Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Alexander Charles Hurst [1] | ||
Date of birth | [2] | 6 October 1999||
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 | Macclesfield | ||
Youth career | |||
Crewe Alexandra | |||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2018 | Matlock Town | 7 | (0) |
2018–2019 | Bradford (Park Avenue) | 25 | (1) |
2019–2022 | Port Vale | 21 | (1) |
2019–2020 | → Bradford (Park Avenue) (loan) | 32 | (0) |
2022–2023 | York City | 38 | (2) |
2023– | Macclesfield | 0 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22:07, 2 October 2023 (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 Macclesfield.
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.
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]
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]
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]
On 27 September 2023, Hurst signed for Northern Premier League Premier Division club Macclesfield on a deal until the end of the season. [27]
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 and has good strength despite his small build. [28]
Club | Season | League | FA Cup | EFL Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Matlock Town | 2018–19 [29] | NPL Premier Division | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | |
Bradford (Park Avenue) | 2018–19 [26] | National League North | 25 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 25 | 1 | |
Port Vale | 2019–20 [30] | League Two | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 [lower-alpha 1] | 0 | 1 | 0 |
2020–21 [31] | League Two | 20 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 [lower-alpha 1] | 1 | 26 | 2 | |
2021–22 [22] | League Two | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 [lower-alpha 1] | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
Total | 21 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 29 | 2 | ||
Bradford (Park Avenue) (loan) | 2019–20 [26] | National League North | 32 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 2 [lower-alpha 2] | 0 | 35 | 0 | |
York City | 2022–23 [26] | National League | 33 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | 2 [lower-alpha 2] | 0 | 36 | 2 | |
2023–24 [26] | National League | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | ||
Total | 38 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 41 | 2 | ||
Macclesfield | 2023–24 [32] | NPL Premier Division | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Career total | 123 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 138 | 5 |
Luke James Joyce is an English former professional footballer who is now the Lead North Scout at Premier League club Brentford. He made 700 league and cup appearances in a 19-year professional playing career.
David Richard Worrall is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for EFL League Two club Barrow. A versatile and aggressive player, he is able to play wide right or in central midfield.
John Colin Askey is an English professional football manager and former player who was most recently the manager of Hartlepool United.
Tom George Sawyer Conlon is an English footballer who plays for National League club Oldham Athletic. He is a descendant of Football League players George Heppell and Albert Pearson.
Daniel Whitehead is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for National League club AFC Fylde.
Scott Andrew Burgess is an English professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for National League club York City. He has played in the English Football League for Bury and Port Vale.
Stephen Rhys Browne is an Antiguan footballer who plays for National League club Woking. Able to play as a winger or striker, he has been capped by the Antigua and Barbuda national football team.
Kieran James Kennedy is an English footballer who plays as a defender for North West Counties League Division One South club Stockport Town. He is the grandson of Paddy Kennedy.
Zachary Louvaine Mills is an English professional footballer who plays as a right-back for National League North club Boston United.
James Andrew Gibbons is an English professional footballer who plays as a full-back for EFL League One club Cambridge United, on loan from EFL League One club Bristol Rovers.
Harry McKirdy is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for EFL League Two club Swindon Town, on loan from Scottish Premiership club Hibernian.
Mitchell Reece Clark is a professional footballer who plays as a defender for EFL League One club Port Vale. He has represented Wales at youth level.
The 2018–19 season was Port Vale's 107th season of football in the English Football League, and second consecutive season in EFL League Two. The season covers the period from 1 July 2018 through to 30 June 2019.
David James Fitzpatrick is an English professional footballer who plays as a left back for Northern Premier League Premier Division club Radcliffe.
Adam Mark Crookes is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for National League club York City.
The 2019–20 season was Port Vale's 108th season of football in the English Football League, and third consecutive season in EFL League Two. The season covers the period from 1 July 2019 through to 30 June 2020.
Jake Jon Taylor is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for EFL League Two club Morecambe.
The 2020–21 season was Port Vale's 109th season in the English Football League, and fourth consecutive season in EFL League Two. The season covers the period from 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2021. Though no honours were won on the pitch, Port Vale was named as Community Club of the Year at the 2021 EFL Awards for their work helping the local area during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 2021–22 season was Port Vale's 110th season in the English Football League, and fifth consecutive season in EFL League Two. The season covers the period from 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2022. It was manager Darrell Clarke's first full season in charge of the club.
James John Plant is an English professional footballer who plays as a winger for EFL League One club Port Vale. He has previously played on loan at Nantwich Town and Salisbury.