Tony Mahoney

Anthony Joseph Mahoney (born 29 September 1959) is an English retired professional football forward who played in the Football League for Fulham, Brentford and Crystal Palace.[2] He later forged a career in non-league football and played a decade with Canvey Island. Mahoney is the sixth-youngest-ever Fulham debutant.

Tony Mahoney
Personal information
Full name Anthony Joseph Mahoney[1]
Date of birth (1959-09-29) 29 September 1959
Place of birth Barking, England
Playing position(s) Forward
Youth career
Fulham
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1976–1982 Fulham 59 (10)
1981 → Northampton Town (loan) 6 (0)
1982–1984 Brentford 41 (12)
1984–1985 Crystal Palace 18 (4)
1985–1988 Grays Athletic
1988–1989 Dartford
1989–1999 Canvey Island
National team
England Youth
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Club career

Fulham

Mahoney began his career as a trainee with Second Division club Fulham.[2] Aged just 17 years and 38 days, he made his professional debut in a league match versus Cardiff City on 6 November 1976 and became the-then second-youngest Fulham debutant.[2] He failed to break through to the first team at Craven Cottage, with his best seasonal record being 22 league appearances in 1980–81. Mahoney was released by Fulham in 1982 and made 69 appearances and scored 13 goals for the club.[2]

Northampton Town (loan)

Out of favour at Fulham, Mahoney joined Fourth Division club Northampton Town on loan in October 1981.[1] He made six league appearances without scoring.[1]

Brentford

Mahoney signed for Third Division club Brentford on a three-month trial in July 1982.[1][3] Partnering Francis Joseph up front, Mahoney had a good start to life at Griffin Park, scoring 15 goals in his first 28 appearances and signing a permanent contract,[4] before suffering a fractured leg in an FA Cup second round replay versus Swindon Town in December.[3] After recovering, he failed to show the same kind of form and was released at the end of the 1983–84 season.[2] Mahoney made 58 appearances and scored 19 goals during his two years with Brentford.[2]

Crystal Palace

Mahoney joined Second Division club Crystal Palace in June 1984.[1] In a one-season stay at Selhurst Park, he made 24 appearances and scored five goals.[5]

Grays Athletic

Mahoney dropped into non-league football to sign for Isthmian League First Division club Grays Athletic in 1985.[6] He was part of the team which secured promotion to the Premier Division and won two cups during the 1987–88 season, with Mahoney's striker partnership with Micky Welch being regarded as the most-feared in non-league football.[7]

Dartford

Mahoney joined Southern League Premier Division club Dartford in 1988.[8] He stayed at Watling Street for one season.

Canvey Island

Mahoney signed for Essex Senior League club Canvey Island in 1989. He was a part of a golden era for the club, which saw the Gulls rise from the Essex Senior League to the Isthmian League First Division with three promotions in three seasons.[9] Mahoney was also part of the Canvey Island team which went on a run to the first round proper of the 1995–96 FA Cup,[10] when they took Second Division club Brighton & Hove Albion to a replay before going out.[11][12]

International career

Mahoney represented England Youth at international level.[3]

Personal life

Mahoney's son, Tony Jr, was fatally stabbed in September 1999.[13]

Honours

Grays Athletic

Canvey Island

  • Essex Senior League (1): 1992–93
  • Isthmian League First Division (1): 1998–99
  • Isthmian League Second Division (2): 1995–96, 1997–98
  • Essex Senior Cup (1): 1998–99

Career statistics
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Brentford 1982–83[4] Third Division 18 9 3 3 7 3 — 28 15
1983–84[4] 23 3 4 1 1 0 1[lower-alpha 1] 0 29 4
Career total 41 12 7 4 8 3 1 0 57 19
  1. Appearances in Football League Trophy

References
  1. "Tony Mahoney". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
  2. Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Harefield: Yore Publications. p. 99. ISBN 978-0955294914.
  3. Croxford, Mark; Lane, David; Waterman, Greville (2011). The Big Brentford Book of the Eighties. Sunbury, Middlesex: Legends Publishing. p. 341. ISBN 978-1906796716.
  4. White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. p. 397. ISBN 0951526200.
  5. "Tony Mahoney". Holmesdale Online. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
  6. "1985/86 revisited". Holmesdale Online. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
  7. "A century and more for Grays". Gazette. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
  8. "Club Year – Clubs – The Non-League Club Directory". Retrieved 27 November 2014.
  9. "Football Club History Database – Canvey Island". Retrieved 27 November 2014.
  10. "Gulls set sights on Seagulls". The Independent. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
  11. "CIFC v Brighton (12/11/95)". Retrieved 27 November 2014.
  12. "CIFC v Brighton (21/11/95)". Retrieved 27 November 2014.
  13. "Canvey: Murderer begins life sentence (From Thurrock Gazette)". thurrockgazette.co.uk. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.