of the North West Counties League, he was appointed Manager in September 1983.  Despite leaving the role in April 1984 he maintained his interest in the Dabbers often turning up at Jackson Avenue and, indeed, the Weaver Stadium to support the club.  He passed away on 14 December 2009 after battling against cancer.

ADAMS Arnold (Goalkeeper)  Helped the Reserves to the Crewe & District League title in 1922/3, before making some first team appearances the following season.

ADAMS Danny (Defender)  Born Altrincham, 3 January 1976. 5’8”.  Danny had a spell at Bury and then a year with Northwich Victoria before joining Congleton Town in July 1995.  Moved with his older brother, Chris, to Altrincham in July 1997 making 41 Conference appearances before stepping up to the Football League with Macclesfield Town in August 2000.  He scored once in 146+2 League appearances for the Silkmen before moving on to Stockport County in March 2004 (39 League appearances, 1 goal) and then Huddersfield Town in March 2005 (68,0).  He joined Morecambe in February 2007, helping them to the Conference title and then being named Player of the Season in Morecambe’s inaugural season in the Football League in 2007/08.  Signed for Stalybridge after the Shrimps released him in March 2010, having made 114 League appearances for them.  Joined the Dabbers in the 2010 close season having been released by Stalybridge Celtic but left Nantwich for Witton Albion in December 2010. Re-joined the Dabbers in March 2011 and left the club in the summer of 2011.

ADLINGTON Rob (Forward)  Was on the fringes at Newcastle Town and Stone Dominoes before joining Nantwich.  Moved to Stone Dominoes during the early part of the 2006/07 season after a spell at Norton United then switched to NWCFL Division 2 rivals Eccleshall in 2007/08.

AGIUS Mark  Born Lichfield, 30 October 1971.  The former Manchester City youngster became a stalwart for the Dabbers throughout the 1990s latterly serving as club captain.  Superstitiously liked to wear the number 8 shirt, his time at Jackson Avenue was interrupted by a spell with Congleton Town in 1993/94 (18 Lge, 10 Cups – no goals).  Netted 34 times for the Dabbers in some 150 appearances.

ALEXANDER Tim (Central Defender)  The Chertsey-born defender gained League experience at Brentford and played in South Africa (Cape Town City) and Wales (Total Network Solutions and Rhyl).  Tim is a former captain of the British Universities side and has given service to Barnet, Woking, Dagenham & Redbridge, Bromley, Walton & Hersham and Carshalton Athletic before joining the Dabbers from Kidsgrove Athletic in November 2003.

ALLEN Liam (Forward)  Tricky winger who is another youngster looking to break into the first team in 2004/05 after coming through the club’s youth set-up.

ALLEN Tony (Defender)  Stoke City stalwart, the former England international signed for the Dabbers in the 60s after a stint at Stafford Rangers.

ANDERSON Frank Joined Nantwich for the inaugural 1965/66 Manchester League campaign under Alan Ball (Senior), scoring 9 goals.  Went on to become a long standing Committee member for Atherton Collieries.

ANGELL Harold (Forward)  A prolific marksman over 5 seasons with Congleton Town in the Mid-Cheshire League, he stepped up to serve Northwich Victoria in 63/64, netting 3 Cheshire League and 1 Cup goal in 16 appearances. After joining Nantwich, he scored 20 goals in 33 Mid-Cheshire League and cup appearances in 1964/65 (plus a further 5 that were struck from the record books when Crewe Alex ‘A’ resigned from the league mid-season after crushing 7-0 and 8-0 defeats to Nantwich.)

ARCHER John (Manager),  Born Biddulph, 18 June 1941.  Graduated through the youth ranks at Port Vale to sign professional forms in July 1958.  Made his debut in a 3-1 defeat at Bradford City, 9 April 1960, but joined Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic on a free transfer in May 1961.  Featured with Crewe Alexandra, Huddersfield Town, Chesterfield and Sandbach Ramblers, before holding the Nantwich managerial reins for four months from January 1982

ARESTIDOU Andreas (Goalkeeper)  Born London, 6 December 1989. 6’1”. 12st 4lbs. A former England under 17s international who joined Nantwich on a month’s loan from Blackburn Rovers in September 2008, keeping a clean sheet on his debut in the FA Cup against FC United, 13/9/08.  Had three seasons with Rovers’ Academy and enjoyed a month-long loan spell with Lancaster City in February 2008.  ‘Stavros’ was signed by Shrewsbury Town in July 2009, making his League debut in their 1-1 home draw with Bury, 21/11/09.  Released by the Shrews in May 2010 having made one further League start, he signed a one-year deal with Preston North End in July 2010.

ASHCROFT Les (Forward)  The club’s top scorer for two seasons in the late 1950s, Les joined Nantwich from Crewe & District Leaue side Hightown Youth Centre.  His 53 goals put him in the top 20 post-war Nantwich scorers. Died February 2009 at the age of 71.

ASKEY Bob (Forward) Ht:6’0”, Wt:13st.  Strong centre-forward who served Macclesfield Town, Bromsgrove Rovers and Worcester City before joining the Dabbers in the summer of 1990, being named captain for the 90/1 campaign.  Scored 3 goals in 36 league appearances that season, stepping up to become assistant manager for the 91/2 season.

ASKEY Mark (Midfield) Ht:5’11”, Wt:12st.  Joined Nantwich in the 1991 close season having previously been with Port Vale, Kidsgrove Athletic, Milton United and Eastwood Hanley.  Later managed Eccleshall, stepping down as Manager at the end of the 2007/08 season.  Brother of Bob.

ASTLES Tommy Known as ‘Carey’, he was reputed to be able to throw the ball as far as most could kick it.  A club stalwart from 1900, he was a deadly penalty taker and was still playing for Nantwich in 1908/09.  Is believed to have featured for Crewe Alexandra some time after the 1906/07 season.

ASTLEY John (Joe) (Defender)  (Defender)  Born Dudley, April 1899  5’10”, 12st.  

Signed for Manchester United from Cradley Heath in August 1924, making his debut in a 3-1 defeat at Bolton, 17/3/26.  Transferred to Notts County in June 1926, later moving to Nantwich, playing in the 1930 Cheshire Senior Cup Final defeat to Macclesfield.  Died October 1967.

ASTON Robert (Goalkeeper)  Born Stoke-on-Trent.  Part of the Stoke Boys side that reached the finals of English Schools Trophy, Bob featured for Stoke City's youth team before moving to Port Vale and then Hanley Town.  Whilst with Hanley, he provided cover for regular custodian Alan Ryder thanks to dual registration with the Potteries club; debuting in the 1-0 FA Cup replay win at Winterton Rangers, 3 September 1980.  His solitary League appearance for Nantwich came the following Saturday but Bob went on to serve Congleton Town (21 Lge & 9 Cup apps in 1983/84) and Leek Town before joining Gresley Rovers in September 1987 after a successful loan spell in April 1987.  After four seasons he joined Eastwood Hanley but returned to Gresley in July 1992.  Won the Manager’s Player of the Year Award, followed by the Players’ Player of the Year award in 1993/94.  In all, he made 400 appearances for Gresley, leaving the club in June 1995.  He also saw service at Oswestry Town and Welshpool.  A bricklayer by trade, a work injury ultimately meant he was unable to carry on playing football.

Les Ashcroft

1954/55 - 5 goals

1955/56 - 23 goals

1956/57 - 19 goals

1957/58 - 6 goals