Joe Partington

Joe Partington

Personal information
Full name	Joseph Michael Partington [1]
Date of birth	(1990-04-01) 1 April 1990 (age 34) [1]
Place of birth	Portsmouth, England
Height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) [1]
Position(s)	Defender
Team information
Current team	St Albans City
Youth career
2001–2006	Portsmouth
2006–2007	AFC Bournemouth
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2007–2015	AFC Bournemouth	52	(2)
2010	→ Eastbourne Borough (loan)	4	(0)
2014	→ Aldershot Town (loan)	8	(1)
2015	→ Eastleigh (loan)	17	(2)
2015–2017	Eastleigh	64	(4)
2017–2019	Bristol Rovers	53	(3)
2019–2021	Eastleigh	65	(0)
2021–2022	Bromley	28	(0)
2022–2023	Aldershot Town	33	(3)
2023	Farnborough	10	(0)
2023–	St Albans City	0	(0)
International career‡
2006–2007	Wales U17	2	(0)
2007–2008	Wales U19	11	(2)
2009–2012	Wales U21	8	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:42, 11 October 2023 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 5 March 2012

Joseph Michael Partington (born 1 April 1990) is a professional footballer who plays as a defender for National League South side St Albans City. At under-21 level, Partington represented Wales on eight occasions between 2009 and 2012.

Club career

Born in Portsmouth, Partington joined AFC Bournemouth in June 2006 after being released by Portsmouth. He made his first team debut for Bournemouth on 9 February 2008, against Luton Town. ^[2] Bournemouth won the game 4–1. Partington came on as a late substitute for Marvin Bartley.

On 5 April, Partington scored his first professional goal. This was a crucial goal at the Liberty Stadium in the 90th minute against top of the league side Swansea City. Moments after, Bournemouth scored another goal from Jo Kuffour to win the game 2–1. The goal scored against Swansea when he was 18 years 4 days old means he is currently the youngest player to score for Bournemouth in their history. ^[3]

On 7 May, Bournemouth manager Kevin Bond announced he had offered Partington, along with youth team goalkeeper Ryan Pryce and winger Josh McQuoid a professional contract with the club. Partington made his full first team début against Bury on 20 December, scoring Bournemouth's second goal of the game in the 44th minute.

On 29 October 2010, Partington joined Eastbourne Borough of the Conference National on an initial one-month's loan in order to gain some first team experience.

The then Bournemouth manager Lee Bradbury offered Partington a new and improved two-and-a-half-year contract on 4 February 2011 which he accepted. This will keep him at the club until the end of the 2012–13 season.

Partington's contract was extended by a further two years in June 2013 by current manager Eddie Howe who has stated that he is keen for Partington to convert to a centre half. To assist him in this on 1 January 2014 he signed for Conference Premier team Aldershot Town on a month's loan after turning down two League clubs who wanted to sign him as a central midfielder. ^[4] He suffered an injury in a match against Dartford which required an operation to reconstruct his knee and kept him out for ten months. ^{[5] [6]}

Partington signed for Eastleigh in January 2015, after recovering from a knee injury, on an initial one-month loan, which was extended until the end of the 2014–15 season.

On 4 June 2015, Partington joined Eastleigh on a free transfer on a two-year deal after Bournemouth released him. ^[7] On 25 July 2016 Eastleigh manager Chris Todd persuaded Partington to sign an extension to his contract that will keep him at the club until July 2018. Partington was also made captain of the first team for the 2016/17 season. This came after the fans of the club and his teammates presented him with all four of the 2015/16 end of season awards.

On 13 January 2017, Partington joined League One side Bristol Rovers for an undisclosed fee, although Eastleigh stated that the fee that they received for Partington was a new club record. ^[8] He made his debut for the club replacing Mark McChrystal in the second half of a 3–1 defeat to Fleetwood Town. ^[9]

He was offered a new contract by Bristol Rovers at the end of the 2018–19 season. ^[10]

On 13 June 2019, Partington returned to Eastleigh ^[11] after rejecting a new contract at Bristol Rovers to allow him to focus on a new business, providing fitness camps for footballers in Hampshire. After the 2020/21 season, Partington departed Eastleigh after declining to sign a new contract with the club. ^[12]

On 1 July 2021, Partington joined Bromley. ^[13] On 22 May 2022, Partington came on as a substitute in a 1–0 victory over Wrexham in the FA Trophy Final. ^[14]

On 17 June 2022, Partington returned to former club Aldershot Town on a two-year deal having spent time on loan with them eight years prior. ^[15]

On 22 June 2023, following a mutual agreement to terminate his contract with Aldershot due to him taking fulltime employment with a global company, Partington agreed to join National League South side, Farnborough. ^[16] He departed the club in October 2023 after his contract was terminated by mutual consent. ^[17] He joined St Albans City two days after his Farnborough departure. ^[18]

International career

Partington chose to play for Wales, qualifying through his Welsh mother. He made his debut for the Wales under-19 team in July 2007 against Chile. Aged only 17 years and 4 months he was made captain of the Welsh under-19 team for the game against Turkey in the Milk Cup and has captained his country at this level nine times since. ^[19] His first Welsh goal came in a 3–1 defeat against Hungary.

On 2 February 2009, Partington was called up to the Wales under-21 squad for the first time by manager Brian Flynn for a friendly against Northern Ireland on 10 February. Because the match was cancelled, ^[20] he made his under-21 debut on 31 March 2009 against Luxembourg at Llanelli's Parc y Scarlets. ^[21] Partington captained the Welsh under-21s for the first time on 17 November 2010 in a 1–0 win against Austria.

Personal life

Partington hosts the Leave No Doubt podcast which provides guidance on how to become a professional footballer, calling upon the advice of elite coaches and players. Launched in February 2022, the first episode saw Partington speak with former Arsenal and England international midfielder Jack Wilshere on how to maximise your potential. ^[22]

Career statistics

As of match played 30 September 2023 ^[23]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
AFC Bournemouth	2007–08 [24]	League One	6	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	1
	2008–09 [25]	League Two	11	1	1	0	0	0	1 [lower-alpha 1]	0	13	1
	2009–10 [26]		11	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	11	0
	2010–11 [27]	League One	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	0
	2011–12 [28]		5	0	0	0	0	0	1 [lower-alpha 1]	0	6	0
	2012–13 [29]		14	0	2	0	1	0	1 [lower-alpha 1]	0	18	0
	Total		52	2	3	0	1	0	3	0	59	2
Eastbourne Borough (loan)	2010–11 [27]	Conference Premier	4	0	0	0	~	~	0	0	4	0
Aldershot Town (loan)	2013–14 [30]	Conference Premier	8	1	0	0	~	~	2 [lower-alpha 2]	0	10	1
Eastleigh (loan)	2014–15 [31]	Conference Premier	17	2	0	0	~	~	2 [lower-alpha 3]	0	19	2
Eastleigh	2015–16 [32]	National League	43	2	5	1	~	~	2 [lower-alpha 2]	0	50	3
	2016–17 [33]		21	2	4	0	~	~	0	0	25	2
	Total		81	6	9	1	~	~	4	0	94	7
Bristol Rovers	2016–17 [33]	League One	7	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	7	0
	2017–18 [34]		32	3	1	0	2	0	2 [lower-alpha 4]	0	37	3
	2018–19 [35]		14	0	1	0	0	0	4 [lower-alpha 4]	0	19	0
	Total		53	3	2	0	2	0	6	0	63	3
Eastleigh	2019–20 [36]	National League	35	0	2	0	–		1 [lower-alpha 2]	0	38	0
	2020–21 [37]	National League	30	0	1	0	—		1 [lower-alpha 2]	0	32	0
	Total		65	0	3	0	0	0	2	0	70	0
Bromley	2021–22 [38]	National League	28	0	1	0	—		6 [lower-alpha 2]	1	35	1
Aldershot Town	2022–23 [39]	National League	33	3	0	0	—		4 [lower-alpha 2]	0	37	3
Farnborough	2023–24 [40]	National League South	10	0	3	1	—		0	0	13	1
Career total			334	15	21	2	3	0	27	1	384	18

1. Appearances in the Football League Trophy
2. Appearances in the FA Trophy
3. Appearances in the Conference Premier play-offs
4. Appearance in the EFL Trophy

Honours

AFC Bournemouth

• EFL League Two runners-up: 2009–10

Bromley

• FA Trophy Winners: 2021–22 ^[14]

References

1. Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2008). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2008–09. Mainstream. ISBN   978-1-84596-324-8.
2. "Partington's push for senior start". Bournemouth Daily Echo . 19 January 2008.
3. "Who is the youngest goalscorer at your club?". The Telegraph . 12 December 2016.
4. "Aldershot: Bournemouth's Joe Partington joins on loan". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
5. Tervet, Steve (25 February 2014). "Dartford 1 Aldershot Town 1". Kent Online. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
6. "The McNamara Interviews with Joe Partington". Eastleigh F.C. 9 February 2015. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
7. "Joe Partington: Eastleigh sign AFC Bournemouth defender". BBC Sport. 5 June 2015. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
8. "Joe Partington: Bristol Rovers sign Eastleigh captain". BBC Sport. 13 January 2017. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
9. "Fleetwood Town 3-1 Bristol Rovers - BBC Sport". BBC Sport. 14 January 2017. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
10. "Bristol Rovers: Chris Lines heads list of nine players to leave League One club". BBC Sport. 8 May 2019. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
11. "NEW SIGNING Partington returns". www.eastleighfc.com. 17 June 2019. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
12. "Why Joe Partington has switched Bristol Rovers for a return to non-league". Bristol Post. 13 June 2019. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
13. "Joe Partington is a Raven". www.bromleyfc.tv. 1 July 2021. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
14. "FA Trophy final: Wrexham 0–1 Bromley". BBC Sport. 22 May 2022.
15. "NEW SIGNING: Shots Sign Partington". www.theshots.co.uk. 16 June 2022. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
16. Lloyd, Dom (22 June 2023). "Boro secure Partington signing". Farnborough F.C. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
17. "Joe Partington departs". farnboroughfc.co.uk. 11 October 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
18. "Partington signs". www.stalbanscityfc.com. 13 October 2023. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
19. "Partington targeting Welsh dream". BBC Sport. 15 January 2009.
20. "U21 match NI V Wales – cancelled". Irish Football Association. 9 February 2009. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
21. "Wales U21 5, Luxembourg U21 1". Wales Online. 31 March 2009. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
22. "Podcast". e-performfootball.com. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
23. Joe Partington at Soccerway. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
24. "Games played by Joe Partington in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
25. "Games played by Joe Partington in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
26. "Games played by Joe Partington in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
27. "Games played by Joe Partington in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
28. "Games played by Joe Partington in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
29. "Games played by Joe Partington in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
30. "Games played by Joe Partington in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
31. "Games played by Joe Partington in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
32. "Games played by Joe Partington in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
33. "Games played by Joe Partington in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
34. "Games played by Joe Partington in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
35. "Games played by Joe Partington in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
36. "Games played by Joe Partington in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
37. "Games played by Joe Partington in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
38. "Games played by Joe Partington in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
39. "Games played by Joe Partington in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
40. "Farnborough – Appearances – Joe Partington". Football Web Pages. Retrieved 13 October 2023.

External links

• Joe Partington at Soccerbase