Dale Tonge
English footballer
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Dale Tonge (born 7 May 1985) is an English former professional footballer who played as a full-back or midfielder.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 7 May 1985 | ||
| Place of birth | Barnsley, England | ||
| Position | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2003–2007 | Barnsley | 45 | (0) |
| 2007 | → Gillingham (loan) | 3 | (0) |
| 2007–2013 | Rotherham United | 163 | (1) |
| 2013–2015 | Torquay United | 53 | (0) |
| 2015 | Chester | 3 | (0) |
| 2015–2016 | Stockport County | 10 | (0) |
| 2016–2017 | FC United of Manchester | 40 | (0) |
| Total | 317 | (1) | |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Career
Tonge came through the youth ranks with Barnsley and made his debut on 17 April 2004 against Brentford.
On 20 March 2007, it was announced that he had joined Gillingham on loan.[1] He made his Gillingham debut in the 5–0 away defeat to Carlisle United on 24 March, and returned to Barnsley one month later.
On 25 May 2007, he signed a two-year deal with Rotherham United.
On 25 October 2008, he scored his first career goal in a 2–1 win versus Macclesfield Town.
On 2 May 2009, Tonge was shown his first ever red card for professional foul in a 1–0 defeat to Exeter on the final day of the season, making almost 50 appearances in the 2008–09 season.
Tonge's following season was plagued with injury. He broke a foot in late 2009 while only managing 24 appearances and also missing the chance to play at Wembley in the league two playoff final against Dagenham & Redbridge.
On 2 May 2013, Tonge was released by Rotherham. He then signed for Torquay United on 2 July 2013, signed by ex-Rotherham manager Alan Knill.[2] On 24 April 2015, Tonge was released by Torquay.
Tonge was on trial at Chester, before signing for them permanently. In 2016, he joined FC United of Manchester.[3] He left the club in 2017.[4]
Coaching career
Tonge began his coaching career with Barnsley as Assistant Youth Development Phase Coach, before then becoming the Lead. In February 2019, he was promoted to first-team assistant manager.[5] In July 2021, he was appointed Professional Development Phase Coach at Scunthorpe United.[6]
In March 2022, Tonge was appointed to the role of first-team coach at Peterborough United.[7]
In June 2025, Tonge returned to former club Rotherham United as assistant manager after the club had agreed a compensation fee with Peterborough United.[8] He departed the club in March 2026.[9]
Career statistics
- As of match played 25 March 2024.
| Club | Season | Division | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Barnsley | 2003–04[10] | Second Division | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2004–05[11] | League One | 14 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 0 | |
| 2005–06[12] | League One | 24 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 31 | 0 | |
| 2006–07[13] | Championship | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | |
| Total | 45 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 55 | 0 | ||
| Gillingham (loan) | 2006–07[13] | League One | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| Rotherham United | 2007–08[14] | League Two | 37 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[b] | 0 | 42 | 0 |
| 2008–09[15] | League Two | 39 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5[b] | 1 | 48 | 2 | |
| 2009–10[16] | League Two | 21 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1[b] | 0 | 25 | 0 | |
| 2010–11[17] | League Two | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 0 | |
| 2011–12[18] | League Two | 32 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[b] | 0 | 36 | 0 | |
| 2012–13[19] | League Two | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | |
| Total | 163 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 185 | 2 | ||
| Torquay United | 2013–14[20] | League Two | 36 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[b] | 0 | 39 | 0 |
| 2014–15[21] | Conference Premier | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 17 | 0 | ||
| Total | 53 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 56 | 0 | ||
| Chester | 2015–16[22] | National League | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| Stockport County | 2015–16[23] | National League North | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | |
| FC United of Manchester | 2015–16[24] | National League North | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | |
| 2016–17[24] | National League North | 30 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 2[c] | 0 | 35 | 0 | ||
| Total | 40 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | 45 | 0 | |||
| Career total | 317 | 1 | 16 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 13 | 1 | 357 | 2 | ||
- Appearance(s) in League One play-offs
- Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy
- One appearance in FA Trophy, one appearance in Manchester Premier Cup