Callum Preston
{{Short description|British footballer}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2015}}
{{Infobox football biography
|name = Callum Preston
|image =
|caption =
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1995|11|7|df=y}}
|birth_place = Stafford, England
|height = {{convert|1.84|m|order=flip}}
|position = Goalkeeper
|currentclub =
|clubnumber =
|youthyears1 = – |youthclubs1 = The New Saints
|youthyears2 = – |youthclubs2 = Liverpool
|youthyears3 = 2008–2014 |youthclubs3 = Birmingham City
|years1 = 2014–2015 |clubs1 = Birmingham City |caps1 = 0 |goals1 = 0
|years2 = 2014 |clubs2 = → Worcester City (loan) |caps2 = 1 |goals2 = 0
|years3 = 2015 |clubs3 = → AFC Telford United (loan) |caps3 = 0 |goals3 = 0
|years4 = 2015–2016 |clubs4 = Crawley Town |caps4 = 9 |goals4 = 0
|years5 = 2016 |clubs5 = Altrincham |caps5 = 1 |goals5 = 0
|years6 = 2016–2017 |clubs6 = Stevenage |caps6 = 0 |goals6 = 0
|years7 = 2017 |clubs7 = Wrexham |caps7 = 1 |goals7 = 0
|years8 = 2019 |clubs8 = Aberystwyth Town |caps8 = 0 |goals8 = 0
|nationalyears1 = 2014 |nationalteam1 = Wales U19 |nationalcaps1 = 1 |nationalgoals1 = 0
|club-update = June 2019
}}
Callum Preston (born 7 November 1995) is a footballer who plays as a goalkeeper.
He turned professional with Birmingham City, and had loan spells with Worcester City and AFC Telford United, but was released in 2015 without appearing for his parent club. He spent the next season with Crawley Town of League Two, for whom he made ten first-team appearances, and had a brief spell with National League North club Altrincham in August 2016.
Although born in Stafford, in England, Preston has represented Wales at under-19 level.
Club career
Preston was born in Stafford, England, but was brought up in Welshpool, Wales, where he attended Welshpool High School{{cite web |url=http://www.bcfc.com/news/article/20131204-blue-kid-on-the-block-callum-preston-1212990.aspx |title=Blue kid on the block – Callum Preston |publisher=Birmingham City F.C. |date=4 December 2013 |accessdate=6 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305021142/http://www.bcfc.com/news/article/20131204-blue-kid-on-the-block-callum-preston-1212990.aspx# |archive-date=5 March 2016}} and played for the local cricket club.{{cite web |url=http://welshpool.play-cricket.com/website/player_stats_widget/batting_stats/293126 |title=Player statistics: Welshpool CC: Player Callum Preston |website=Play-Cricket |publisher=England and Wales Cricket Board |accessdate=6 October 2015}} He was on the books of both Liverpool and The New Saints{{cite book |url=http://www.welshpremier.co.uk/uploads/documents/originals/Handbook.pdf |title=Football Association of Wales Academy Handbook 2014/15 |publisher=Football Association of Wales |date=2014 |page=14 |accessdate=6 October 2015}} before joining Birmingham City F.C.'s youth academy in 2008.{{cite web |url=http://www.bcfc.com/news/article/birmingham-ccity-afc-telford-birmingham-city-2267740.aspx |title=Callum Preston joins AFC Telford |publisher=Birmingham City F.C. |date=13 February 2015 |accessdate=6 October 2015}} He took up a scholarship in July 2012.{{cite web |url=http://www.thefa.com/~/media/2FC380172F88401482C3994AF130D59B.ashx |format=PDF |title=List of Players Registered as Scholars in Accordance with Rule C.3 Between 01/07/2012 and 31/07/2012 |publisher=The Football Association |page=48 |accessdate=6 October 2015}}
In 2014, he spent a short spell on work experience at Conference North club Worcester City,{{cite web |url=http://www.bcfc.com/news/article/20140317-callum-preston-joins-worcester-city-1427515.aspx |title=Callum Preston joins Worcester City |publisher=Birmingham City F.C. |date=17 March 2014 |accessdate=6 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140318123227/http://www.bcfc.com/news/article/20140317-callum-preston-joins-worcester-city-1427515.aspx# |archive-date=18 March 2014 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }} for whom he played twice, once in the league and once in the Worcestershire Senior Cup, while the club was without all its senior goalkeepers.{{cite news |url=http://www.worcesternews.co.uk/sport/wcfc/news_articles/11099008.City_fan_call_for_Stockport_County_visit/ |title=City fan call for Stockport County visit |first=Steve |last=Carley |newspaper=Worcester News |date=25 March 2014 |accessdate=6 October 2015}} He signed his first professional contract, of one year with the option of a second, in June 2014.{{cite web |url=http://www.bcfc.com/news/article/20140620-official-pro-deal-for-callum-preston-1652619.aspx |title=Pro-deal for Callum Preston |publisher=Birmingham City F.C. |date=20 June 2014 |accessdate=6 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140620133212/http://www.bcfc.com/news/article/20140620-official-pro-deal-for-callum-preston-1652619.aspx# |archive-date=20 June 2014 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }} In February 2015, Preston joined Conference Premier club AFC Telford United on a month's loan. He played in the final of the Shropshire Senior Cup, a 3–1 defeat to Shrewsbury Town's youth team,{{cite news |url=http://www.shropshirestar.com/sport/2015/03/03/town-claim-cup-at-telford-report-and-pictures/ |title=Young Town beat Bucks |newspaper=Shropshire Star |date=4 March 2015 |accessdate=6 October 2015}} but remained an unused substitute in league matches.
At the end of the 2014–15 season, Birmingham decided against taking up their option for another year on Preston's contract.{{cite web |url=http://www.bcfc.com/news/article/birmingham-city-2440527.aspx |title=Quartet offered new deals |first=Colin |last=Tattum |publisher=Birmingham City F.C. |date=5 May 2015 |accessdate=6 October 2015 |archive-date=23 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923192744/http://www.bcfc.com/news/article/birmingham-city-2440527.aspx |url-status=dead }} After a trial, he signed a one-year contract with League Two club Crawley Town.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/33705126 |title=Crawley Town sign Callum Preston and Freddie Woodman |publisher=BBC Sport |date=29 July 2015 |accessdate=6 October 2015}} He began the season as second-choice goalkeeper, behind Newcastle United loanee Freddie Woodman, but when Woodman was away on international duty with the England under-19 team, he made his senior Crawley debut in the Football League Trophy. The match, on 6 October 2015, ended as a 3–0 defeat at home to League One visitors Southend United.{{cite news |url=http://www.crawleynews.co.uk/Reds-Newcastle-United-keeper-Southend-United/story-27930691-detail/story.html |title=Reds without Newcastle United keeper for Southend United and Leyton Orient games |newspaper=Crawley News |date=6 October 2015 |accessdate=6 October 2015}}{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/34387130 |title=Crawley 0–3 Southend |publisher=BBC Sport |date=6 October 2015 |accessdate=6 October 2015}} With Woodman still absent, Preston made his Football League debut four days later in a 3–2 home win against Leyton Orient.{{cite news |url=http://www.crawleynews.co.uk/Crawley-Town-come-beat-Leyton-Orient/story-27958418-detail/story.html |title=Crawley Town come from behind to beat Leyton Orient |newspaper=Crawley News |date=10 October 2015 |accessdate=10 October 2015}} The same day, Newcastle United goalkeeper Tim Krul suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament, so Woodman was recalled by his parent club, leaving Preston as Crawley's only senior goalkeeper.{{cite news |url=http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11678/10025610/tim-krul-out-for-rest-of-season-due-to-cruciate-injury |title=Tim Krul out for rest of season due to cruciate injury |publisher=Sky Sports |date=12 October 2015 |accessdate=13 October 2015}}{{cite news |url=http://www.theargus.co.uk/sport/albion/13842518.Albion_will_not_rush_decision_on_Walton_s_future/ |title=Albion will not rush decision on Walton's future |first=Brian |last=Owen |newspaper=The Argus |location=Brighton |date=13 October 2015 |accessdate=13 October 2015}} Crawley signed the experienced Darryl Flahavan in Woodman's place, so Preston returned to the bench.{{cite news |url=http://www.crawleynews.co.uk/Crawley-Town-come-beat-Luton-Town/story-28003144-detail/story.html |title=Crawley Town are the come-back kings against Luton Town |newspaper=Crawley News |date=17 October 2015 |accessdate=18 October 2015}}
Preston returned to the starting eleven for the 2–1 win against Stevenage on 26 December, and kept his place for the next match two days later even though Flahavan's injured ankle had recovered enough for him to be named among the substitutes.{{cite news |url=http://www.crawleynews.co.uk/TEAM-NEWS/story-28430995-detail/story.html |title=Team news: Preston starts ahead of Flahavan at Wycombe Wanderers |newspaper=Crawley News |date=28 December 2015 |accessdate=29 December 2015}} After Flahavan took too long deciding whether to accept a contract extension, the club withdrew the offer, and Preston started the match away to Yeovil Town on 23 January 2016.{{cite news |url=http://www.midsussextimes.co.uk/sport/crawley-tn-fc/darryl-flahavan-leaves-crawley-town-1-7174159 |title=Darryl Flahavan leaves Crawley Town |first=Graham |last=Carter |newspaper=Mid-Sussex Times |location=Horsham |date=21 January 2016 |accessdate=30 January 2016}} At the end of the 2015–16 season, Preston was released by Crawley having made 10 appearances for the Sussex club.{{cite web |url=http://www.crawleytownfc.com/news/article/crawley-town-3105791.aspx |title=Crawley Town release five players |first=Bruce |last=Talbot |publisher=Crawley Town F.C. |date=10 May 2016 |accessdate=30 July 2016 }}
On 3 August 2016, Preston joined National League North club Altrincham as competition for Andrew Dawber,{{cite news |title=Youngs adds to keeper options |url=http://www.footballconference.co.uk/news/details.php?news_id=18539 |publisher=The National League |date=3 August 2016 |accessdate=13 August 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160911231024/http://www.footballconference.co.uk/news/details.php?news_id=18539 |archive-date=11 September 2016 |df=dmy-all }} but he played only once, in a 6–0 defeat at home to AFC Fylde on 16 August, and was released a few days later.{{cite news |url=http://www.messengernewspapers.co.uk/sport/14706691.Young_looks_to_strengthen_after_Preston_release/ |title=Young looks to strengthen after Preston release |first=John |last=Edwards |newspaper=Sale & Altrincham Messenger |date=26 August 2016 |accessdate=4 October 2016}} He returned to the Football League in September, when he joined Stevenage of League Two as goalkeeping cover on non-contract terms.{{cite news |url=http://www.thecomet.net/stevenage-fc/ex_birmingham_city_youngster_joins_stevenage_after_injury_to_chris_day_1_4708209 |title=Ex-Birmingham City youngster joins Stevenage after injury to Chris Day |first=Mark |last=Hemmings |newspaper=The Comet |location=Stevenage |date=22 September 2016 |accessdate=4 October 2016}}
In September 2017, Preston joined Wrexham on non-contract terms as cover for an injury to Chris Dunn.{{cite web |url=http://www.dailypost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/wrexham-sign-goalkeeper-callum-preston-13564044 |title=Wrexham sign goalkeeper Callum Preston as emergency cover |newspaper=Daily Post |location=Wrexham |first=Rob |last=Griffiths |date=2 September 2017 |accessdate=2 September 2017}}
After taking time out from football to concentrate on his degree in professional sports writing and broadcasting, Preston signed for Aberystwyth Town of the Welsh Premier League in January 2019. After playing one game for Aberystwyth in the Welsh Cup, Preston left the club.{{cite news |url=https://www.dailypost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/former-wrexham-afc-goalkeeper-planning-14747104 |title=How former Wrexham AFC goalkeeper is planning for a life after football – at just 22 |first=Rob |last=Griffiths |newspaper=Daily Post |date=5 June 2018 |accessdate=13 December 2018}}{{cite web |url=http://www.dragonsoccer.co.uk/newsite/u19.php?subaction=showfull&id=1399989134&archive=&start_from=&ucat=6& |title=Black and Greens sign Wales Under 19s keeper Callum Preston |publisher=Aberystwyth Town F.C. |date=18 January 2019 |accessdate=18 January 2019}}
International career
Preston made his international debut for Wales under-19s in a friendly against their Montenegrin counterparts in April 2014.{{cite web |url=http://www.faw.cymru/en/news/men-u19-v-montenegro-game-2-drawn/ |title=Men U.19 v Montenegro – Game 2 Drawn |publisher=Football Association of Wales |accessdate=30 July 2016}} He was placed on standby for the elite round European qualifiers in May but was not called upon.{{cite web |url=http://www.dragonsoccer.co.uk/newsite/u19.php?subaction=showfull&id=1399989134&archive=&start_from=&ucat=6& |title=Wales Under 19 |website=Dragon Soccer |date=13 May 2014 |accessdate=6 October 2015}}
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 12 September 2017}}
{{notelist}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Soccerbase}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Preston, Callum}}
Category:Footballers from Stafford
Category:People from Welshpool
Category:Footballers from Powys
Category:Welsh men's footballers
Category:Wales men's youth international footballers
Category:Men's association football goalkeepers
Category:The New Saints F.C. players
Category:Birmingham City F.C. players
Category:Worcester City F.C. players
Category:AFC Telford United players
Category:Crawley Town F.C. players
Category:Altrincham F.C. players
Category:Stevenage F.C. players
Category:Wrexham A.F.C. players
Category:Aberystwyth Town F.C. players
Category:National League (English football) players