The Corby Town Football Club Squad 2008/09

MARK OSBORN

D.O.B: 18/6/81. An experienced goalkeeper who signed for Corby Town in July, 2008. Mark was born in Bletchley and his previous clubs include Wycombe Wanderers, Carshalton Athletic (on loan), Farnborough, Kettering Town, Histon and Halesowen Town.

LEE CROCKETT

Date of Birth: 4/10/87. A 20-year-old goalkeeper born in Peterborough. Lee joined Corby Town in January, 2008 from Boston United, for whom he played in the Conference North early in the 2007/08 season, as cover for Martin Davies. Was previously a scholar with Manchester United. Missed the opportunity to make his first team debut when Davies was injured because of a broken hand but came into the side for the final three games of the campaign.

DEAN WEST

Date of Birth: 5/12/72. A vastly experienced right back who joined Corby Town in July, 2008 after being an ever present in Kings Lynn’s championship winning side last season. Dean was born in Leeds and made his Football League debut for Lincoln City as a 17-year-old in May, 1991. He went on to play professionally for Bury, Burnley and Boston United before dropping out of the full time game to set up his own business.

MARK WARREN

Date of Birth: 12/11/74. A London-born defender who was capped by England at youth level. Mark joined Leyton Orient as a trainee in 1991 and made his Football League debut as an 18-year-old the following year. He went on to make 167 League and Cup appearances for Orient and also had a four-game loan spell with Oxford United in December, 1998 before moving on to Notts County in January, 1999. After scoring once in 98 appearances for the Magpies Mark joined Colchester United on a free transfer in August, 2002 but a long term groin injury sidelined him for the latter half of the 2002/03 season and he made just 21 appearances before being released at the end of the campaign. Next stop was Southend United and in March, 2004 he appeared at the Millenium Stadium in the LDV Vans Trophy Final, which Southend lost 0-2 to Blackpool. Mark then dropped into non-league football with Fisher Athletic and in the summer of 2006 he joined Kings Lynn. Last season he captained the Linnets to the British Gas Business Premier Division championship and it was a major coup when Graham Drury persuaded him to join Corby Town in June, 2008. A six foot tall defender, Mark is strong in the tackle and as captain is sure to lead by example.

WILL FORDHAM

Date of Birth: 19/4/83. A 25-year-old central defender who joined Corby Town from St Ives in the summer of 2008. He has scored over twenty goals from his defensive position in each of the last two seasons. Will was born in Cambridge.

PHILIP WATT

Date of Birth: 10/1/88. Central defender or left back who joined Corby Town on a month’s loan from Lincoln City in January 2008 and made his debut in a goalless draw at home to Chippenham Town. Phil had made two first team appearances for The Imps early last season and has also had two temporary spells with Grantham during the past two seasons. Has now been signed on a permanent basis after having his contract with Lincoln cancelled.

STEVEN JULIAN

Date of Birth: 23/5/83. A local lad who returned to the club in February 2008 from Stamford. Steven was originally a product of the Corby Hellenic Youth Football Club and he joined the Corby Town Youth system in 1998. He graduated through the reserves to make his first team debut as a 16-year-old during the 1999/2000 season, which he ended with four senior appearances to his name. In 2000/01 Steven made a further nineteen first team appearances and helped Northamptonshire win the F.A County Youth Cup for only the third time ever. Towards the end of that season, however, he left the Steelmen to join former Corby manager Lee Adam at Oadby Town. In 2002/03 he helped Oadby reach the F.A Vase semi finals before returning to the Rockingham Triangle during the summer of 2003. In 2003/04 he scored one goal in 43 appearances and was the choice of both the players and the supporters as Player of the Year. In December 2004 he followed manager Lee Glover to Grantham Town and remained with the Gingerbreads until Glover was sacked early in 2006/07 . Rob Dunion made an attempt to bring Steven back to Corby at that time but he opted to join Stamford Town instead. He appeared in several of our pre-season friendly fixtures last season but began the campaign back at Stamford.

MARK DUCKETT

Mark started his football career in the Stevenage Borough youth scheme, but whilst a student he played in Wales for Barry Town and Aberystwyth Town. He then appeared briefly for Hitchin Town and later played for Erith & Belvedere, Bedford Town, Arlesey Town and Hemel Hempstead Town. He returned to Hitchin in 2005 and joined Corby Town from the Canaries in May, 2008. A left sided player who can be used either in defence or midfield.

STEVE TOWERS

Date of Birth: 17/6/85. A 23-year-old attacking midfield player from Wigston. Steve was given his debut in senior football by former Corby Town manager Lee Adam at Oadby Town as a teenager and was Player of the Year at the Leicestershire club in 2003/04. He joined Rothwell Town in 2004 and was top scorer for the Bones in 2005/06. Steve originally arrived at the Rockingham Triangle during the summer of 2006 and despite playing in a struggling side he enjoyed an excellent first season as a Steelman. He was second top scorer with eight goals in 45 appearances and was voted Player of the Year. Last season he made just eleven appearances before being released by Kevin Wilson. He then joined Stamford, where he picked up another Player of the Year accolade at the end of the campaign, before making a welcome return to Corby Town in May, 2008.

OLLIE BURGESS

Began his career as a trainee with Queens Park Rangers before joining Northampton Town. Ollie then played for Basingstoke Town, Kettering Town and Nuneaton Borough before joining Hemel Hempstead Town in the summer of 2007. Last season he scored twelve goals from a wide position and was snapped up by Corby Town manager Graham Drury in May, 2008.

CHRIS GLARVEY

Date of Birth: 3/12/83. A 24 year old from Doncaster who can play either in defence or midfield. As a teenager Chris spent three years as an academy player with Sheffield United before joining Kings Lynn in May 2003. In December 2003 he moved on to Ilkeston Town and he also had a spell with Belper Town before joining Corby Town from Lincoln United in January 2008.

LEON HIBBERT

D.O.B: 6/11/81. A strong tackling midfield player born in Watford. Leon came up through the youth ranks at Tring Town and then joined Hemel Hempstead Town. Aged 26, he stands 6’4” tall and last season made 33 appearances for Barton Rovers. He joined Corby Town in June, 2008.

MARTIN WORMALL

Date of Birth: 21/6/79. A Grantham-born striker who joined Corby Town from Stamford in January 2008. After making his name in local football Martin continued his goalscoring form in the United Counties League with Harrowby United and the Southern League with Stamford, where he was leading scorer in 2006/07. Has also had a couple of brief spells with Grantham Town.

RICKI BAINS

A Coventry-born central defender who began his career with Coventry City. Following his release by the Sky Blues in 2006 he had a trial spell with Cardiff City and then joined Accrington Stanley. He also had a loan spell with Leek Town before joining Tamworth in January 2007. He ended last season out on loan to Kings Lynn and joined Corby Town in August 2008.

LEE HILDRETH

Joined the Steelmen from Blue Square North side Tamworth in October 2008. Hildreth is a former Coventry City player who joined the Sky Blues aged eight and captained their under-18 side to Senior Cup success last season. He also made one first team appearance before being released in the summer by manager Chris Coleman. Described as a box-to-box midfielder player he has brought more tenacity to the engine room.

STEVE TOWERS

A 23-year-old attacking midfield player from Leicester. Joined Oadby Town as a teenager and was Player of the Year at the Leicestershire club in 2003/04. Joined Rothwell Town in 2004 and was top scorer for the Bones in 2005/06. Joined Corby Town in 2006 and was voted Player of the Year. Joined Stamford in 2007 where he picked up another Player of the Year accolade and then made the trip back to the Rockingham Triangle with manager Graham Drury in May 2008.

DEAN BRENNAN

Signed from Halesowen in October 2008. Brennan (28) is a former Republic of Ireland youth international who lists Sheffield Wednesday, Luton Town, Stevenage Borough, AFC Wimbledon and Grays Athletic among his previous clubs. A prolific goalscorer Brennan scored 28 goals for Halesowen last season.

STEVE DIGGIN

D.O.B: 2/11/87. A young Northampton-born striker signed in June, 2007 from Cogenhoe United, where he was a prolific goal scorer the previous season. To date he has an impressive strike rate for the Steelmen and was our top scorer last season with thirty goals. This form earned him both the Supporters Player of the Year and Players Player of the Year awards Was previously with Kings Lynn.

MATT NOLAN

Date of Birth: 25/7/82. A Hitchin-born striker who started out in the youth team at his local club before signing for Peterborough United. He had loan spells with St Albans City and Cambridge City before leaving Posh to join Cambridge United. In December, 2005 he moved to Kings Lynn and last season he scored 17 goals in the Linnets’ championship success. Matt joined Corby Town in June, 2008.

JON STEVENSON

Date of Birth: 13/10/82. A 5’6” tall striker who joined his home-town team, Leicester City, as a trainee and was signed on a professional contract in March, 2001. He scored twice in twelve first team appearances for the Foxes and was involved in their successful 2002/03 campaign when they gained promotion to the Premiership as Division One runners up. Jon was released at the end of that season, however, and subsequently had a spell with Swindon Town before dropping into non-league football with Alfreton Town. He has also played for Tamworth and Boston United and signed for Corby Town in July, 2008.

LEON METTAM

Date of Birth: 9/12/86. A 21-year-old forward who was born in Lincoln and began his senior career with Lincoln City. Leon joined Stamford during the summer of 2007 and his former Daniels boss Graham Drury had to pay a fee to bring him to Corby in February 2008. Unfortunately he spent some time last season sidelined by an ankle injury he received on his Steelmen debut.

MATT O'HALLORAN

D.O.B: 18/11/82. A midfield player who joined Corby Town in June, 2008. Matt began his career with Derby County and has also played for Oldham Athletic, Chesterfield, Boston United and Kings Lynn.

GRAHAM DRURY (Manager)

Date of Birth: 20/4/71. Graham played in the Notts Alliance, Leicester Senior League with Harrowby United and Bourne Town in the United Counties League. He began his managerial career with Sunday side Harrowby Athletic and in seven years with them he won a total of sixteen trophies. He also led Bottesford to promotion in the Notts Alliance before having a successful four-year stint with Harrowby United in the U.C.L. During his time with the Arrows he steered them into the Premier Division for the first time in their history. Graham was appointed manager of Stamford in May, 2005 and in his first season with the Daniels he led them to promotion to the Southern League Premier Division via the Division One Play-Offs. In 2006/07 Stamford finished in a creditable eighth position in the Premier Division but Graham’s team building plans for the 2007/08 campaign were thrown into disarray when the club was switched to the Unibond League. After a difficult start Stamford got to grips with their new surroundings and by the time Graham and his assistant Paul Holden switched to Corby Town in January, 2008 the Daniels were ninth in the table.

PAUL HOLDEN MBE (Assistant Manager)

Paul was born in Chichester, West Sussex 49 years ago and began his football career as an associate schoolboy with Portsmouth F.C in 1972. He stepped up to the rank of apprentice professional before leaving the professional game to take up a career in the British Army in 1975. During a military career which spanned over twenty years Paul served in the Army Physical Training Corps and attained the rank of Warrant Officer Class One (RSM). As well as representing the Army at football he also played for a number of non-league clubs. After moving into coaching he had spells as first team coach at Bognor Regis Town and Kingstonian and was manager at Camberley Town (two spells), Walton & Hersham and Fleet Town. Paul has also been Director of Coaching for the Kent F.A, Director of Football for the Gibralta F.A – which included undertaking the role of national team coach – and Academy Director at Crystal Palace F.C. At Palace he was responsible for the complete management of the club’s Academy incorporating the specific role as youth team coach. Other duties included reserve team manager and Director for Technical Development. After leaving Crystal Palace in 2004 Paul became the Football League’s Youth Development Monitor for the South East Region. He teamed up with Graham Drury at Stamford last season and arrived at Corby along with Drury in January. He was awarded the MBE for Services to Football in the New Years Honours list in 1997. Away from football Paul enjoys all sports, country living and playing the saxophone.