Tom Denton (footballer)

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Tom Denton

| image =

| fullname = Tom Ashley Denton

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1989|7|24|df=y}}

| birth_place = Shepley, England

| height = 6ft 7in{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19185001 |title= Iyseden Christie joins Alfreton Town after Tamworth exit |work= BBC Sport |accessdate=16 October 2012}}

| currentclub = Ashton United

| clubnumber =

| position = Striker

| youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–2006

| youthclubs1 = Wakefield

| years1 = 2006–2008

| clubs1 = Wakefield

| caps1 = 14

| goals1 = 5

| years2 = 2008–2010

| clubs2 = Huddersfield Town

| caps2 = 0

| goals2 = 0

| years3 = 2008–2009

| clubs3 = → Woking (loan)

| caps3 = 5

| goals3 = 2

| years4 = 2009

| clubs4 = → Wakefield (loan)

| caps4 = 13

| goals4 = 12

| years5 = 2009

| clubs5 = → Cheltenham Town (loan)

| caps5 = 2

| goals5 = 0

| years6 = 2010

| clubs6 = → Wakefield (loan)

| caps6 = 6

| goals6 = 4

| years7 = 2010–2011

| clubs7 = Wakefield

| caps7 =

| goals7 =

| years8 = 2011–2012

| clubs8 = Mossley

| caps8 = 22

| goals8 = 13

| years9 = 2012

| clubs9 = Alfreton Town

| caps9 = 3

| goals9 = 0

| years10 = 2012

| clubs10 = → Worksop Town (loan)

| caps10 = 11

| goals10 = 11

| years11 = 2012–2014

| clubs11 = Worksop Town

| caps11 =

| goals11 =

| years12 = 2014–2016

| clubs12 = North Ferriby United

| caps12 = 80

| goals12 = 39

| years13 = 2016–2018

| clubs13 = FC Halifax Town

| caps13 = 74

| goals13 = 27

| years14 = 2018

| clubs14 = Alfreton Town

| caps14 = 9

| goals14 = 6

| years15 = 2018–2022

| clubs15 = Chesterfield

| caps15 = 78

| goals15 = 23

| years16 = 2022–2023

| clubs16 = Alfreton Town

| caps16 = 8

| goals16 = 3

| years17 = 2023–2024

| clubs17 = Guiseley

| caps17 = 30

| goals17 = 6

| years18 = 2024–

| clubs18 = Ashton United

| caps18 = 0

| goals18 = 0

| club-update = 14:10, 2 July 2024 (UTC)

}}

Tom Ashley Denton (born 24 July 1989) is a professional footballer who plays as a striker for {{English football updater|AshtonUn}} club Ashton United.

Career

=Wakefield=

Born in Shepley, West Yorkshire, Denton began his career playing for non-League side Wakefield in 2006 at the age of 17. He made 14 appearances scoring five goals for Wakefield between 2006 and 2008. He was offered a trial at Premier League side Blackburn Rovers,{{citation needed|date=September 2009}} managing to score for their reserve team. After his trial was completed, he was being looked at by Rovers, Championship side Crystal Palace and his hometown team, Huddersfield Town.

=Huddersfield Town=

On 15 August 2008, Huddersfield beat off the competition and signed Denton from Northern Premier League Division One North side Wakefield for a fee of £60,000, possibly totalling up to £100,000.{{citation needed|date=September 2009}}

On 27 November 2008, he joined Conference National side Woking for a month. He made his debut on 2 December, in the Conference League Cup win over Salisbury City, where he scored one and set up two in a 3–0 win.{{citation needed|date=September 2009}} He made his league debut for Woking in their 1–0 defeat at Histon on 6 December. He scored his first goal for Woking in their 1–1 draw with Rushden & Diamonds on 9 December. He returned to Huddersfield Town on 30 January 2009.

On 6 March, Denton rejoined Wakefield on loan until the end of the season and scored 12 goals in 13 games, including four in an 8–1 victory over Salford City.{{cite web|url=http://www.wakefieldfc.com/news/denton-returns-to-wakefield-27679.html |title=Denton returns to Wakefield |last=Brownhill|first=Dan|publisher=Wakefield FC |accessdate=1 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020030801/http://www.wakefieldfc.com/news/denton-returns-to-wakefield-27679.html|archive-date=20 October 2012|date=6 March 2009}}

Denton joined Cheltenham Town on a six-month loan deal during the summer of 2009.{{cite news |url=http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/sport/cheltenhamtown/news/Allen-snaps-striker-Denton/article-1166427-detail/article.html |title=Cheltenham sign Denton |publisher=Gloucestershire Echo |date=15 July 2009 |access-date=12 August 2009 |archive-date=27 July 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090727093357/http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/sport/cheltenhamtown/news/Allen-snaps-striker-Denton/article-1166427-detail/article.html |url-status=dead }} He made his Cheltenham debut in the League Cup First Round game against Southend United on 11 August.{{cite web|url=http://www.ctfc.com/page/MatchReport/0,,10434~49707,00.html |title=Cheltenham vs Southend match report |publisher=Cheltenham Town FC|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090815092753/http://www.ctfc.com/page/MatchReport/0,,10434~49707,00.html|archive-date=15 August 2009}} He made his league debut four days later in the 1–1 draw at Hereford United. He returned to Huddersfield on 10 November, after making four appearances for the club.

On 1 February 2010, he returned to Wakefield on a month's loan deal along with teammate Lewis Nightingale.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/huddersfield_town/8492365.stm|title=Nathan Eccleston extends Huddersfield Town deal|date=1 February 2010|work=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|accessdate=28 February 2012}} He made his debut in the 1–1 draw against F.C. Halifax Town on 6 February. He returned to Huddersfield at the end of the season, but had his contract mutually terminated a year early on 22 June 2010.{{cite web|url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11719/6223632/ |title=Denton departs Huddersfield |publisher=Sky Sports |accessdate=1 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305173311/http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11719/6223632/|archive-date=5 March 2016}} After leaving Huddersfield, Denton re-signed with Wakefield on 26 June 2010.{{cite web|url=http://www.wakefieldfc.com/news/breaking-transfer-news-147360.html |title=Breaking transfer news |last=Rutkinen|first=Paivi|publisher=Wakefield FC |accessdate=1 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102062728/http://www.wakefieldfc.com/news/breaking-transfer-news-147360.html|archive-date=2 November 2012|date=26 June 2010}}

On 28 November 2011 Denton joined Northern Premier League Division One North side Mossley.{{cite web|url=http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/mossley/news/big-new-signing--438648.html |title=Big new signing |publisher=Mossley AFC |accessdate=1 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141229004615/http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/mossley/news/big-new-signing--438648.html|archive-date=29 December 2014}}

=Alfreton Town=

On 8 August 2012 Denton joined Alfreton Town on a two-year contract.{{cite web |url=http://www.alfretontownfc.com/content/denton,-tom-168.htm |title=Tom Denton |publisher=Alfreton Town FC |accessdate=16 October 2012 |archive-date=27 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121027175829/http://www.alfretontownfc.com/content/denton,-tom-168.htm |url-status=dead }} In need of playing time Denton joined Northern Premier League side Worksop Town on 13 September on an initial one-month loan deal and after six goals in five games, his loan was extended for a further two months until 15 December.{{cite web |url=http://www.alfretontownfc.com/news/denton-goes-on-loan-to-worksop-town-1727.htm |title=Denton goes on loan to Worksop Town |publisher=Alfreton Town FC |accessdate=16 October 2012 |archive-date=27 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121027180646/http://www.alfretontownfc.com/news/denton-goes-on-loan-to-worksop-town-1727.htm |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://www.alfretontownfc.com/news/TOM%20DENTON%20LOAN%20EXTENDED-1764.htm |title=Tom Denton loan extended |publisher=Alfreton Town FC |accessdate=16 October 2012 |archive-date=20 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121120141920/http://www.alfretontownfc.com/news/TOM%20DENTON%20LOAN%20EXTENDED-1764.htm |url-status=dead }} On 30 November he was recalled from his loan early because of a busy period of games coming up for Alfreton.{{cite web |url=http://www.alfretontownfc.com/news/TOM-DENTON-RECALLED-1831.htm |title=Tom Denton recalled |publisher=Alfreton Town FC |accessdate=1 December 2012 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304030019/http://www.alfretontownfc.com/news/TOM-DENTON-RECALLED-1831.htm |url-status=dead }}

=Worksop Town=

After just 4 months at the club Denton moved to Worksop Town for an undisclosed fee on 20 December 2012 having failed to secure a regular first team spot at Alfreton.{{cite web |url=http://www.alfretontownfc.com/news/TOM-DENTON-MOVES-TO-WORKSOP-TOWN-1863.htm |title=Tom Denton moves to Worksop Town |publisher=Alfreton Town FC |accessdate=21 December 2012 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304201856/http://www.alfretontownfc.com/news/TOM-DENTON-MOVES-TO-WORKSOP-TOWN-1863.htm |url-status=dead }}

=North Ferriby United=

In July 2014 he signed for North Ferriby United.{{cite news|url=http://www.examiner.co.uk/sport/football/news/north-ferriby-united-sign-former-7415335 |title=North Ferriby United sign former Huddersfield Town striker Tom Denton|last=Thomson|first=Doug|work= Huddersfield Daily Examiner|date= 14 July 2014 |accessdate=22 April 2015}} In March 2015 Denton helped the Villagers to victory in the 2014–15 FA Trophy final at Wembley Stadium although he missed his penalty in the shoot-out.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32100052|title=North Ferriby United 3 – 3 Wrexham|last=Williams|first=Aled|date=29 March 2015|work=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|accessdate=13 August 2016}}

=FC Halifax Town=

In June 2016 Denton moved to National League North team FC Halifax Town from North Ferriby to join his manager Billy Heath from North Ferriby to Halifax.{{cite news|url=http://www.thenonleaguefootballpaper.com/latest-news/conference-premier-step-one/16228/north-ferriby-united-duo-follow-boss-billy-heath-to-fc-halifax-town/|title=North Ferriby United duo follow boss Billy Heath to FC Halifax Town|date=14 June 2016|work=The Non League Football Paper|accessdate=18 September 2017}} On Saturday 6 August 2016 Denton scored a hattrick on the opening game of the season on his debut in a 3–2 away win over Nuneaton.{{cite news|url=http://www.halifaxcourier.co.uk/sport/fc-halifax-town/fc-halifax-town-news/nuneaton-2-3-fc-halifax-town-1-8054836|title=Nuneaton 2–3 FC Halifax Town|date=6 August 2016|work=Halifax Courier|accessdate=13 August 2016}}

=Chesterfield=

Denton joined Chesterfield on an 18-month contract for an undisclosed fee from Alfreton Town after a short spell.{{cite news|url=https://www.chesterfield-fc.co.uk/news/2018/september/20180911-striker-joins-spireites/|title=Striker joins Spireites|date=11 September 2018|work=Chesterfield FC Official Site|accessdate=11 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180911225405/https://www.chesterfield-fc.co.uk/news/2018/september/20180911-striker-joins-spireites/|archive-date=11 September 2018}} He left Chesterfield in July 2022 after failing to agree a new contract.

=Alfreton Town=

In July 2022, Denton returned to Alfreton Town for a third spell.{{cite tweet|number=1547874435952103425|title=𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤, 𝐃𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬! Alfreton Town are delighted to announce the signing of experienced National League striker Tom Denton! #ATFC #Ofton|user=AlfretonTownFC|author-link=Alfreton Town F.C.|date=15 July 2022|accessdate=15 July 2022}} He found the net twice on the opening day of the 2022–23 campaign as Alfreton came from 2–0 down to draw 2–2 with Chester.

=Guiseley=

Denton signed for Northern Premier League club Guiseley in June 2023.{{cite web |url=https://guiseleyafc.co.uk/lions-bolster-strikeforce-with-denton-signing/|title=Lions Bolster Strikeforce With Denton Signing |work=Guiseley AFC|accessdate=8 June 2023}}

=Ashton United=

On 26 June 2024, Denton joined fellow Northern Premier League club Ashton United.{{cite tweet|number=1806024634770567221|title=𝘿𝙀𝙉𝙏𝙊𝙉 𝙅𝙊𝙄𝙉𝙎 𝘼𝙎𝙃𝙏𝙊𝙉 6ft 7inch veteran striker @TomDenton8 is #aufc's fifth summer signing. Joining The Robins from @GuiseleyAFC, Denton has played for a plethora of teams over his 18 year career Welcome to Hurst Cross Tom #robinsrevolution|user=AshtonUnitedFC|author-link=Ashton United F.C.|date=26 June 2024|accessdate=2 July 2024}}

Honours

North Ferriby United

FA Trophy: 2014–15{{cite news |date=29 March 2015 |title=NORTH FERRIBY WIN FA TROPHY AFTER PENALTY SHOOTOUT DRAMA |work=FA |url=https://www.thefa.com/news/2015/mar/29/north-ferriby-wrexham-final-report |access-date=13 February 2023}}