Brendon Daniels

For the South African actor, see Brendon Daniels (actor).

Brendon Daniels
Personal information
Full name Brendon George Kofi Nana Osei Mainoo Daniels[1]
Date of birth (1993-09-24) 24 September 1993 (age 31)[2]
Place of birth Stoke-on-Trent, England[2]
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[3]
Position(s) Winger
Team information
Current team
 Leek Town
Youth career
2001–2011 Crewe Alexandra
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2013 Crewe Alexandra 7 (0)
2013 → Chester (loan) 2 (1)
2014 Gateshead (trial) 0 (0)
2014 Chester 3 (0)
2014–2015 Tamworth 29 (7)
2015–2016 Harrogate Town 40 (22)
2016–2017 AFC Fylde 30 (6)
2017–2018 Alfreton Town 36 (13)
2018–2019 Port Vale 0 (0)
2018 → Altrincham (loan) 7 (0)
2018 → AFC Telford United (loan) 5 (2)
2019–2023 AFC Telford United 103 (22)
2023–2024 Stourbridge 25 (5)
2024 → Mickleover (loan) 1 (0)
2024– Leek Town 8 (2)
International career
2016 England C 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20:45, 24 September 2024 (UTC)

Brendon George Kofi Nana Osei Mainoo Daniels (born 24 September 1993) is an English footballer who plays as a winger for Northern Premier League Premier Division club Leek Town.

He turned professional at Crewe Alexandra in May 2011 but was released after two years with the club and dropped out of the English Football League. He had brief stays with Chester and Gateshead before signing with Tamworth in August 2014. He joined Harrogate Town in June 2015 and went on to be named both the club's Player of the Year and the National League North Team of the Year for the 2015–16 season. He signed with AFC Fylde in May 2016, who had beaten Harrogate in the play-offs, and helped his new club to win promotion as champions of the National League North for the 2016–17 campaign. He remained in the National League North, however, joining Alfreton Town in August 2017 before making a return to the Football League after being signed by Port Vale in May 2018. He started the 2018–19 season on loan at Altrincham and went on to sign with AFC Telford United in January 2019 following a successful loan spell. He won the club's Player of the Year award for the 2019–20 season. He joined Stourbridge in August 2023 and Leek Town in June 2024.

Career

Crewe Alexandra

Born in Stoke-on-Trent, Daniels started his career with Crewe Alexandra at the age of nine before signing a scholarship in 2010.[4][5] Back with his local school, Haywood High, he formed a strike partnership with Crewe teammate Ryan Colclough and helped Haywood to reach the Sentinel Schools' Shield final at Vale Park in 2010, where they were beaten 3–1 by Alleyne's.[6] In May 2011, he signed his first professional contract after being handed a two-year deal by manager Dario Gradi.[7] He made his professional debut on 11 August 2012, replacing A-Jay Leitch-Smith as a 78th-minute substitute in a 5–0 win over Hartlepool United at the Alexandra Stadium in the League Cup.[8] He made a total of ten appearances for the "Railwaymen" in the first half of the 2012–13 season, though started only two games in League One. On 21 February 2013, he joined Conference North side Chester on a one-month loan. Two days later he scored just 12 minutes into his debut for Neil Young's "Blues" in a 2–0 win over Vauxhall Motors at the Deva Stadium.[9] He played just one further game before returning to Crewe, who released him at the end of his contract in May 2013.[10] Manager Steve Davis had told him he did not feature in his plans due to his lack of experience.[4]

Non-League

Daniels had a trial with Championship side Blackburn Rovers in October 2013 and scored a brace in a Lancashire Senior Cup win over Rochdale.[11] In January 2014, he went on trial at Gateshead and scored a hat-trick for a Gateshead XI in a Durham Challenge Cup game against Darlington 1883 at the Gateshead International Stadium.[12][13] Despite this feat "Heed" manager Gary Mills opted not to offer him a contract.[11] On 25 February 2014, Daniels signed for Chester, now of the Conference Premier and managed by Steve Burr, on non-contract terms.[14] He went on to make three league appearances for the "Seals", before he was released at the end of the 2013–14 season.

On 2 August 2014, Brendon joined Tamworth after impressing manager Dale Belford on a trial basis.[15] Speaking in January 2015, after the "Lambs" had won their ninth consecutive Conference North game, Daniels stated that he was happy at The Lamb Ground despite being linked to a number of other clubs.[16] He scored seven goals in 31 appearances across the 2014–15 season as Andy Morrell's side posted a seventh-place finish, missing out on the play-offs by a single point.

On 8 June 2015, he signed with Harrogate Town.[17] He was named as Harrogate's Player of the Year after scoring 23 goals in 43 appearances during the 2015–16 season.[6] This tally included a strike against Grimsby Town in the FA Cup.[18] He was also named on the National League North Team of the Year. His goals helped Simon Weaver's Town to secure a play-off place before they were eliminated at the semi-final stage by AFC Fylde.[19] His form also attracted the attention of the England C selectors, and he made his debut for the "Three Lions" in a 2–0 victory over Ukraine C in March.[20]

On 25 May 2016, Daniels signed a three-year contract at beaten National League North play-off finalists AFC Fylde.[20] Manager Dave Challinor had previously had an approach for Daniels rejected by Harrogate early in the 2015–16 season.[21] Fylde made a switch to full-time training over the summer in what chairman David Haythornthwaite described as "the biggest few months in the history of this club".[22] Daniels scored seven goals in 32 appearances during the 2016–17 season, helping the "Coasters" to achieve their ambition by winning promotion as champions of the National League North.[23]

On 24 August 2017, Daniels joined Alfreton Town on a one-year deal.[24] The "Reds" could only manage a 17th-place finish at the end of the 2017–18 season, though Daniels managed to claim 13 goals from 36 National League North games, finding an upturn in form under new manager Chris Moyses after initially struggling for form at North Street under John McDermott.[23]

Port Vale

On 17 May 2018, Daniels signed a six-month contract with League Two side Port Vale; manager Neil Aspin said that "he is a local lad who is desperate to prove himself at this level".[25] Daniels himself said that "this is perfect, I couldn't wish to be at a better club. It is my local club... in the last four years I have worked hard and learned my craft and believe I can deliver in League Two".[4] However, manager Neil Aspin said that Daniels reported for pre-season training unfit, and so before the 2018–19 season began Aspin sent Daniels out on loan to newly promoted National League North side Altrincham to gain match fitness.[26] He stayed at Moss Lane for four weeks and made seven appearances for the "Robins". Upon his return to Vale Park he made his first-team debut away in a 2–1 victory at Walsall, coming on as a 65th-minute substitute for Antony Kay in the EFL Trophy group stage game.[27]

AFC Telford United

On 27 November 2018, he returned to the National League North on loan at A.F.C. Telford United; "Bucks" manager Gavin Cowan said that "he has phenomenal ability and has maybe fallen out of love with the game a little bit, and I want to mentor him".[28] On 26 December, he scored a 30 yards (27 m) free kick in a 3–1 win over Nuneaton Borough at the New Bucks Head.[29] The loan was made into a permanent deal six days later.[30] Cowan stated that he and Daniels had "a little bit of a love-love, love-hate relationship. But it's a good one."[31] He went on to finish the 2018–19 season with five goals in 21 games for Telford. He scored seven goals in 29 games during the 2019–20 campaign – which came to a premature conclusion due to the COVID-19 pandemic in England – and was given the club's away travel and club Player of the Year awards, with Cowan stating that "to say he's matured as a person over his time with us is an understatement".[32] He struggled with a hamstring problem and featured five times in the 2020–21 season, which was curtailed early due to the ongoing pandemic.[33][34]

Daniels signed a new contract in June 2021.[35] However, recurrent hamstring problems caused him to miss much of the first half of the 2021–22 season and manager Paul Carden was careful not to bring him back too soon.[36] After scoring six goals in nine games since returning to the squad he said he was only 70% fit and would continue to improve.[37] He would lead the club's successful fight against relegation and entered talks for a new contract in the summer.[38][39] He scored six goals in 35 league games in the 2022–23 campaign as Telford were relegated in last place, and left the club in the summer.[40][41]

Stourbridge

On 4 August 2023, Daniels signed with Telford's Southern League Premier Division Central club Stourbridge.[42] He joined Southern League Premier Division Central rivals Mickleover on loan on 5 February 2024.[43] He featured just once for Mickleover and returned to Stourbridge, ending the 2023–24 campaign with six goals in 29 games.[44]

Leek Town

On 26 June 2024, Daniels joined Northern Premier League Premier Division club Leek Town.[45]

Style of play

Daniels can play on the left wing or as an attacking midfielder.[46] He is a good free kick taker and has been praised for his crossing ability.[4]

Career statistics

As of match played 23 September 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Crewe Alexandra 2011–12[47] League Two 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2012–13[48] League One 7 0 1 0 1 0 1[a] 0 10 0
Total 7 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 10 0
Chester (loan) 2012–13[40] Conference North 2 1 — — 0 0 2 1
Gateshead (trial) 2013–14[49] Conference Premier 0 0 0 0 — 1[b] 3 1 3
Chester 2013–14[40] Conference Premier 3 0 0 0 — 0 0 3 0
Tamworth 2014–15[40] Conference North 29 7 2 0 — 0 0 31 7
Harrogate Town 2015–16[40] National League North 40 22 1 1 — 2[c] 0 43 23
AFC Fylde 2016–17[40] National League North 30 6 0 0 — 2[d] 1 32 7
Alfreton Town 2017–18[40] National League North 36 13 0 0 — 0 0 36 13
Port Vale 2018–19[50] League Two 0 0 0 0 0 0 1[a] 0 1 0
Altrincham (loan) 2018–19[40] National League North 7 0 0 0 — 0 0 7 0
AFC Telford United 2018–19[40] National League North 16 5 0 0 — 5[d] 0 21 5
2019–20[40] National League North 28 7 0 0 — 1[d] 0 29 7
2020–21[40] National League North 5 1 0 0 — 0 0 5 1
2021–22[40] National League North 24 5 0 0 — 1[d] 0 25 5
2022–23[40] National League North 35 6 0 0 — 1[d] 0 36 6
Total 108 24 0 0 — 8 0 116 24
Stourbridge 2023–24[44] SFL Premier Division Central 25 5 1 0 — 3[e] 1 29 6
Mickleover (loan) 2023–24[44] SFL Premier Division Central 1 0 — — 0 0 1 0
Leek Town 2024–25[51] NPL Premier Division 8 2 2 0 — 0 0 10 2
Career total 296 80 7 1 1 0 18 5 322 86
  1. ^ a b Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy
  2. ^ Appearance(s) in Durham Challenge Cup
  3. ^ Appearance(s) in National League North play-offs
  4. ^ a b c d e Appearances in FA Trophy
  5. ^ Two appearances and one goal in FA Trophy, one appearance in Birmingham Senior Cup

Honours

Individual

AFC Fylde

References

  1. ^ "Professional retain list & free transfers 2012/13" (PDF). The Football League. 18 May 2013. p. 82. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 October 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  2. ^ a b "FootballSquads - Port Vale - 2018/2019". www.footballsquads.co.uk. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  3. ^ "Brendon Daniels - Midfielder - First Team - Port Vale". Port Vale F.C. Archived from the original on 3 November 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  4. ^ a b c d Baggaley, Michael (17 May 2018). "Port Vale LIVE as Valiants sign Brendon Daniels and Luke Joyce". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  5. ^ "Academy Starlets Sign For Crewe". LFE. 27 April 2010. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
  6. ^ a b c Baggaley, Michael (17 May 2018). "Who is Brendon Daniels: Everything you need to know about Port Vale's signing". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  7. ^ "Crewe Alexandra hand contracts to five young players". BBC Sport. 10 May 2011. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
  8. ^ "Crewe 5-0 Hartlepool". crewealex.net. 11 August 2012. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  9. ^ "Football (Sky Sports)". SkySports. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  10. ^ "Crewe Alexandra: AJ Leitch-Smith extends contract at Gresty Road". BBC Sport. 1 May 2013. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
  11. ^ a b Green, Jim (25 February 2014). "Blues return for Brendon Daniels". Chester Chronicle. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  12. ^ "Trialist duo Gregg McDermott & Brendon Daniels..." Gateshead FC (via Twitter). 8 January 2014. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  13. ^ "Gateshead 4–1 Darlington". Gateshead FC. 9 January 2014. Archived from the original on 9 January 2014. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  14. ^ "Chester: Brendon Daniels returns to Conference Premier club". BBC Sport. 25 February 2014. Retrieved 25 February 2014.
  15. ^ Panter, Matt (2 August 2014). "Tamworth FC complete triple transfer deal". Tamworth Herald. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 2 August 2014.
  16. ^ "Brendon Daniels is happy with life at Tamworth FC". BriefReport. 8 January 2015. Archived from the original on 18 May 2018. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  17. ^ White, Ed (8 June 2015). "Harrogate Town sign ex-Crewe Alexandra winger Brendon Daniels". Wetherby News. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  18. ^ "Harrogate Town 1-4 Grimsby Town". grimsby-townfc.co.uk. 24 October 2015. Archived from the original on 18 May 2018. Retrieved 17 May 2018.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  19. ^ "AFC Fylde 1-1 Harrogate Town | AFC Fylde". AFC Fylde. 8 May 2016. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  20. ^ a b "Brendon raring to go | AFC Fylde". AFC Fylde. 27 May 2016. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  21. ^ White, Ed (5 November 2015). "Harrogate Town boss reveals star winger Brendon Daniels turned down AFC Fylde move". Harrogate Advertiser. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  22. ^ Coney, Steve (14 June 2016). "AFC Fylde set for biggest summer "in history of the club"". The Non League Football Paper – Daily football news. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  23. ^ a b c "Opposition Report: Alfreton Town". Salford City Football Club. 14 February 2018. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  24. ^ "Reds capture Brendon Daniels". Alfreton Town Official Site. 24 August 2017. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  25. ^ "Luke Joyce: Port Vale sign Carlisle United midfielder and Brendon Daniels". BBC Sport. 17 May 2018. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  26. ^ Baggaley, Michael (29 July 2018). "Port Vale's Neil Aspin explains Brendon Daniels' loan to Altrincham". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  27. ^ "MATCH REPORT: Walsall 1-2 Port Vale". Retrieved 1 December 2018.
  28. ^ Drury, Jonny (27 November 2018). "AFC Telford United sign Port Vale winger Brendon Daniels". Shropshire Star. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
  29. ^ Baggaley, Michael (27 December 2018). "Brendon Daniels' wonder-goal as Port Vale players feature in Telford v Nuneaton". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
  30. ^ "AFC Telford United sign Port Vale winger Brendon Daniels". Shropshire Star. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
  31. ^ Edwards, Joe (28 December 2018). "AFC Telford keen to keep hold of Brendon Daniels". Shropshire Star. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  32. ^ a b Baggaley, Michael (30 April 2020). "'Fantastic' - Former Port Vale forward is double award winner at Telford". The Sentinel. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
  33. ^ Cox, Lewis (6 November 2020). "Gavin Cowan faces Telford decision over Brendon Daniels". Shropshire Star. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  34. ^ Osborn, Oliver (18 February 2021). "National League Statement | Outcome Of Written Resolutions". Vanarama National League. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  35. ^ Edwards, Joe (7 June 2021). "Brendon Daniels agrees new AFC Telford deal". Shropshire Star. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
  36. ^ Cox, Lewis (8 December 2021). "Paul Carden: Telford must be careful with Brendon Daniels". Shropshire Star. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
  37. ^ Cox, Lewis (8 February 2022). "There's more in the tank vows AFC Telford United man Brendon Daniels". Shropshire Star. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
  38. ^ Cox, Lewis (5 March 2022). "Brendon Daniels back for AFC Telford United safety push". Shropshire Star. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
  39. ^ Cox, Lewis (16 May 2022). "AFC Telford United sign up Robbie Evans and Kai Williams as retained list confirmed". Shropshire Star. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
  40. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Brendon Daniels at Soccerway. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  41. ^ Drury, Jonny (28 July 2023). "Brendon Daniels departs AFC Telford United as defender Fraser Kerr arrives". Shropshire Star. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  42. ^ Gregg, Nigel (4 August 2023). "Eve of season signing! BRENDON DANIELS joins from AFC Telford United". www.stourbridgefc.com. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  43. ^ Scherer, Peter Serer (5 February 2024). "Sports Sign Three! – Mickleover Football Club". Mickleover F.C. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
  44. ^ a b c "Brendon Daniels | Player Profile · Aylesbury United Archive". www.aylesburyunitedarchive.com. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  45. ^ Scott, Richard (26 June 2024). "Leek Town have signed experienced forward Brendon Daniels - Moorlands Radio". Morrlands Radio. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  46. ^ Baggaley, Michael (27 May 2018). "Why Neil Aspin believes Brendon Daniels' Port Vale deal is well worth the gamble". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
  47. ^ "Games played by Brendon Daniels in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  48. ^ "Games played by Brendon Daniels in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  49. ^ "Brendon Daniels". Aylesbury United F.C. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  50. ^ "Games played by Brendon Daniels in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  51. ^ https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/leek-town/appearances/brendon-daniels/965961