Alex Meechan

Alexander Thomas Meechan (born 29 January 1980) is an English former footballer who played as a striker and midfielder.

Alex Meechan
Meechan playing for AFC Telford United in 2011
Personal information
Date of birth (1980-01-29) 29 January 1980
Place of birth Plymouth, England
Position(s) Midfielder, striker
Team information
Current team
 Bradford Park Avenue (Academy Head Coach)
Youth career
Norwich City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1997–1998 Swindon Town 1 (0)
1998–2001 Bristol City 13 (4)
2000 → Yeovil Town (loan) 1 (0)
2001–2003 Forest Green Rovers 99 (33)
2003 Dagenham & Redbridge 16 (2)
2003–2004 Forest Green Rovers 22 (6)
2004 Leigh RMI 15 (1)
2004–2005 Halifax Town 8 (1)
2005–2007 Forest Green Rovers 70 (7)
2007 Chester City 8 (0)
2007 York City 7 (1)
2007–2008 Stalybridge Celtic 21 (10)
2008–2009 Altrincham 28 (3)
2009–2010 Droylsden 22 (2)
2010–2012 AFC Telford United 31 (4)
2011 → Harrogate Town (loan) 12 (1)
2012 Harrogate Town 23 (3)
2012 Worcester City ? (?)
2012–2013 Witton Albion 4 (0)
2013 Colwyn Bay ? (?)
2013 AFC Telford United 7 (0)
2013–2015 Barrow 4 (0)
Total 412 (78)
Managerial career
2013 AFC Telford United (player/assistant manager)
2013 Barrow (player/assistant manager)
2013 Barrow (caretaker manager)
2016 Bradford Park Avenue (Academy Head Coach)
2019 Stafford Rangers (Joint Manager)
2021 AFC Telford United (Assistant Manager)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18:21, 31 August 2015 (UTC)

Career

Meechan was born in Plymouth, England and attended St Boniface's Catholic College. He was an Associate Schoolboy at Norwich City in the 1994–95 season.[1] He moved to Swindon Town in 1997. He was signed by Bristol City in 1998. During this spell he spent time on loan with Yeovil Town, who were in the Football Conference at the time.

Meechan was signed by Forest Green Rovers in 2001.[2] he played for the club in the 2001 FA Trophy final at Villa Park.[3] He was signed by Dagenham & Redbridge on a two-year deal in 2003.[4] Dagenham had come within a whisker of promotion to The Football League in the previous two seasons but this spell was not to provide the dream ticket for Meechan, as the Daggers languished in mid-table in the 2003–04 season. Meechan re-joined Forest Green on a three-month loan in November 2003,[5] after which he was released by the club.[6] Meechan was re-signed by Forest Green Rovers following his release by Dagenham.[6] He was signed by Leigh RMI in 2004.[7]

Meechan was signed by Halifax Town in November 2004.[8] After his release by Halifax, Meechan returned for his third spell with Forest Green Rovers in 2005.[9][10] He was released by Forest Green and joined Chester City on 30 January 2007 until the end of the season. This provided Meechan with a surprise return to Football League circles, although he was to rarely be in the starting line-up. He was moved from striker to the wing, a position he struggled in.[11][12] He was released in May 2007 after failing to establish himself in the Chester side.[13]

Meechan was signed by Conference Premier club York City on 10 July 2007 on a short-term contract.[14] He was left out for eight games after his performance against Forest Green Rovers but returned to the side against Halifax Town, where he scored a winning goal from the substitute bench.[15] He was released by the club when his short-term contract came to an end in November 2007.[16] He signed for Conference North side Stalybridge Celtic in November 2007.[17] He returned to the Conference Premier after joining Altrincham in July 2008.[18] On 27 March 2009, Meechan had his contract cancelled by mutual consent and immediately rejoined former club Stalybridge Celtic later that day. On 9 July, Meechan joined Tameside rivals Droylsden. At the end of the season Meechan moved to fellow Conference North side AFC Telford United. After earning promotion to the Conference Premier through the play-offs, Meechan agreed a new one-year deal with the club for the 2011–12 season.[19] In the 2011–12 season he went on a 1-month loan spell at Harrogate Town where he scored on his debut. He then joined Harrogate permanently. Meechan was offered a new contract with the Conference North club for the 2012–13 season in May 2012.

In October 2012, Meechan left Harrogate Town to join Conference North rivals Worcester City.[20] In December 2012 he was however released by Worcester because of budget constraints.[21] He then joined Witton Albion in December 2012.[22]

On 17 January 2013 he joined Conference North side Colwyn Bay.[23]

On 11 March 2013 he left Colwyn Bay to become assistant manager at one of his former teams AFC Telford United.[24] It was also announced the next day that Meechan will also become a player due to injuries. He made his second debut for the club on 19 March 2013 in a 2–1 defeat against Macclesfield Town.[25]

On 10 May 2013 it was announced in AFC Telford United's local paper that Meechan was leaving them to join Barrow in the Conference North after not being offered a new contract at Telford.[26] He took on a coaching role.[27]

On 13 June 2016 he was appointed manager of Bradford Park Avenue.[28] after initially arriving at the club as assistant manager however when his head manager failed to arrive at the club Meechan found himself as the manager. The team however failed to win a match under his short tenure and he was relieved of his duties.

A role was found at the club as academy manager which Meechan filled until February 2019.

References
  1. "Alex Meechan". Flown From the Nest. Archived from the original on 4 July 2007. Retrieved 10 July 2007.
  2. "Forest Green sign Meechan". BBC Sport. 3 January 2001. Retrieved 10 July 2007.
  3. "Canvey stun Forest to lift Trophy". BBC Sport. 13 May 2001.
  4. "Meechan becomes a Dagger". Non-League Daily. 12 June 2003. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 23 July 2007.
  5. "Addison borrows two". Non-League Daily. 25 November 2003. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 23 July 2007.
  6. "Meechan out – Piper back". Non-League Daily. 20 February 2004. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 23 July 2007.
  7. "Starbuck swoops for duo". BBC Sport. 12 August 2004. Retrieved 10 July 2007.
  8. "Duo poised to earn Halifax deals". BBC Sport. 10 November 2004. Retrieved 10 July 2007.
  9. "Turnbull's targets". Non-League Daily. 27 June 2005. Archived from the original on 10 March 2012. Retrieved 24 July 2007.
  10. "Forest Green make double signing". BBC Sport. 28 July 2005. Retrieved 10 July 2007.
  11. "Chester tie up deal for Meechan". BBC Sport. 31 January 2007. Retrieved 10 July 2007.
  12. "Season Review: Alex Meechan". The Onion Bag. 21 July 2007. Archived from the original on 9 July 2007. Retrieved 24 July 2007.
  13. "Chester release Artell & Meechan". BBC Sport. 17 May 2007. Retrieved 10 July 2007.
  14. "York City seal deal with Meechan". BBC Sport. 11 July 2007. Archived from the original on 15 July 2007. Retrieved 11 July 2007.
  15. Martini, Peter (29 September 2007). "Matchwinner Meechan points to positive". The Press. Retrieved 4 November 2007.
  16. Flett, Dave (5 November 2007). "Loan ace Daniel inspires a four-star City display at Celtic". The Press. Retrieved 5 November 2007.
  17. "New Striker To End Goal Drought?". Stalybridge Celtic F.C. 9 November 2007. Archived from the original on 12 November 2007. Retrieved 9 November 2007.
  18. "Alty finally manage to bag Meechan". Non-League Daily. 3 July 2008. Archived from the original on 9 June 2012. Retrieved 4 July 2008.
  19. "Meechan's high hopes for Telford". Sport Glos. 17 June 2011. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 17 June 2011.
  20. "Meechan makes City switch". Football Conference. 27 October 2012. Archived from the original on 20 April 2013.
  21. "Meechan released by Worcester". Non League Daily. 11 December 2012. Archived from the original on 26 November 2012.
  22. "Witton move for Meechan". Non League Daily. 22 December 2012. Archived from the original on 16 January 2013.
  23. "Bay get Meechan". Non League Daily. 20 January 2013. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  24. "Meechan in to help Bucks". Non League Daily. 11 March 2013. Archived from the original on 16 January 2013.
  25. "Macclesfield 2–1 Telford". BBC Sport. 19 March 2013. Retrieved 23 March 2013.
  26. "Meechan joins Barrow". Non League Daily. 21 May 2013.
  27. "Barrow AFC Manager Praises New Boy". Evening Mail. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
  28. "Alex Meechan takes the reins at Bradford Park Avenue". The Non-League Paper. 13 June 2016.
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