Alex Hurst (footballer)

Last updated

Alex Hurst
Personal information
Full name Alexander Charles Hurst [1]
Date of birth (1999-10-06) 6 October 1999 (age 24) [2]
Place of birth Stoke-on-Trent, England [3]
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) [4]
Position(s) Midfielder, left-back, forward
Team information
Current team
Leek Town
Youth career
Crewe Alexandra
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2018 Matlock Town 7 (0)
2018–2019 Bradford (Park Avenue) 25 (1)
2019–2022 Port Vale 21 (1)
2019–2020Bradford (Park Avenue) (loan) 32 (0)
2022–2023 York City 38 (2)
2023–2024 Macclesfield 13 (0)
2024– Leek Town 0 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 14:46, 12 May 2024 (UTC)

Alexander Charles Hurst (born 6 October 1999) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Northern Premier League Premier Division club Leek Town.

Contents

A former Academy player at Crewe Alexandra, he won a move from Matlock Town to Bradford (Park Avenue) in October 2018, before being picked up by Port Vale in August 2019. He returned on loan at Bradford (Park Avenue) during the 2019–20 season. He played 26 games for Port Vale in the 2020–21 season but featured just twice the following season and joined York City in June 2022. He signed with Macclesfield in September 2023 before he joined Leek Town at the end of the season.

Career

Early career

Hurst came through the Academy at Crewe Alexandra and played for the "Railwaymen" at under-18 and under-23 level. [5] He joined Northern Premier League Premier Division side Matlock Town in August 2018 after impressing "Gladiators" boss Dave Hoole on trial. [6] He was signed by National League North club Bradford (Park Avenue) on 19 October 2018. [7] He made his debut for the Avenue the following day, and after coming on for Nicky Wroe as a 68th-minute substitute went and scored a goal with five minutes in what finished as a 6–0 victory at Nuneaton Borough. [8] He was handed his first start by manager Mark Bower on Boxing day, as Bradford recorded a 5–1 victory at Guiseley. [9] He ended the 2018–19 season with 13 starts and 12 substitute appearances to his name, including a brief cameo in a 1–0 defeat at Spennymoor Town in the play-off quarter-finals. [10]

Port Vale

On 3 August 2019, Hurst signed a two-year contract with English Football League side Port Vale after impressing manager John Askey on trial, though was immediately returned to Bradford (Park Avenue) on a five-month loan deal. [11] [12] Bradford manager Garry Thompson said that "He's worked hard and deserves everything he's got. Whilst we naturally want to keep our best players, the transfer shows that we are committed to developing talent but also won't stand in anyone's way to progress." [13] On 24 September, he made his debut for the "Valiants" in a 3–2 victory at Macclesfield Town in the EFL Trophy, coming on as a 90th-minute substitute for Scott Burgess; the rules of the competition meant that he was able to play for the club during his loan spell at Bradford. [14] On 23 January, the loan deal was extended until the end of the 2019–20 season. [15] Bradford remained rooted to the foot of the table, though Vale coach Dave Kevan felt the experience was character building for Hurst. [16]

He scored his first goal for the club on 10 November 2020, with a 15 yards (14 m) strike in a 4–2 win over Liverpool U21 in the group stages of the EFL Trophy. [17] He made his League Two debut on 5 December, coming on as a 69th-minute substitute for Cristian Montaño in a 6–3 victory at Bolton Wanderers. [18] He made his first start in the EFL seven days later, and Askey said that "for an hour I thought he was excellent" in the 1–1 draw with Colchester United at Vale Park. [19] He scored his first goal in the English Football League on 6 March, during a 3–2 defeat at Cheltenham Town. [20] He signed a new two-year contract the following month, with manager Darrell Clarke commenting that "we are very much looking forward to seeing Hursty continue his development". [21] Hiwever he played just two games in the 2021–22 promotion campaign, though director of football David Flitcroft said: "Alex has faced tough competition for game time here at Port Vale but has remained professional throughout and has played a key role as a member of our extended squad". [22] [23]

York City

On 20 June 2022, Hurst joined newly-promoted National League club York City for an undisclosed fee. The move saw Hurst once again play under John Askey, the manager who had signed him for Port Vale. [24] He was sent off for a challenge on Frank Vincent in a 2–1 defeat at Aldershot Town on 22 October, though Askey said that he disagreed with the referee's decision. [25] Hurst played 36 games in the 2022–23 season, scoring two goals. [26]

Macclesfield

On 27 September 2023, Hurst signed for Northern Premier League Premier Division club Macclesfield on a deal until the end of the season. [27] He played 24 games in the 2023–24 campaign and was released at the end of the season. [28] [29]

Leek Town

On 2 June 2024, Hurst joined newly-promoted Northern Premier League Premier Division side Leek Town. [30]

Style of play

Hurst is a versatile player, able to operate as a left-sided midfielder, left-back, attacking midfielder or forward. [5] He has pace, good ball control skills. He has good strength despite his small build. [31]

Career statistics

As of match played 27 April 2024
ClubSeasonLeague FA Cup EFL Cup OtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Matlock Town 2018–19 [32] NPL Premier Division70100080
Bradford (Park Avenue) 2018–19 [26] National League North 2510000251
Port Vale 2019–20 [33] League Two 0000001 [lower-alpha 1] 010
2020–21 [34] League Two20100105 [lower-alpha 1] 1262
2021–22 [22] League Two1000001 [lower-alpha 1] 020
Total211001071292
Bradford (Park Avenue) (loan) 2019–20 [26] National League North320102 [lower-alpha 2] 0350
York City 2022–23 [26] National League 332102 [lower-alpha 2] 0362
2023–24 [26] National League50000050
Total382100020412
Macclesfield 2023–24 [28] NPL Premier Division130209 [lower-alpha 3] 1241
Leek Town 2024–25 [35] NPL Premier Division00000000
Career total136450102021626
  1. 1 2 3 Appearances in the EFL Trophy.
  2. 1 2 Appearances in the FA Trophy.
  3. 6 appearances and 1 goal in the FA Trophy; 3 appearances in the Cheshire Senior Cup

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References

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  30. @leektown (2 June 2024). "We have saved a big one till Sunday - please welcome Alex Hurst to the Club! A local lad who has played for Port Vale, Bradford Park Avenue, York City & Macclesfield - a wide midfielder with blistering pace. Please join us in welcoming Alex to the Club 💙👍 More news next week" (Tweet). Retrieved 4 June 2024 via Twitter.
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