Tony Funnell

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Tony Funnell
Personal information
Full name Anthony Funnell[1]
Date of birth (1957-08-20) 20 August 1957 (age 66)
Place of birth Eastbourne, England
Position(s) Forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1975–1977 Eastbourne United
1977–1979 Southampton 17 (8)
1977 Vancouver Whitecaps (loan) 10 (2)
1979–1980 Gillingham 33 (10)
1980–1981 Brentford 32 (8)
1981–1983 Bournemouth 64 (22)
Poole Town
Managerial career
Hamworthy United
Wimborne Town
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Tony Funnell is a retired English football forward who appeared in the Football League for Bournemouth, Gillingham, Brentford and Southampton.[1] After dropping into non-league football, he had a notable spell with Poole Town, making over 300 appearances and being inducted into the club's Hall of Fame in 2014.[1][2] He later became a manager.

Playing career

Southampton

Funnell joined Division Two side Southampton in January 1977,[3] having risen to prominence at Athenian League club Eastbourne United. He made quite an impression in just 18 appearances during the 1977/78 season, scoring nine goals to help the Saints clinch promotion to Division One with a second-place finish.[4] The higher level of football during the 1978/79 season meant Funnell rarely figured in the first team picture and he departed The Dell in March 1979.[5] Funnell made 20 appearances and scored 9 goals during his time with Southampton.[4]

Vancouver Whitecaps (loan)

Funnell spent the 1977 English off-season in Canada with North American Soccer League side Vancouver Whitecaps.[6] He scored two goals in 10 games for the side,[6] which fell to the Seattle Sounders in the first round of the 1977 playoffs.

Gillingham

Funnell signed for Division Three side Gillingham for a then-club record fee of £50000 in March 1979.[1][5] He failed to fully break through into the first team, making 38 appearances and scoring 10 goals during just over a year at Priestfield.

Brentford

Funnell joined Division Three club Brentford for a then-club record fee of £50000 in March 1980.[1][3] Not rated by new manager Fred Callaghan, Funnell made only 23 appearances and scored six goals during his only full season at Griffin Park.[1] Funnell departed the Bees in the summer of 1981, having made 35 appearances and scored 10 goals.[1]

Bournemouth

Funnell signed for Division Four side Bournemouth in September 1981.[3] Under David Webb's management, Funnell He had the best season of his career in 1981/82, top-scoring 16 goals in 43 league games to help the Cherries to promotion to Division Three with a fourth-place finish.[7] An injury during the 1982/83 season ended Funnell's career in league football.[1] He made 64 appearances and scored 22 goals during his time at Dean Court.

Poole Town

After departing Bournemouth, Funnell dropped into non-league football and signed for Southern League Premier Division side Poole Town in 1983.[1] In a long spell with the club, Funnell scored 127 goals in 308 games for the Dolphins.[1] He was rewarded for his service with a testimonial versus former side Southampton in May 1991 and was inducted into the club's Hall of Fame in 2014.[2]

Managerial career

Funnell had spells as manager of Dorset League side Hamworthy United and Wessex League club Wimborne Town.[1]

Personal life

Funnell's son Gary is also a footballer and represented non-league clubs Wimborne Town, Salisbury City and Poole Town, in addition to the England beach soccer team at international level.[8]

Honours

As an individual

References

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