Michael West (footballer)
{{short description|English footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2016}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Michael West
| image =
| caption =
| fullname = Michael West{{Hugman|25723|accessdate=20 May 2019}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1991|2|9|df=y}}
| birth_place = Maidstone, England
| height =
| position = Midfielder
| currentclub = Ashford United
(on loan from Whitstable Town)
| clubnumber =
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 = Fulham
| youthyears2 = {{0|000}}?–2009
| youthclubs2 = Ebbsfleet United
| years1 = 2009–2012
| clubs1 = Ebbsfleet United
| caps1 = 106
| goals1 = 27
| years2 = 2012–2014
| clubs2 = Crewe Alexandra
| caps2 = 10
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2013
| clubs3 = → Hereford United (loan)
| caps3 = 8
| goals3 = 1
| years4 = 2014–2016
| clubs4 = Ebbsfleet United
| caps4 = 21
| goals4 = 1
| years5 = 2016
| clubs5 = → Whitehawk (loan)
| caps5 = 15
| goals5 = 2
| years6 = 2016–2017
| clubs6 = Whitehawk
| caps6 = 38
| goals6 = 4
| years7 = 2017–2018
| clubs7 = Chelmsford City
| caps7 = 20
| goals7 = 1
| years8 = 2018
| clubs8 = → Kingstonian (loan)
| caps8 = 15
| goals8 = 1
| years9 = 2018–2020
| clubs9 = Eastbourne Borough
| caps9 = 54
| goals9 = 4
| years10 = 2018–2019
| clubs10 = → Tonbridge Angels (loan)
| caps10 = 5
| goals10 = 0
| years11 = 2020–2022
| clubs11 = Ebbsfleet United
| caps11 = 16
| goals11 = 1
| years12 = 2022
| clubs12 = → Herne Bay (loan)
| caps12 = 8
| goals12 = 1
| years13 = 2022–2023
| clubs13 = Herne Bay
| caps13 = 22
| goals13 = 0
| years14 = 2023–2024
| clubs14 = Ramsgate
| caps14 = 18
| goals14 = 0
| years15 = 2024–
| clubs15 = Whitstable Town
| caps15 = 10
| goals15 = 0
| years16 = 2024–
| clubs16 = → Ashford United (loan)
| caps16 = 16
| goals16 = 4
| club-update = 11:34, 12 April 2025 (UTC)
}}
Michael West (born 9 February 1991) is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder for Ashford United on loan from {{English football updater|WhitstaT}} club Whitstable Town.
Career
He started his career as a trainee with Fulham before joining the Ebbsfleet United PASE youth system.{{cite web|url=http://ebbsfleetunited.co.uk/home/?p=7400|title=West waves goodbye |publisher=Ebbsfleet United F.C | accessdate=2012-11-02}} He went on to sign his first professional contract with the club in January 2009, making his debut in a 1–0 win over Northwich Victoria in the Football Conference. A series of impressive performances, including scoring a brace in a 2–2 draw against Luton Town, drawing the attention of many league clubs, with Fulham, Stevenage and Portsmouth all rumoured to have been interested in acquiring his services. In July 2012, he joined newly promoted Football League One side Crewe Alexandra for a nominal compensation fee.{{cite web|url=http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/Crewe-Alex-Michael-West-fourth-door-Gresty-Road/story-16523716-detail/story.html|title=Crewe Alex: Michael West is fourth through door at Gresty Road |publisher=This Is Staffordshire | accessdate=2012-11-02}} He made his professional debut for Crewe on 20 October 2012, in a 2–2 draw with Walsall, coming on as a substitute for Max Clayton.
On 26 August 2013 he joined Conference National side Hereford United on loan for a month, making his debut on the same day in a 2–1 defeat to Alfreton Town.{{cite news|url=http://www.herefordunited.co.uk/news/article/west-joins-bulls-26-08-2013-1015400.aspx |title=West joins Bulls |work=Hereford United |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029191434/http://www.herefordunited.co.uk/news/article/west-joins-bulls-26-08-2013-1015400.aspx |archivedate=29 October 2013 }} He rejoined Ebbsfleet in January 2014.{{cite web|title=Fleet return for fans' favourite West|url=http://nonleague.pitchero.com/news/fleet-return-for-fans-favourite-west-27892/|work=Non-League news, 3 January 2014|date=3 January 2014|accessdate=3 January 2014}} A serious injury early in his second spell at Ebbsfleet meant that he didn't play for a year. He made his comeback from injury as a substitute in a 3–0 win over Whitehawk, scoring the third goal. Injuries continued to hamper his progress, although West did get the fourth goal in a 4–1 FA Trophy win against Molesey.
West played the second half of the 2015–2016 season on loan at Whitehawk,{{cite web|url=http://ebbsfleetunited.co.uk/hawks-take-two-on-loan/|author=Tom Harris|date=22 January 2016|title=Hawks loan Ebbsfleet duo|accessdate=27 January 2016}} before signing permanently in July 2016 following his release from Stonebridge Road.{{cite web|url=http://ebbsfleetunited.co.uk/michael-west-released/|author=Ed Miller|date=3 June 2016|title=Michael West to exit Stonebridge Road|accessdate=23 July 2016}}
In June 2017, West signed for Chelmsford City.{{cite web |url=http://nonleague.pitchero.com/transfers/impressive-trio-new-clarets/|title=Impressive Trio Of New Clarets|publisher=Pitchero Non-League|date=2 June 2017|accessdate=1 August 2017}}
On 27 June 2018, West signed for Eastbourne Borough.{{cite web|url=http://www.ebfc.co.uk/news/sports-sign-west-2319643.html|title=Sports Sign West|publisher=Eastbourne Borough F.C.|date=27 June 2018|accessdate=2 July 2018|archive-date=2 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180702093243/http://www.ebfc.co.uk/news/sports-sign-west-2319643.html|url-status=dead}}
On 17 July 2020, West returned to Ebbsfleet United.{{cite web |url=https://www.ebbsfleetunited.co.uk/fleet-go-west-as-club-favourite-returns/|title=Fleet go West as club favourite returns|publisher=Ebbsfleet United F.C.|date=17 July 2020|accessdate=20 July 2020}}
On 18 March 2022, West joined Isthmian League South East Division side Herne Bay on loan until 23 April 2022.{{Cite web |url=https://www.ebbsfleetunited.co.uk/westy-heads-east-to-the-bay/ |title=Westy heads east to the Bay |publisher=Ebbsfleet United FC |date=18 March 2022 |accessdate=21 March 2022}} In June 2022, West returned to the club on a permanent basis having helped the club to promotion through the play-offs.{{cite tweet|number=1539655615592960000|title=🚨 𝗛𝗲'𝘀 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗧𝗼 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘆 🚨 We are delighted to announce that @Mike23West has returned to HBFC, this time on a permanent deal! He returns to the club after a successful loan spell from @EUFCofficial towards the end of last season! Welcome back, Mike 😍⚽️ #WeAreTheBay|user=HerneBayFC|author-link=Herne Bay F.C.|date=22 June 2022|accessdate=25 June 2022}}
In June 2024, West joined Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division side Whitstable Town. {{cite web|url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/whitstable/sport/move-suits-west-to-a-tee-307873/|title=Whitstable Town summer signing Michael West on how a round of golf with boss Jamie Coyle helped convince him to join from Ramsgate|publisher=Kent Online|last=Reeves|first=Thomas|date=6 June 2024|accessdate=12 April 2025}} In December 2024, in search of more regular first-team football, he joined Ashford United on loan. {{cite web|url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/whitstable/sport/games-key-for-west-317255/|title=Whitstable Town manager Jamie Coyle on midfielder Michael West’s short-term loan to Ashford United and signings of Adem Ramadan and Ashdon Day|publisher=Kent Online|last=Reeves|first=Thomas|date=13 December 2024|accessdate=12 April 2025}}
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 14 March 2020}}
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Soccerbase}}
- {{Soccerway|michael-west/88759}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:West, Michael}}
Category:Footballers from Maidstone
Category:English men's footballers
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Ebbsfleet United F.C. players
Category:Crewe Alexandra F.C. players
Category:Hereford United F.C. players
Category:Whitehawk F.C. players
Category:Chelmsford City F.C. players
Category:Kingstonian F.C. players
Category:Eastbourne Borough F.C. players
Category:Tonbridge Angels F.C. players
Category:Herne Bay F.C. players
Category:Ramsgate F.C. players
Category:Whitstable Town F.C. players
Category:Ashford United F.C. players
Category:English Football League players
Category:National League (English football) players
Category:Isthmian League players