Daniel Mitchley (born 7 October 1989) is an English footballer who plays as a forward for City of Liverpool.

Danny Mitchley
Personal information
Date of birth (1989-10-07) 7 October 1989 (age 35)
Place of birth Liverpool, England
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
City of Liverpool
Youth career
2002–2005 Skelmersdale United
2005–2006 Oldham Athletic
2006 Wigan Athletic
2006–2008 Blackpool
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008–2010 Blackpool 2 (0)
2009Southport (loan) 7 (0)
2009Burscough (loan) 5 (0)
2010Wrexham (loan) 6 (0)
2010 Burscough 1 (0)
2010–2012 Mansfield Town 17 (5)
2011Nuneaton Town (loan) 18 (2)
2012–2013 Altrincham 7 (0)
2012Marine 4 (2)
2013Kendal Town (loan) 11 (10)
2013–2014 Kendal Town 38 (26)
2014–2015 Skelmersdale United 56 (35)
2015–2019 Marine 178 (81)
2019–2020 Radcliffe 10 (1)
2019–2020Witton Albion (loan) 10 (2)
2020–2022 Skelmersdale United
2023– City of Liverpool
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:25, 9 December 2021 (UTC)

Career

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From youth team to first team at Blackpool

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Born in Liverpool, Mitchley played at Skelmersdale United until he was 15 years old. He then spent one season with the Oldham Athletic Centre of Excellence, followed by a short spell with Wigan Athletic's Centre of Excellence, before joining Blackpool, where he became a regular starter for the youth team in the Football League Youth Alliance, North West Conference.[1]

By December 2007 Mitchley had scored 25 goals in just twelve matches for Blackpool's youth and reserve teams, and despite only just having turned eighteen, Blackpool manager Simon Grayson stated that he was "not frightened of throwing him into the action if I need to." Mitchley had been training with the first-team squad and had already travelled with them when he was included in the squad that went to Scunthorpe United.[2] Grayson also confirmed that Mitchley would be training with the first team over the Christmas period and that he was close to a first team call up.[3] By February 2008, Mitchley had scored 35 goals for the youth and reserve team in the 2007–08 season. However, he then suffered a broken foot, which kept him out of action for the rest of the season.[1]

On 4 March 2008 Mitchley was offered his first professional contract, together with youth-team captain, Ashton Bayliss.[4] On 6 May he won two awards at the club's annual presentation night: the Blackpool Supporters Association Young Player of the Year, and the Chris Muir Memorial Trophy for Young Player.[5]

He made his return from injury on 15 October 2008 in a reserve-team match at Burnley.[1] He was then included in the Blackpool squad for the first time in the Championship home match against Derby County on 21 October 2008, but was an unused substitute as the Seasiders won 3–2.[6] Four days later, he made his professional debut when he came on as a late second-half substitute in the 89th minute for Gary Taylor-Fletcher at Bloomfield Road in a 2–2 draw with Crystal Palace.[7]

Mitchley started the 2009–10 season with Blackpool and was twice an unused substitute. Firstly in the Seasiders 2–1 League Cup victory over Crewe Alexandra at Gresty Road on 11 August 2009. Then again on 15 August in a 1–1 draw with Cardiff City at Bloomfield Road. Mitchley spent most spells of 2009 and 2010 on loan at various lower league clubs. He was released by Blackpool in June 2010.

Loan moves whilst at Blackpool

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On 27 March 2009, Mitchley signed for Conference North side Southport on loan for the rest of the 2008–09 season.[8][9] He made his debut as a substitute the following day in the Sandgrounders 3–2 win over Stafford Rangers at Haig Avenue. He made a total of seven league appearances for Southport.

On 18 August 2009 he was loaned out to Northern Premier League side Burscough, along with fellow Blackpool player Mark Halstead. He made his debut on 22 August in a 0–4 home defeat to King's Lynn at Victoria Park.[10] After two more substitute appearances, Mitchley made his full debut on 15 September in a 0–1 home loss to Stocksbridge Park Steels.[11]

On 25 March 2010, Mitchley joined Conference National side Wrexham on a one-month loan deal.[12] He made his debut two days later in a 3–0 win over Histon at the Racecourse Ground.

Non-league

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On 27 October 2010, Burscough announced that they have captured the signing of Mitchley. He had a trial with Mansfield Town prior to him re-joining Burscough. He began his second stint at Burscough with a 3–2 defeat against FC Halifax Town.

Mitchley signed for Mansfield Town in November 2010 and scored on his debut against Forest Green Rovers, however was on the losing side, going down 2–1. He was originally released by Mansfield in May 2011, with still a year left on his contract, however he returned in the pre-season. Mansfield boss Paul Cox stated that Mitchley did not feature in his plans for 2011–12.[13]

He joined Nuneaton Town on loan, and after scoring twice on his debut in the FA Cup, he failed to score again in 18 league appearances. He signed for Altrincham in the summer of 2012.[14] Having struggled to break into the first team at Altrincham with only a handful of first team appearances, he went out on a 1-month loan spell to Marine.[15] After returning to Altrincham, he had a second loan spell, this time at Kendal Town, where he scored on his debut.[16]

Leaving Marine after four seasons,[17] Mitchley moved to Radcliffe FC in the summer 2019.[18] On 20 December 2019, he was loaned out to Witton Albion for one month.[19] The deal was later extended for one mont further and he returned to Radcliffe on 20 February 2020.[20]

In August 2020, he re-signed for Skelmersdale United of the North West Counties Football League, having spent five years away from the club.[citation needed]

Career statistics

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As of 27 May 2011
Club performance League Cup League Cup Total
Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
England League FA Cup League Cup Total
2008–09 Blackpool Championship 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
2008–09 Southport (loan) Conference North 7 0 0 0 7 0
2009–10 Burscough (loan) Northern Premier League Premier Division 5 0 0 0 5 0
2009–10 Wrexham (loan) Conference National 1 0 0 0 1 0
2010–11 Burscough Northern Premier League Premier Division 1 0 0 0 1 0
2010–11 Mansfield Town Conference National 17 2 0 3 17 2
Career total 33 2 0 5 0 0 33 2

Honours

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Blackpool
Mansfield Town

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Young Pretender – Mitchley looks to build on matchday experience and impress the manager". Up the Pool. 2008–09 season (Blackpool vs Crystal Palace). Blackpool: Blackpool: 72–73. 25 October 2008.
  2. ^ "Hot shot kid on brink of call-up". Blackpool Gazette. 18 December 2007. Retrieved 23 December 2007.
  3. ^ "Grayson tempted by Mitchley". Blackpool Gazette. 18 December 2007. Retrieved 23 December 2007.
  4. ^ "Pro deal for Pool starlet". Blackpool Gazette. 4 March 2008. Retrieved 4 March 2008.
  5. ^ "Pool Player of Year revealed". Blackpool Gazette. 7 May 2008. Retrieved 7 May 2008.
  6. ^ "Team News". Blackpool. 21 October 2008. Archived from the original on 29 February 2012. Retrieved 21 October 2008.
  7. ^ "Match report, Blackpool vs Crystal Palace". Blackpool. 25 October 2008. Archived from the original on 14 January 2009. Retrieved 25 October 2008.
  8. ^ "Young Striker Heads Out on Loan". Blackpool. 27 March 2009. Archived from the original on 31 March 2009. Retrieved 27 March 2009.
  9. ^ "Southport FC sign Danny Mitchley on loan from Blackpool". Southport Visiter. 27 March 2009. Retrieved 27 March 2009.
  10. ^ Leatherbarrow, Neil (22 August 2009). "Wrong Time Wrong Place". Burscough F.C. Retrieved 23 August 2009. [permanent dead link]
  11. ^ Leatherbarrow, Neil (15 September 2009). "Linnets look Tired". Burscough F.C. Retrieved 30 September 2009. [permanent dead link]
  12. ^ "Dean signs Blackpool striker on loan". Wrexham A.F.C. 25 March 2010. Archived from the original on 3 October 2011. Retrieved 25 March 2010.
  13. ^ "Mitchley Released by Stags". Football Conference. Archived from the original on 19 March 2012. Retrieved 27 May 2011.
  14. ^ "Alty Move For Mitchley". NonLeagueDaily.com. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 19 June 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  15. ^ "Marine FC sign striker Danny Mitchley on loan until January". 8 December 2012.
  16. ^ "Alty Files".
  17. ^ DANNY MITCHLEY LEAVES MARINE, pitchero.com, 30 May 2019
  18. ^ Radcliffe boss swoops for first signings of the summer, burytimes.co.uk, 19 June 2019
  19. ^ Witton Albion sign Danny Mitchley on loan from Radcliffe, northwichguardian.co.uk, 20 December 2019
  20. ^ Danny Mitchley Returns To Radcliffe, betvictornorthernpremier.co.uk, 20 February 2020
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