Jump to content

Alex Rhodes (footballer)

This is a good article. Click here for more information.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Alex Rhodes
Rhodes playing for Grays Athletic in 2007
Personal information
Full name Alexander Graham Rhodes
Date of birth (1982-01-23) 23 January 1982 (age 42)
Place of birth Cambridge, England
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Position(s) Striker, winger
Youth career
Newmarket Town
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1999–2003 Newmarket Town
2003–2007 Brentford 57 (5)
2006 → Swindon Town (loan) 4 (0)
2007 → Grays Athletic (loan) 12 (1)
2007–2008 Bradford City 28 (3)
2008–2009 Rotherham United 18 (2)
2009 → Woking (loan) 3 (1)
2009 Oxford United 4 (0)
2009–2010 Braintree Town
2010 Grays Athletic 15 (0)
2010–2012 Canvey Island 52 (10)
2012–2013 Margate 21 (4)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Alexander Graham Rhodes (born 23 January 1982) is an English former professional footballer who predominantly played as a left winger but also as a striker.[1][2]

Rhodes started his career with Eastern Counties League Premier Division side Newmarket Town, where he came to prominence after scoring hat-tricks in three successive games in 2003. Rhodes scored 20 goals in the early part of the 2003–04 season, including 14 goals in 11 games in the league.[3] After trials with several Football League clubs, he joined Brentford in November 2003[4] and scored the goal that ensured they were not relegated six months later. Rhodes scored five goals during his four seasons at Brentford, which were hampered by injury and included loan spells at Swindon Town and Grays Athletic. He signed for Bradford City in August 2007 but was released after one season, before joining Rotherham United. A loan spell at Woking was followed by his release from Rotherham in May 2009, when he dropped back out of the Football League to join Oxford United. He played just four games before leaving Oxford by mutual consent, and moved to Braintree Town, initially on a short-term deal. Rhodes rejoined Grays Athletic in January 2010, but was released at the end of the 2009–10 season.

Personal life

[edit]

Rhodes was born on 23 January 1982 in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire.[5][6] He first attended a football game at his hometown side Cambridge United but grew up as a Liverpool fan. As well as football, he played cricket as a youngster.[7] Rhodes is nicknamed "Tiger",[8] because of his likeness to golfer Tiger Woods.

Rhodes had a tattoo of a 142-word quotation inked onto his leg in November 2008; the passage was originally written by peace activist Marian Williamson. It took five hours to inscribe onto Rhodes' leg. Rhodes said he had the tattoo done because "I had a few knock-backs when I was younger, when people were telling me I was too small, but I've always been determined to prove them wrong and I just feel this quotation is appropriate for me and my life."[9][10]

Career

[edit]

Newmarket Town

[edit]

Rhodes started his football career at non-League side Newmarket Town, breaking into the club's youth team at the age of 17.[6] He combined his early years at the club with work as a coach at Cambridge Regional College.[11] During the 2002–03 season, Rhodes scored more than 30 goals.[12] He continued his goal-scoring form the following season and three successive hat-tricks in September 2003 attracted the attention of league scouts, including Norwich City, Cambridge United and Yeovil Town.[13][14] He scored 21 goals for Newmarket in the Eastern Counties League during the first four months of the 2003–04 season. After trials with Yeovil, Norwich and Ipswich Town, Rhodes signed with Brentford in November 2003 for £10,000.[15][16] It was the first time Brentford had paid a transfer fee for a player since Jean-Philippe Javary three years earlier, with the money donated by the club's fans.[8] In his final game with Newmarket, he scored a hat-trick in a 4–3 victory against Great Yarmouth Town.[17]

Brentford

[edit]

Rhodes made his Brentford debut on Boxing Day 2003 in a 2–1 defeat to Bristol City but had to wait more than four months for his second game.[18] He scored his first senior goal in his third game to ensure Brentford avoided relegation from the Second Division when they defeated AFC Bournemouth 1–0.[19]

Rhodes returned to Newmarket Town for a pre-season friendly game with Brentford in August 2004, during which he scored a hat-trick in a 5–0 win.[20] It helped him to win a place in the first team, and he scored on the first day of the 2004–05 season when Brentford lost 3–1 to Chesterfield.[21] It was not until November 2004 that he scored his second goal in another defeat—2–1 to Bradford City.[22] Five days later, he scored the winning penalty against Bristol City to take Brentford through to the second round of the FA Cup.[23] In December, Rhodes scored in successive games, first in the league against Sheffield Wednesday,[24] then another penalty in the FA Cup as Brentford's 2–1 victory against Hinckley United set up a third round tie with Luton Town.[25] He was unable to play in the third round tie after he suffered a serious knee injury against Walsall in January 2005, which kept him out of action until September 2005.[26][27] Although Rhodes had been a regular in the Brentford squad, his 22 league games included just four starts.[28]

Injury again hit Rhodes' 2005–06 season, during which he scored just one goal in a 2–1 victory over Yeovil Town.[29][30] He started just five league games during the season,[31] as Brentford reached the League One play-offs. Rhodes started the second leg of the play-off semi-finals but a 2–0 defeat to Swansea City denied them a place in the final.[32]

He made 11 appearances for Brentford at the start of the 2006–07 season,[33] but on 10 October 2006, Rhodes signed for League Two side Swindon Town on a month's loan deal.[33] He made his debut for Swindon against Grimsby Town, when he had a goal disallowed.[34] Rhodes played just four games for Swindon all as substitute without scoring before returning to Brentford,[35] before being immediately placed on the transfer list by Brentford manager Scott Fitzgerald. Rhodes played another three games for Brentford and had a trial with Yeovil Town in January 2007 but stayed with Brentford.[36] In March 2007, he was loaned out again, to Conference side Grays Athletic for seven weeks.[37] He played 12 league games and twice in the FA Trophy during his spell at Grays, scoring once in each competition,[35] before he returned to Brentford in time to play in their final game of the season.[38] Rhodes was offered a new contract by new Brentford manager Terry Butcher but turned it down and left the club on 25 June 2007.[39] He played 65 games in all competitions for Brentford, but two-thirds of those were as substitute, scoring just six goals.[5]

Bradford City

[edit]

After trials with League Two sides Darlington and Bradford City,[40] Rhodes signed for the latter on a short-term deal.[1] He made his debut in City's first game of the season when they drew 1–1 with Macclesfield Town in a team featuring six new players.[41] He scored his first goal in a 2–1 win over Chester City on 6 November 2007.[42] He extended his stay at Bradford City until the end of the season in January 2008.[43] Despite signing a new contract, injury kept Rhodes out of the side at the start of 2008 until 23 February when he scored his second Bradford goal in a 3–1 victory at Notts County after coming on as substitute.[44][45] His performance in the Notts County victory earned him a place in the starting side three days later when he again scored in a 3–2 win against Rotherham United.[46][47] On 29 April, he was one of 13 players released by manager Stuart McCall.[48] Rhodes played a total of 30 games for Bradford, but started only 11 of those, scoring three goals.[5]

Rotherham United

[edit]

In June 2008, Rhodes returned to League Two, when he signed a one-year deal with Rotherham United,[2] after their manager Mark Robins was impressed by Rhodes' performance against them the previous season.[49] Rotherham were deducted 17 points at the start of the 2008–09 season because of improperly exiting administration.[50] They started the season with a 1–0 against Lincoln City, in which Rhodes made his debut before he was substituted in the second half.[51] He scored his first goal for Rotherham in a League Cup first round tie against local rivals Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough on 12 August 2008. Rhodes' goal game only seconds after Wednesday had opened the scoring, before the game finished 2–2. Rotherham eventually won through to the second round on penalties.[52] His first league goal for the club came less than two weeks later as Rotherham beat Chester City 3–1 to maintain their winning start to the season.[53] Rhodes was a regular in the Rotherham side at the start of the season as the team overhauled their point deduction to go above Grimsby Town in the league, but he was dropped for a game against his former side Bradford City in November 2008.[54] He briefly returned to the side the following month for a Football League Trophy area semi-final with Darlington, which Rotherham won on penalties,[55] but did not play again until the two sides met once more in a league game at the end of January 2009.[56]

It was only a brief return to the side and two months later Rhodes joined Conference National side Woking on loan for the rest of the season.[57][58] His debut for Woking came two days later in the club's 1–1 draw with Wrexham, with Rhodes being substituted towards the end of the second half by Joel Ledgister.[59] He played three games for Woking, scoring one goal.[56] Rhodes returned to Rotherham but was released by the club having played 18 games and scoring four goals during his one season stay.[56][60]

Return to non-League

[edit]

Having been released, Rhodes returned to the Conference by joining Oxford United on a free transfer in May 2009.[61] Rhodes made his Oxford debut in their opening game of the season against York City as a second-half substitute for Jack Midson to help his team come from 1–0 down to win 2–1.[56][62] However, after he had played just four games, Rhodes left by mutual consent.[56][63]

Rhodes immediately joined Conference South side Braintree Town, initially on a contract until the start of January. His new assistant manager Jason Broom described Rhodes as an "exciting" talent.[64] He made his debut against St Albans City helping to create his new side's goal in a 1–1 draw.[65] Rhodes failed to impress and was released after Christmas 2009.

Rhodes rejoined former club Grays Athletic, where he had played on loan in 2007, on 19 January 2010.[66] He scored a goal on his debut in a hastily arranged friendly, after their league game with Kidderminster Harriers was postponed, later in the week during a 4–1 victory against Aveley.[67] Rhodes' senior debut came at the end of the same week, when he was one of six new members of manager Julian Dicks' side, only for them to lose 4–0 to Rhodes' former team Oxford United. Rhodes was substituted by Harry Agombar during the second half.[68][69] He was released at the end of the 2009–10 season, having made 15 appearances.[70]

Rhodes instead started to train with A.F.C. Sudbury and played in a pre-season friendly against Bury Town, during which he scored to help Sudbury win 4–3. However, although Rhodes said he would like to join the semi-professional Isthmian League Division One North side, he wanted to keep his options open in case he could remain in the professional game.[71] A week later, he was given a trial with League Two Hereford United.[72] Instead, the following week, Rhodes signed for Isthmian League Premier Division side Canvey Island[73] and immediately went into the first-team to make his debut on 28 August in a home league match against Carshalton Athletic, which finished 1–1, with Rhodes close to scoring what would have been a late winning goal for his new club.[74] Rhodes' first goals for Canvey Island came in a FA Cup first round qualifying match against Newport Pagnell Town, scoring twice in a 4–1 victory.[75][76] He scored again in the next round to put Canvey into the third qualifying round.[77] Rhodes signed a contract to keep him with the club until the end of the season[78] and scored two more in Canvey's ultimate exit from the FA Cup.[79]

Career statistics

[edit]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season Division League FA Cup League Cup Other[80] Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Newmarket Town 2003–04[81] Eastern Counties League Premier Division 11 14 0 0 — 0 0 11 14
Brentford 2003–04[18] Second Division 3 1 0 0 — 0 0 3 1
2004–05[27] League One 22 3 4 1 1 0 1 0 28 4
2005–06[30] 17 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 18 1
2006–07[35] 15 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 16 0
Total 57 5 4 1 2 0 2 0 65 6
Swindon Town (loan) 2006–07[35] League Two 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0
Grays Athletic (loan) 2006–07[35] Conference Premier 12 1 0 0 — 2 1 14 2
Bradford City 2007–08[82] League Two 28 3 1 0 1 0 0 0 30 3
Rotherham United 2008–09[83] League Two 18 2 2 0 4 1 3 0 27 3
Woking (loan) 2008–09[83] Conference Premier 3 1 0 0 — 0 0 3 1
Oxford United 2009–10[84] Conference Premier 4 0 0 0 — 0 0 4 0
Braintree Town 2009–10[85] Conference South 6 0 0 0 — 0 0 6 0
Grays Athletic 2009–10[86] Conference Premier 15 0 0 0 — 0 0 15 0
Canvey Island 2010–11[87] Isthmian League Premier Division 38 8 4 5 — 1 0 43 13
2011–12[87] 14 2 2 0 — 2 1 18 3
Total 57 5 4 1 0 0 2 0 65 6
Career total 210 36 13 6 7 1 10 2 240 45

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Bantams seal double striker deal". BBC Sport. 9 August 2007. Retrieved 9 January 2008.
  2. ^ a b Payne, Les (27 June 2008). "Fast work as Millers boss lands winger". Sheffield Star. Archived from the original on 6 May 2013. Retrieved 27 June 2008.
  3. ^ football.mitoo
  4. ^ NonLeagueDaily.com
  5. ^ a b c "Alex Rhodes". Soccerbase. Retrieved 4 January 2010.
  6. ^ a b "Rhodes' path heads off in two directions". Cambridge News. 7 November 2003. Retrieved 4 January 2009.[permanent dead link‍]
  7. ^ "442 with...Alex Rhodes". Rotherham United F.C. 5 November 2008. Archived from the original on 14 February 2012. Retrieved 12 February 2009.
  8. ^ a b Flood, Tony (14 November 2003). "Fans' cash buys whizkid Rhodes". This is Local London. Retrieved 19 December 2008.
  9. ^ Parker, Simon (20 November 2008). "Mandela gives Rhodes a leg up". Telegraph & Argus. Retrieved 20 November 2008.
  10. ^ Wobschall, Leon (7 December 2008). "Rotherham United: Mandela's words drive Rhodes on". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 20 December 2008.
  11. ^ "Alex "Tiger" Rhodes". Flown From The Nest. Retrieved 5 January 2009.
  12. ^ "Green lights way for Soham". Cambridge News. 5 May 2003. Archived from the original on 19 April 2013. Retrieved 4 January 2009.
  13. ^ "Norwich give Rhodes trial". BBC Sport. 25 September 2003. Retrieved 24 February 2008.
  14. ^ "Taylor eyes non-league striker". BBC Sport. 10 October 2003. Retrieved 24 February 2008.
  15. ^ "Brentford sign Rhodes". BBC Sport. 11 November 2003. Retrieved 24 February 2008.
  16. ^ "Brentford sign new forward". Ealing Times. 14 November 2003. Retrieved 24 February 2008.
  17. ^ "Taylor blasts Rhodes deal". Cambridge News. 10 November 2003. Archived from the original on 20 April 2013. Retrieved 4 January 2009.
  18. ^ a b "Games played by Alex Rhodes in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 January 2009.
  19. ^ "Brentford 1–0 Bournemouth". BBC Sport. 8 May 2004. Retrieved 24 February 2008.
  20. ^ Flood, Tony (6 August 2004). "Rhodes' hat-trick claim". This is Local London. Retrieved 20 April 2008.
  21. ^ "Chesterfield 3–1 Brentford". BBC Sport. 7 August 2004. Retrieved 24 February 2008.
  22. ^ "Brentford 1–2 Bradford". BBC Sport. 20 November 2004. Retrieved 24 February 2008.
  23. ^ "Brentford 1–1 Bristol City". BBC Sport. 25 November 2004. Retrieved 24 February 2008.
  24. ^ "Sheff Wed 1–2 Brentford". BBC Sport. 11 December 2004. Retrieved 24 February 2008.
  25. ^ "Brentford 2–1 Hinckley". BBC Sport. 14 December 2004. Retrieved 24 February 2008.
  26. ^ "Brentford | News | Latest News | Latest News | MARTIN ON ALEX RHODES". world.brentfordfc.co.uk. 10 January 2005. Archived from the original on 20 February 2018. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
  27. ^ a b "Games played by Alex Rhodes in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 February 2009.
  28. ^ "Alex Rhodes Player Profile – ESPN FC". www.espnfc.com. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
  29. ^ "Yeovil 1–2 Brentford". BBC Sport. 7 March 2006. Retrieved 24 February 2008.
  30. ^ a b "Games played by Alex Rhodes in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 February 2008.
  31. ^ "Alex Rhodes Player Profile – ESPN FC". www.espnfc.com. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
  32. ^ "Brentford 0–2 Swansea (agg 1–3)". BBC Sport. 14 May 2006. Retrieved 24 February 2008.
  33. ^ a b "Rhodes hints at permanent Swindon move". Ealing Times. 12 October 2006. Retrieved 24 February 2008.
  34. ^ "Scare tactic". This Is Wiltshire. 21 October 2006. Retrieved 8 April 2012.
  35. ^ a b c d e "Alex Rhodes | Football Stats | No Club | Season 2006/2007 | 2002–2008 | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  36. ^ "Rhodes joins Town on trial". Ealing Times. 11 January 2007. Retrieved 24 February 2008.
  37. ^ "Grays recruit Barness and Rhodes". BBC Sport. 9 March 2007. Retrieved 24 February 2008.
  38. ^ "Tranmere 3–1 Brentford". BBC Sport. 5 May 2007. Retrieved 24 February 2008.
  39. ^ "Brentford sign Hibs keeper Brown". BBC Sport. 25 June 2007. Retrieved 24 February 2008.
  40. ^ Craven, Dave (31 July 2007). "City take a look at wing ace". Telegraph & Argus. Retrieved 24 February 2008.
  41. ^ Parker, Simon (12 August 2007). "Let's hear it for the fans". Telegraph & Argus. Retrieved 24 February 2008.
  42. ^ "Bradford 2–1 Chester". BBC Sport. 6 November 2007. Retrieved 24 February 2008.
  43. ^ "Heckingbottom seals Bradford move". BBC Sport. 8 January 2008. Retrieved 8 January 2008.
  44. ^ Parker, Simon (15 February 2008). "Rhodes 'praying for another chance'". Telegraph & Argus. Retrieved 23 February 2008.
  45. ^ "Notts County 1–3 Bradford". BBC Sport. 23 February 2008. Retrieved 23 February 2008.
  46. ^ Parker, Simon (25 February 2008). "Rare start for Rhodes". Telegraph & Argus. Retrieved 27 February 2008.
  47. ^ "Bradford 3–2 Rotherham". BBC Sport. 26 February 2008. Retrieved 27 February 2008.
  48. ^ Parker, Simon (29 April 2008). "Johnson one of 13 axed by City". Telegraph & Argus. Retrieved 29 April 2008.
  49. ^ Payne, Les (21 November 2008). "McCall making his mark". Sheffield Star. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 19 December 2008.
  50. ^ "Rotherham accept points deduction". BBC Sport. 7 August 2008. Retrieved 9 August 2008.
  51. ^ "Rotherham 1–0 Lincoln". BBC Sport. 9 August 2008. Retrieved 9 August 2008.
  52. ^ "Sheff Wed 2–2 Rotherham (aet)". BBC Sport. 12 August 2008. Retrieved 13 August 2008.
  53. ^ "Rotherham 3–1 Chester". BBC Sport. 23 August 2008. Retrieved 23 August 2008.
  54. ^ Wobschall, Leon (7 December 2008). "Rotherham United: Mandela's words drive Rhodes on". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 19 December 2008.
  55. ^ Payne, Les (17 December 2008). "Spot-on Millers book area final place". Sheffield Star. Retrieved 19 December 2008.
  56. ^ a b c d e "Alex Rhodes". Soccerbase. Retrieved 4 January 2010.
  57. ^ "Woking sign winger Rhodes on loan". BBC Sport. 12 March 2009. Retrieved 12 March 2009.
  58. ^ Payne, Les (14 March 2009). "Miller Alex in loan move to revive career". Sheffield Star. Retrieved 16 March 2009.
  59. ^ Whitbread, John (18 March 2009). "Elvins breaks duck as Woking FC make point". Surrey Herald. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 24 March 2009.
  60. ^ "Nine players released by Millers". BBC Sport. 11 May 2009. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  61. ^ "Oxford snap up Bulman and Rhodes". BBC Sport. 19 May 2009. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  62. ^ "Oxford 2–1 York". BBC Sport. 9 August 2009. Retrieved 5 October 2009.
  63. ^ "Oxford let winger Rhodes depart". BBC Sport. 2 November 2009. Retrieved 8 November 2009.
  64. ^ "Iron set to unleash exciting talent Rhodes". Braintree and Witham times. 12 November 2009. Retrieved 4 January 2010.
  65. ^ "Jones' thunderbolt rescues Braintree Town a point". Braintree and Witham times. 16 November 2009. Retrieved 4 January 2010.
  66. ^ "Trio join Grays". Non-League Daily. 19 January 2010. Archived from the original on 26 September 2012. Retrieved 19 January 2010.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  67. ^ "Baker's brace is unfriendly". Romford Recorder. 22 January 2010. Retrieved 23 January 2010.[dead link‍]
  68. ^ "Grays Athletic new squad on show at New Rec". Thurrock Gazette. 25 January 2010. Retrieved 25 January 2010.
  69. ^ "Grays Athletic 0–4 Oxford Utd". BBC Sport. 23 January 2010. Retrieved 25 January 2010.
  70. ^ "Alex Rhodes". Soccerbase. Retrieved 17 May 2010.
  71. ^ "Football: AFC Sudbury ready to wait for Rhodes". Suffolk Free Press. 12 August 2010. Archived from the original on 10 September 2012. Retrieved 21 August 2010.
  72. ^ Claydon, Russell (19 August 2010). "Football: AFC Sudbury boss sets play-offs as target". Suffolk Free Press. Archived from the original on 12 September 2012. Retrieved 21 August 2010.
  73. ^ "Squad Update". Canveyislandfc.com. Archived from the original on 15 January 2016. Retrieved 5 February 2013.
  74. ^ Powell, David (28 August 2010). "Carshalton Athletic Match Report & Details". Canvey Island F.C. Archived from the original on 15 April 2012. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
  75. ^ "Gulls put Pagnell to sword". Basildon Recorder. 13 September 2010. Retrieved 14 September 2010.
  76. ^ Harvey, Matthew (11 September 2010). "Newport Pagnell Town match report and details". Canvey Island F.C. Archived from the original on 15 April 2012. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
  77. ^ "Rhodes ensures Canvey progress". Basildon Recorder. 27 September 2010. Retrieved 27 September 2010.
  78. ^ "Non-League action in full". Thurrock Gazette. 7 October 2010. Retrieved 12 October 2010.
  79. ^ "Dartford through in cup thriller". BBC Sport. 13 October 2010. Retrieved 19 October 2010.
  80. ^ Includes Football League Trophy, FA Trophy and play-off matches
  81. ^ "football.mitoo". football.mitoo.co.uk. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  82. ^ "Alex Rhodes | Football Stats | No Club | Season 2007/2008 | 2002–2008 | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  83. ^ a b "Alex Rhodes | Football Stats | No Club | Season 2008/2009 | 2006–2010 | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  84. ^ "Alex Rhodes | Football Stats | No Club | Season 2009/2010 | 2006–2010 | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  85. ^ "Blue Square Conference South guide – Braintree Town". Archived from the original on 27 July 2010. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  86. ^ "Alex Rhodes | Football Stats | Grays Athletic | Season 2009/2010 | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  87. ^ a b "Alex Rhodes Player Stats". Canvey Island F.C. Archived from the original on 27 April 2012. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://wiki.riteme.site/w/index.php?title=Alex_Rhodes_(footballer)&oldid=1254271675"