Phil Trainer

Name:Phil Trainer

Born:03/07/1981

Position:Midfield

Joined the club:June 2015

Previous Club(s): Crewe, Hyde, Northwich Victoria, Tamworth, Moor Green, Oxford United, AFC Telford, Nuneaton Town, Worcester City

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Player Profile (PITMENWEB.COM)

Vastly experienced midfielder, also at home in defence, who made a return to Hednesford in June 2015 after failing to agree a new deal at Tamworth

A player with over 500 first team games to his name, ranging from League 2 to non-league’s step two throughout his career, Trainer was a junior at the famous Crewe Alexandra Academy, but failed to make a first team appearance at Gresty Road in two years as a professional there

He spent a short spell on loan at UniBond League side Hyde United in late 2000, before joining the Pitmen for the first time in November 2001, becoming one of Kenny Hibbitt’s first signings as Hednesford manager. He impressed in a seven game spell at Keys Park, scoring twice in a 3-0 win over Merthyr Tydfil

Despite the Pitmen wishing to keep hold of the youngster, Trainer returned to Crewe in January 2002, where he was almost immediately loaned out once more, this time to Stalybridge Celtic for the remainder of the 2001-2002 campaign

After being released by Crewe in the summer of 2002, he made the short switch to Conference outfit Northwich Victoria. He a failed to make an impact at the Drill Field and returned to his native West Midlands to see out the season with Dr. Martens Premier League side Halesowen Town

Newly promoted Conference side Tamworth was Trainer’s next stop in the summer of 2003, with the midfield man making only a handful of appearances for the Lambs before returning to the Southern League to join Moor Green

It was to prove the best decision of Trainer’s career, as his four year spell at the Moorlands saw him develop into one of the finest midfielders at step two level. Moor Green announced towards the end of the 2006-2007 campaign that they were to follow through with their merger with Solihull Moors, with Trainer electing to leave to move back into the Conference to join fallen giants Oxford United

He enjoyed a fruitful two seasons at the Kassam Stadium, as Oxford struggled to adapt to life in non-league football. He made over sixty starts for the U’s, scoring fourteen times, before falling out of favour after Chris Wilder took over as manager during the 2008-2009 season. He was loaned out to AFC Telford United in January 2009, enjoying a successful spell for Rob Smith’s Bucks side that finished the season in the Blue Square North play-offs, as well as winning the Setanta Shield and making the semi-finals of the F.A. Trophy

Trainer made the switch to the New Bucks Head a permanent one in the summer of 2009, signaling another lengthy stay at another Midlands club as he chalked up over 200 games for the Bucks and was part of their promotion to the Blue Square Premier in 2010-2011, beating Guiseley in the play-off final. They consolidated their position back at non-league football’s top table the following season by staying just outside the relegation zone for the whole season, with Trainer scoring the winner against Tamworth in April 2012 to seal Telford’s place in the league for the following season

The 2012-2013 campaign was a nightmare for Telford, as they went on a record winless streak and finished rock bottom of the BSP table with many weeks of the season remaining. Trainer was one of a number of players to suffer the constantly changing managers at Telford, being sent out on loan to Blue Square North side Worcester City for a month in September 2013

Telford’s relegation saw a number of players leave the club in the summer of 2013, with Trainer one such player to depart to join league rivals Nuneaton Town. He was a bit part figure in Town’s Skrill Premier campaign, and left the following summer after just eighteen starts. He made the short switch down the A5 to join Vanarama Conference North Tamworth in August 2014, where he was used mainly as a substitute as the Lambs missed out on a place in the end of season play-offs

After failing to agree a new deal with Tamworth at the end of the season, Trainer was allowed to talk to other clubs. Former manager Smith was quick to move for Trainer’s services, bringing Trainer back to Keys Park a full fourteen years after he had first pulled on the white shirt. He joined fellow former Tamworth men Jon Adams and Tom James in making the short switch up the A5 to join the Pitmen this summer. After featuring in a number of pre-season games, Trainer joined Evo-Stik Premier League newcomers Sutton Coldfield Town on a dual registration deal for a short spell, before returning to Keys Park after Bernard McNally was re-appointed as manager

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