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The former stars of Leek Town
Tony Bullock
The popular keeper was the main reason for our promotion in the 1996/7 season, keeping twelve consecutive clean sheets at the start of the season. Signed for Barnsley on deadline day for £30,000. Won the Player of the Season from the COPACABARNSLEY fanzine at the end of the 1998/9 campaign. | Has since played for Macclesfield Town, Lincoln City, and Ross County and is currently with Dundee United. Picture courtesy of the COPACABARNSLEY fanzine site Steve Soley
A 'box-to-box' player who ended up as our leading goalscorer two years running before being sold to Portsmouth for £30,000 during the 1998 close season. Failed to hold down a regular place and spent a month on loan at Macclesfield towards the end of the season. Had a short spell on loan with Carlisle United, scoring their winner on the opening day of the 1999/2000 season, before signing a three year contract with the Third Division side. | Steve was controversially released by the Cumbrians in 2002, and joined former manager Phil Wilson at Southport. Steve retired due to injury midway through he 2003/4 season. Picture courtesy of the Carlisle United home page and the Carlisle News & Star Hugh McAuley
A young striker with plenty of pace who was sold to Cheltenham for £20,000 during the 1999 close season. Hugh scored 9 times for the Robins before leaving on a free in March 2003 to join Third Division Kidderminster Harriers. Hugh is now playing for Forest Green Rovers in the Cnference.
| Neil Cutler
A popular keeper who came to Leek on loan from Crewe Alexandra. He replaced the infamous Ray Newlands for which we will be forever grateful. There was talk of him joining us on a permanent basis, but instead went on a further loan spell, this time to Stalybridge Celtic, where he was unable to prevent their relegation.
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Neil was the second-choice keeper at Chester City, before being spotted by Aston Villa. He spent some time at Villa Park behind David James and Pete Enckelman before joining Stoke City. Despite being first choice throughout the 2001/2 season, he was dropped after a run of 11 games without a win. Shortly after, Neil joined Swansea on loan and helped them avoid relegation from the Football League on the final day of the 2002/3 season.
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Honourable mentions
There are two other former stars who've made their mark
Mark Bright |
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A striker who played for The Blues in the early 1980s. Went to Port Vale on loan for a short spell, returned to Leek Town, then signed full-time for the Vale for £1000. Spent less than two seasons at Vale Park before being snapped up by Leicester City for £33,000. Didn't enjoy his spell at Filbert Street and signed for Crystal Palace for £75,000, where he formed a prolific partnership with Ian Wright.
From there, Mark moved to Sheffield Wednesday for £500,000 before ending his career at Charlton, making only a few appearences during their brief stay in the Premiership. Appears on Channel Four's Big Breakfast and Sky Sports Soccer AM on a fairly regular basis and seems certain to start work in the media now he has finally hung up his boots. Picture courtesy of the a Crystal Palace website which I can't find anymore! If you recognise the photo - email me. |
Neil Baker |
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Having joined as assistant manager in 1986, Neil Baker was thrust into the hot seat the following year after Kevin Lewis left to re-join Telford. Undoubtedly Leek Town's most successful manager ever, Bake took the club into the Northern Premier League Premier Division, guided them to second place and, most famously of all, took the club to Wembley for the first time in the final of the FA Trophy final.
After the disappointment of being turned down for a place in the Conference for financial reasons, Neil jumped at the chance to move into professional football when offered the chance to join Crewe Alex as assistant manager in 1995.
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