Wednesday 6 May 2015

Where are they now?

As our Football League life ends, I would like to try and keep up to date the current whereabouts of this list of our Football League players, and a few others who were at the club, but didn't quite make it on to the field.
Below is the list and where they are as far as I know, but any errors/additions/changes would be very welcome indeed, either to me on Twitter, @MarkHalliwell1 or email halliwellmark0@gmail.com.
Information from Google, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, football club websites and the darkest recesses of my brain. If it is wrong and you know better, let me know. Thanks.

Scott Brown - Aberdeen
Jamie Victory - coaching at CTFC
Shane Higgs - last known at Northampton
David Bird - lives in Ross-on-Wye. Last club Cinderford Town
John Finnigan - Sports Development Officer at Winchcombe School
Michael Duff - Burnley
Mark Yates - manager, Crawley Town
Grant McCann - assistant manager, Peterborough United, retired from playing June 2015
Shane Duff - living in Cheltenham, runs soccer schools
Jerry Gill - under-18s manager, Norwich City
Steve Book - part-time goalkeeping coach, CTFC
Steve Elliott - coach, CTFC
Martin Devaney - Academy coach, Barnsley FC
Michael Townsend - retired from playing through injury
Damian Spencer - last known living in Windsor area
Julian Alsop - living in Cheltenham
Lee Howells - manager, Bath City
Chris Banks - physio, Stoke City
JJ Melligan - played for Hinckley AFC in 2014-15
Gavin Caines - last known playing at Rushall Olympic
Marlon Pack - Bristol City, offered new contract at end of 2014-15
Brian Wilson - Oldham Athletic
Andy Gallinagh - Bath City
Keith Lowe - York City
Russell Milton - assistant manager, CTFC
Sido Jombati - Wycombe Wanderers
Neil Howarth - head of operation and player analysis, Bury FC
Josh Low - solicitor at Clarke Willmott LLP, Bristol
Kayode Odejayi – signed for Stockport County, summer 2015
Matt Richards - released by CTFC, summer 2015
Russell Penn - York City
Craig Armstrong - Academy coach, Nottingham Forest FC
Jermaine McGlashan - Gillingham
John Brough - manager, Cinderford Town
Troy Brown - released by CTFC, summer 2015
Steve Guinan - coach educator for the Professional Footballers Association
Neil Grayson - retired from playing aged 50, May 2015
Craig Braham-Barrett - released by CTFC, summer 2015
Hugh McAuley - lives in North West. Founded Innovation Cars Limited.
Antony Griffin
Richard Walker - Business development manager at Inchcape Mercedes Benz, Nottingham
Steven Gillespie - left Altrincham end of 2014-15, signed for Warrington Town
Kaid Mohamed - released by Port Vale, summer 2015
Tony Naylor
Danny Andrew - Fleetwood
Mark Freeman
Alan Bennett - Cork City
Byron Harrison - Chesterfield
Lee Ridley - Bottesford Town, start of 2014-15 season
Ashley Vincent - Shrewsbury Town
Michael Pook - Account manager, Procurri, Swindon
Jeff Goulding - last known at Dover Athletic
Jason Taylor - Northampton
Alan Wright - last known as manager of Southport, left Dec 2013
Paul Connor - Shildon FC
Trevor Carson - Hartlepool United, signed summer 2015
Sam Deering - Whitehawk
Drissa Diallo
Andy Lindegaard - CEO Dymond Strength
Lee Williams - last known as assistant manager of Leamington, 2012
Brian Smikle - last known at Stourbridge, 2014-15 season
Wes Thomas - Birmingham City
Justin Richards - Sutton Coldfield Town
Terry Gornell - Accrington Stanley
Billy Jones - Gloucester City
Frankie Artus - Bath City
Luke Summerfield - York City
Barry Hayles – signed for Chesham United, summer 2015
Paul Brayson - last known at Newcastle Benfield, Feb 2014
Luke Garbutt - Everton
Elvis Hammond - Kingstonian during 2014-15 season
Matt Taylor - CTFC, transfer listed, summer 2015
Lee Vaughan - CTFC, transfer listed, summer 2015
Alex Russell - left role as Tranmere assistant manager, Oct 2014
Shaun Harrad - released by Notts County, summer 2015
Darryl Duffy - Salgaocar, India
Richard Forsyth - PE teacher in Bromsgrove area
Jimmy Spencer - Notts County
Darren Carter - released by Northampton, summer 2015
Ashley Eastham - Rochdale
Martin Riley - Tranmere Rovers, signed summer 2015
David Noble - Exeter City
Jack Butland - Stoke City
Jamie Cureton - Dagenham and Redbridge
Ian Westlake - Needham Market
Bob Taylor
Chris Zebroski - jailed for four years, four months, April 2015
David Hutton - Biggleswade Town
Michael Taylor - last known at Marine FC
Theo Lewis - Ebbsfleet United
Michael Hector - Reading
Joe Hanks - CTFC
Graham Fyfe - player coach Redlands United, Queensland, Australia as at May 2014
Lloyd Owusu - lives in Australia, retired from football Feb 2015
Matt Thornhill - last known at Buxton FC
Paul Benson - Luton Town
Kane Ferdinand - transfer listed by Peterborough United, summer 2015
Adam Connolly - Gloucester City
Michael D'Agostino - Lives in Cologne, Germany. Co-owner and promoter of Vancouver Futsal, Canada
Dean Sinclair - Hampton and Richmond Borough, new contract summer 2015
Steve Brooker - last known at Buxton FC, 2012
Darren Jones – signed for Forest Green Rovers, summer 2015
Wes Burns - Bristol City
Scott Brown (midfielder) - Grimsby Town
Jack Deaman - CTFC, transfer listed summer 2015
Medy Elito – Newport County, signed summer 2015
Darren Kenton - last known living in USA, last known club Rochester Rhinos
Michael Ihiekwe - Tranmere Rovers
Jennison Myrie-Williams - released by Scunthorpe United summer 2015
Mickey Bell - last managerial role was at Weston-s-Mare, left Nov 2014
Scott Murray - kitman, Bristol City, played for Shepton Mallet FC in 2015
Jordan Wynter - CTFC
Marvin Brown - Academy Director at Pro Soccer Academy, Calne, Wilts
Kevin Amankwaah - last known at Salisbury City, 2014
Joss Labadie - Dagenham and Redbridge (serving 6-month ban from April 2015)
Matt Sparrow -  signed for Lincoln City, summer 2015
Matt Green – signed for Mansfield Town, summer 2015
Greg Goodridge - last known in Barbados, player coach of Brittons Hill United
Mark Sertori - soft tissue therapist at Manchester City, and for the senior England team
Zack Kotwica - CTFC
Omari Sterling-James - CTFC, transfer listed summer 2015
Kyle Haynes - Worcester City
Josh Payne – signed for Eastleigh, summer 2015
Chris Westwood - Hednesford Town during 2014-15 season
Jason White - Financial adviser in Hong Kong
Marley Watkins - Joined Barnsley, summer 2015
Nicholas Bignall - Basingstoke Town
John Marquis - Millwall
Mathieu Manset  - released by CTFC, summer 2015
Durrell Berry  - released by CTFC, summer 2015
Karl Henry – QPR, new contract summer 2015
Alan Morgan - last known at Musselburgh Athletic
Pablo Mills - released by Bury, summer 2015
Steve Jones - Was Bishop's Cleeve player/assistant manager around 2011/12
Raffa de Vita - Ross County, new contract summer 2015
Kemar Roofe – signed for Oxford United, summer 2015
Michail Antonio - Nottingham Forest
Charlie McDonald – signed for Boreham Wood, summer 2015
Jake Taylor - Reading
David Pipe - Forest Green Rovers
Aaron Lescott - last known at Halesowen Town
Bertie Cozic - French property investment consultant
Carl Muggleton - Goalkeeping coach at Northampton/driving instructor
Yuri Berciche - Real Sociedad
Mitch Brundle - Braintree
Bob Bloomer - works for the Football League, youth academy inspector
Harry Williams - CTFC
Eliot Richards - CTFC
Ben Burgess - Primary school teacher in Blackpool
Ben Marshall - Blackburn Rovers
Stuart Fleetwood – signed for Sutton United, summer 2015
Jason Brissett
Danny Haynes  - released by CTFC, summer 2015
Harry Hooman
Lloyd Jones - Liverpool
Chris Freestone - FA skills team leader for Leicestershire and Northants and coach of the England under-23 LD (learning difficulties) squad
Kris O'Leary - coach, Swansea City
Lewis Montrose - released by York City, summer 2015
Jack Dunn - Liverpool
Will Packwood - released by Birmingham City, summer 2015
Dale Watkins
Michael Wylde - last known at Alfreton Town 2013-14
Robin Shroot - Sogndal, Norway
Leon Constantine - Consultant for BH Sports Agency
Denny Johnstone - Birmingham City
James Wilson - Oldham Athletic
James Wesolowski - Shrewsbury Town
Holmar Orn Eyjolfsson -Rosenborg BK, Norway
Daryl Clare - last known as assistant manager of Boston Town, 2014
Oliver Bozanic - Luzern, Switzerland
Kevin Stewart - Liverpool
Shaun Jeffers – signed for Yeovil Town, summer 2015
Jonny Hayes - Aberdeen
Jake Thomson - last known at Bognor Regis Town
Greg Strong – appointed chief scout at Plymouth Argyle, July 2015
Denes Rosa - last known at Ferencvaros, 2012
Connor Goldson - Shrewsbury Town
Jake Gray - Crystal Palace
Shaq McDonald- Derby County
Steve MacLean - St Johnstone
Michael Rose - Rochdale
Mark Jones
Aaron Brown - last known at Weston-s-Mare 2014
Paul Black - Atlanta Silverbacks, USA
Sos Yao -last known at Tooting and Mitcham, 2012
Craig Reid - Kidderminster
Michael Jackson - postman in Cheltenham
Ben Cleverley - Shepton Mallet FC
Guy Madjo - last club Tranmere, left Jan 2015
Martyn Lee - works as a floor tiler in Woking (2012)
Keith Hill - manager, Rochdale FC
Chris Iwelumo - retired from football, Oct 2014
Jake Lee - Shortwood United
Peter Hynes - last known at Longford Town, 2013-14
Louis Almond - Southport
Eusebio Bancessi - Wolves
Andy Smith - last known at Crusaders FC, Jan 2014
Michael Simpkins - last known at Belper Town, 2011
Lee Lucas - Swansea
Ryan Inniss - Crystal Palace
Billy Daniels - Notts County
Nathan Tyson - Doncaster Rovers
Gareth Hopkins - physio for Glos NHS
Bagasan Graham - last known at Dulwich Hamlet, early 2014-15 season
Koby Arthur - Birmingham City
James Bowen - CTFC
Bobbie Dale - CTFC
Lawson D'Ath - Northampton Town
Marcus Jones - last known in Scarborough area, 2008
Tom Denton - North Ferriby United
Ian Stevens
Lathanial Rowe-Turner – Kidderminster Harriers, signed summer 2015
Romone Rose - Marlow FC
Will Puddy - Bristol Rovers
Sam Cox - Boreham Wood
Connor Roberts - Chester
Asa Hall - CTFC
Ben Gill - Business Development manager at BPL Broadcast, Uxbridge
Rob Elvins - Worcester City
Andy Haworth – signed for Barrow, summer 2015
Phil Walsh - Bath City
Chris Murphy - last known at Daventry Town, 2013
Jack Durrant - Principal Consultant at Hays, Bristol
Gary Bradshaw - Scarborough Athletic
Graham Ward - IT Support Analyst in Walsall
Craig Dobson
Bobby Reid - Plymouth Argyle
Luke McCullough - Doncaster Rovers
Aaron Ledgister - Postman. Last known playing for Chippenham Park FC
Marlon Jackson - last known at Oxford City
Ashley Hemmings - Dagenham and Redbridge
Josh Emery – signed for Hereford FC, summer 2015
Luke Corbett - last known at Evesham United, 2013
Jamal Lawrence - CTFC, transfer listed, summer 2015

Players named on the bench for a Football League game, who did not come on
Nicky Marker - manager, Ivybridge Town FC
Stuart Mitchinson - Cheltenham Civil Service FC
Lee Burby - Personal trainer in Gloucester
Luke Buttery - Personal trainer in Toronto, Canada
Craig Humphries - last known at Malvern Town
Sam Foley - signed two-year contract at Port Vale, summer 2015
Joe Perry - Mangotsfield United
Shane Paul - Business Manager at Grouptrader Networks Ltd
Lewis Fathers
Cathal Tosh
Dean Maynard - living in Wales. There is a Dean Maynard in the Welsh Futsal squad.
Josh Quaynor - last known at South Adelaide FC, Australia, Nov 2014
Barry Richardson - goalkeeping coach at Wycombe Wanderers
Dan Lloyd-Weston - last known at Southport, 2014-15
Harvey Rivers - joining Hereford FC for 2015-16 season
Matt Gould - released by CTFC, summer 2015
Harry Reynolds - released by CTFC, summer 2015
Danny Reynolds - released by CTFC, summer 2015

Professionals or loanees who did not make it onto the bench for a league game
Steve Benbow - Bishop's Cleeve
Marc Richards - Gloucester City
Christian Brutschin
Richard Kear - Lydney Town
Tommy Manship - last known at Hyde FC
Ajet Shehu - Ware FC
Kiernan Hughes-Mason - Leatherhead
Ethan Moore - Cinderford Town
Ed Williams - Cirencester Town
Toby Ajala - Torquay United
Adam Powell - playing for Broadbeach United in Australia, Gold Coast

Scholars given a squad number but never selected for the match-day squad
Lee Davis
Reece Daly - released by CTFC, summer 2015
Greg Lewis - last known at Cinderford Town, 2014
Scott Musgrove
Michael Whittington - last known at Stockwood Green FC, Dec 2014
Kieran Thomas - Cinderford Town

Player given a squad number and listed in the programme for one game - but never actually signed for us
Luke Rooney – joined Crawley Town, summer 2015


Tuesday 5 May 2015

Clearing the decks

IN recent weeks, the interviews Gary Johnson has given have dropped hints, some subtle and some not so, that he isn't exactly a fan of some of the players he inherited.
So now he has taken the opportunity to wield the axe with some ruthlessness - and the cuts have gone further and deeper than I had expected.
With the eight out of contract players, I suspect it was a pretty easy decision for him.
He needs to get the budget down and leave himself some scope to bring in new players, so the players I suspect are the highest earners in this group had to go.
Matt Richards and Craig Braham-Barrett will not be missed by the vast majority of Cheltenham fans.
They are the pair who will go down in history as being synonymous with the fall from a play-off team to the a Conference side in their two seasons with us.
Richards still has the odd supporter among the fanbase, but I don't think I have ever known a player who is so universally disliked as Braham-Barrett seems to be, so the fans will bid these two a relieved farewell, and hope that is the last they will see of them in red and white.
Their departures will be positively celebrated in some quarters if their 'reception' during last Saturday's game at AFC Wimbledon is anything to go by.
Troy Brown is another who is a mainstay of the past two seasons, and now has the dubious distinction of having two relegations on his CV, and along with CBB has been a regular in a defence which totally lost the ability to keep a clean sheet.
Andy Haworth was also inevitable having made five sub appearances all season then been farmed off to Barrow for the rest of the season - where he was also a bit-part player as they won Conference North.
The stop-gap attackers Danny Haynes and Mathieu Manset are also on their way, Haynes after a tantalising one-game show of talent against Cambridge which promised more but was followed by injury.
Manset meanwhile was frustratingly never fully fit it seemed, and was unable to add any end product to some at-times promising hold-up and build-up play, so both will continue their wanderings.
Matt Gould never got a game, and maybe there was a case to keep him as a cheap number two keeper option, especially with scholar Harry Reynolds not being taken on, but Johnson has opted against.
That leaves Durrell Berry, who goes down in history as our last Football League goalscorer. He is the only one of the eight I would seriously have considered keeping. I think he is a half-decent defender and would do well at our new level.
It is interesting that the door may yet be open for 'one or two' on reduced terms if they can't find another club and want to come back in pre-season. I would say Berry is favourite to be one of those - but I, along with many others I suspect, would hope that CBB, Brown or Richards are definitely not on that list.
With 14 under contract, it was also inevitable that some would be made available, but I must confess I didn't envisage there being as many as six transfer listed.
Trevor Carson's name was always going to appear and he confirmed that playing in the Conference was not top of his wishlist, along with being 250 miles away from his family. A shame, as he would be a major asset behind (hopefully) a decent defence for a change, but perfectly understandable. There will surely be takers.
Matt Taylor was brought in as our skipper and leader and failed pretty miserably on both counts. Certainly nowhere near an Alan Bennett or Russ Penn in the 'captain and leader' stakes.
His fitness is ropey as he broke down time and again, and the offer of a two-year contract last summer was another of Mark Yates' poor recruitment decisions.
There is also the decision to go to a family wedding on Easter Saturday as the club he is the captain of had an important training session - which maybe showed where his priorities were.
I hope there are clubs out there who will take him from us - unless he decides his fitness battle is one he can't win long-term. I have to say I won't miss him too much as he has been a disappointment.
Lee Vaughan has some fans out there, mainly for his heart-on-the-sleeve attitude and sympathy for his treatment by Paul Buckle, and has Conference pedigree with Kidderminster.
But he was dropped in favour of Berry by two managers during the season and, again, I suspect is towards the top end of the pay scale. Mansfield wanted him earlier in the season, so again I would expect clubs to show an interest.
Jack Deaman started the season well, but he really struggled later on in the campaign with mistakes being highlighted as they led to goals, such as the penalty against Stevenage, and he was poor at Wycombe and Northampton as well.
That leaves Omari Sterling-James and Jamal Lawrence, and - along with Vaughan - these are the ones which have caused the most surprise.
In Omari's case, he has not featured much under Johnson - only two sub appearances - which might tell where he stands.
I think there is something there - but what is his position? I don't see him as a winger, taking players on and getting crosses in, nor as a central striker or a central midfielder.
But if we are going to have a squad of 20, they need to be 'ready' and maybe Johnson doesn't feel Omari and Lawrence are ready - feeling that he can't carry 'potential' in a reduced squad.
I thought Lawrence did well when he came on at AFCW. He looked stronger than I thought he was and I hope that the door isn't totally shut on him and Omari - maybe if no-one comes in they might get a shot in pre-season.
In Lawrence's case (remember he is contracted to 2017) perhaps a loan at Cirencester or Gloucester maybe for six months might be what he needs - but again it's a money issue and Johnson needs to cut the cloth.
I just hope that if these two do leave, we aren't talking about them in the same way as Marley Watkins and Sam Foley in a few year's time. Guess that's the risk we have to take at this time. It's a shame though.
Remember of course that all six of the above are still under contract and have only been listed. That doesn't mean they will all go and they could still play a part - but by listing them Johnson clearly doesn't see them as being in his plans long-term.
Then we have the three players awaiting their final fate.
Asa Hall's four-minute appearance at Bury will, I believe, go down as the shortest League playing time of anyone in our 747 games at that level.
Gary will not have had the chance to see him train or play at all in the flesh so to speak, so needs to do that before he can make a decision on him.
Personally I feel a fit Hall would do well in the Conference, but as with everything else it comes down to money, and I think he might find himself made available.
I hope we persevere with Jordan Wynter but play him as a central midfield player and not a right winger - and the fact that Gary did play him before his injury might bode well for him.
That leaves Eliot Richards, and first and foremost we hope that he makes a full recovery from his illness.
I think he would do a good job for us in the Conference - but again, like Omari earlier, what is his best position? Central striker? Winger? Advanced midfielder in a three?
We can't be sentimental about him I am afraid, and keep him just because he has had this terrible illness to deal with. Gary has to be hard-headed and decide what is best for the club and for his budget.
So with eight all but gone, six listed, three in limbo and four loanees gone back to their clubs (Sparrow, Harrad, Burns and Packwood) who is left?
Well, five players have survived the carnage intact - and they now have a massive chance ahead of them next season.
Joe Hanks is at the forefront of these and he looks set to finally play a big part in the side as a first-team regular.
I see Joe playing as a midfield 'sitter'. I feel he lacks the pace and mobility to be a box to box player, but he can tackle, has a good range of passing and can take a set-piece as well as being capable of getting in to shooting positions and scoring goals.
Harry Williams is another who could grasp the opportunity. He has done well at Conference North level, and now it is time to step up.
A big summer awaits him, and he needs to spend it in the gym, and as Johnson has said "summer well, and come back as a man in July."
He has shown signs of potential in his League Two appearances without quite being able to find a goal or two to finish things off, and that is what he needs to do next season.
Bobbie Dale is in the same boat as his mate Harry. He worked hard on Saturday but was fed on scraps - however there were some good little bits of link-up with Harry, Zack Kotwica, Joe Hanks and James Bowen when he was on. His work-rate was good, but like Harry he now needs to kick on and deliver next season.
Ditto again for Bowen, who showed again in his outing on Saturday that he has no fear and in my view has all the attributes to be a success - I like his attitude and hope he gets a crack of the whip next season, either as a left-back of a left winger as I think he is equally capable in both roles.
Kotwica is another for whom this is a massive opportunity now. Johnson has shown faith in him during his spell in charge so far and that faith needs to be repaid.
We need to see Zack really affecting games next season. He needs to be positive, take players on and create chances for the forwards as well as looking to score goals himself.
At times, we have seen that he has the ability to do that, but too often we have seen him look sideways of backwards.
We need to be see the positive side more consistently, he needs to shake off the 'promising youngster' tag and really start making a name for himself.
So having cleared the decks, it's time to see what rabbits Johnson can pull out of the hat this summer.
He has clearly backed his wheeling and dealing skills to be able to put a squad together on the budget he has been given - otherwise he would have walked away.
How many he brings in of course depends on how many of the six listed and he can shift out and if any of the three in limbo follow them, but he has to strengthen all over the field of course.
We need a new back five who can keep clean sheets, a new front two to help get the 90-odd goals Johnson says we need to have a chance of going back up, wingers who can help supply the ammunition for these 90 goals, midfielders who can do likewise and maybe score a few themselves.
Add to that, these players need a team ethic, and we need leadership qualities and a hunger to help get this club back to where we feel it belongs, in the Football League.  Oh yes, and all on a reduced budget. All the best then Gary!
Names will be floating around like wildfire in the next few weeks. In fact, it's already started, with some clubs also clearing the decks for the summer rebuild.
But remember. Money is tighter than ever now, and targets who were viable for us as a League Two club maybe less so now from a financial point of view as well as the level we are now playing at.
Down the road, Forest Green let six players go yesterday, and among them were Sam Russell, Chris Stokes and James Norwood, a trio who I am sure many CTFC fans would not be against Johnson trying to sign.
But bear in mind FGR's budget was bigger than ours was last season - let alone this - and when Johnson had Stokes on trial at Yeovil last season he was not taken on partly because his wages were out of the club's reach.
So Johnson's wheeling and dealing skills are really going to be put to the test, and we have to back his judgement and ability to find the right players and not to repeat the recruitment horrors of the past two summers.
Good luck Gary.