Tony Funnell
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Anthony Funnell[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 20 August 1957 | ||
| Place of birth | Eastbourne, England | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Newhaven | |||
| 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 | |||
Anthony Funnell (born 20 August 1957) is an English retired professional footballer who played as a forward in the Football League.
Funnell played in the Football League for Bournemouth, Gillingham, Brentford and Southampton. After a back injury forced him to retire from League football, Funnell he had a notable spell with Poole Town in non-League football. He made over 300 appearances and was inducted into the club's Hall of Fame in 2014. Funnell later became a manager.
Southampton
After rising to prominence at Athenian League club Eastbourne United, Funnell joined Second Division club Southampton for a £250 fee in January 1977.[2] Funnell played the 1977 English off-season in Canada with North American Soccer League club Vancouver Whitecaps.[3] He scored two goals in 10 games for the club,[3] which fell to the Seattle Sounders in the first round of the playoffs.[4]
Funnell made an impression during the second half of the 1977–78 season, scoring 9 goals to help the Saints clinch promotion to First Division with a second-place finish.[5][6] 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.[7] Funnell made 20 appearances and scored 9 goals during his time with Southampton.[5]
Gillingham
In March 1979, Funnell transferred to Third Division club Gillingham for a then-club record fee of £50,000.[1][7] He made 38 appearances and scored 10 goals during just over a year at Priestfield.[8]
Brentford
Funnell joined Third Division club Brentford for a then-club record fee of £56,000 in March 1980.[2] Not rated by incoming manager Fred Callaghan, he 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 Fourth Division club AFC Bournemouth in September 1981 for a £5,000 fee.[2] Under David Webb's management, 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.[9] A back injury during the 1982–83 season ended Funnell's career in league football.[2] He made 64 appearances and scored 22 goals during his time at Dean Court.[9]
Poole Town
After two years in Sunday league football, Funnell moved into non-League football to join Southern League Premier Division club Poole Town in 1985.[10] During a long spell with the club, Funnell scored 127 goals in 308 appearances for the Dolphins.[1] He was recognised for his service with a testimonial versus former club Southampton in May 1991 and he was inducted into the club's Hall of Fame in 2014.[11]
Managerial career
Funnell had spells as manager of Dorset League club Hamworthy United and Wessex League club Wimborne Town.[1]
Personal life
Funnell's son Gary is also a footballer, who represented non-League clubs Wimborne Town, Salisbury City and Poole Town, in addition to the England beach football team at international level.[12]