Michael Cheek

Michael Cheek

Cheek in 2017
Personal information
Full name	Michael Cheek
Date of birth	(1991-08-23) 23 August 1991 (age 32)
Place of birth	Nuneaton, England
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s)	Striker
Team information
Current team	Bromley
Number	9
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
0000–2010	Marks Tey
2010–2012	Stanway Rovers
2012–2014	Heybridge Swifts
2014–2015	Chelmsford City	59	(27)
2015–2017	Braintree Town	84	(34)
2017–2018	Dagenham & Redbridge	34	(13)
2018–2019	Ebbsfleet United	39	(16)
2019–	Bromley	211	(91)
International career
2022	England C	1	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16:26, 17 August 2024 (UTC)

Michael Cheek (born 23 August 1991) is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for EFL League Two side Bromley.

Career

Early career

Cheek began his senior career with Stanway Rovers, signing for Heybridge Swifts in May 2012, alongside teammates Ben Newson and Russell Malton. ^[1] Prior to joining Stanway, Cheek had played for Marks Tey in the Colchester & East Essex League. ^[2]

Chelmsford City

In January 2014, following 13 goals in 20 league appearances for Heybridge Swifts during the opening months of the 2013–14 season, ^[3] Cheek signed for National League South club Chelmsford City. Cheek's arrival at the club followed former Heybridge manager Mark Hawkes, who had joined Chelmsford in November 2013. ^[4] On 21 January 2014, in his second game for the club, Cheek scored his first Chelmsford goal, in a 3–1 win away to Concord Rangers. ^[5] Cheek finished the 2013–14 season with 12 goals from 20 appearances, ^[3] a tally which included four goals in a 7–1 win against Tonbridge Angels on Easter Monday. ^[6]

On 28 December 2014, Cheek recorded his second four goal haul for Chelmsford in a 5–3 win away to Staines Town. ^[7] Despite only scoring one goal in his final 13 appearances for Chelmsford, Cheek scored 23 goals in 46 appearances in all competitions for the club during the 2014–15 season. ^[3]

Braintree Town

On 23 May 2015, it was announced Cheek has signed for National League side Braintree Town. Upon signing, Braintree boss Danny Cowley said "Michael Cheek was the best all-round forward in the Conference South last year". ^[8] After scoring 15 league goals in his debut season for the club, Cheek signed a new one-year deal with Braintree in June 2016. ^[9]

Ahead of the 2016–17 National League season, after playing as a lone striker in the previous campaign, Cheek's role at Braintree changed, following the appointment of Jamie Day and the signings of Lee Barnard and Jack Midson. ^[10] Despite Day's sacking in September 2016, ^[11] Cheek scored 15 goals in 40 appearances as Braintree were relegated back to the National League South. ^[3]

Dagenham & Redbridge

Following Braintree's relegation, Cheek opted to the leave the club. In June 2017, he signed for National League club Dagenham & Redbridge on a two-year deal. ^[12] He scored on his debut for Dagenham, in a 2–1 win against Barrow on 5 August 2017. ^[13]

Ebbsfleet United

In August 2018, Cheek signed for fellow National League side Ebbsfleet United for an undisclosed fee. ^[14] Due to off-field financial issues at the club, Cheek spent only one season with Ebbsfleet. He described the situation as "difficult" and said it caused him stress due to the players failing to be paid on time regularly. Upon his departure, Cheek said to the local press "This season has definitely taught me a lot, on and off the field. I’ve met some great players and I’ve learned that, as a team, we can do more even if off-field issues are a problem. It’s the best group of players I’ve played with in all honesty, characters and talent-wise. It’s just a shame the way it’s ended." ^[15]

Bromley

On 10 May 2019, Cheek signed for Bromley. ^[16] Cheek scored on his home debut for Bromley against his former club Ebbsfleet in a 3–1 win on 6 August 2019. ^[17] He scored 13 times in 37 league appearances in his first season with Bromley.

In January 2021, he signed a new deal with the club. ^[18] Following the 2020–21 National League season, Cheek won the Golden Boot award after scoring 21 league goals for Bromley in the National League, as well as a further four in cup competitions. ^[19]

On 22 May 2022, Cheek scored the only goal in the 2022 FA Trophy final against Wrexham at Wembley Stadium. ^[20]

In May 2024, he scored twice at Wembley in the 2024 National League play-off final. Bromley drew the game 2–2 and won 4–3 on penalties against Solihull Moors. Cheek also scored his penalty in the shootout. The win meant that Bromley had secured promotion to the English Football League for the first time in the club's history. ^[21]

On 10 August 2024, Cheek scored Bromley's first ever goal in the Football League, in a 2–0 win away to Harrogate Town. ^[22]

International career

In March 2022, Cheek played for the England C team in a friendly against Wales C. ^[23]

Career statistics

As of match played 17 August 2024

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		EFL Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Chelmsford City	2013–14 [24] [3]	Conference South	20	12	—		—		—		20	12
	2014–15 [24] [3]	Conference South	39	15	5	5	—		2 [lower-alpha 1]	3	46	23
	Total		59	27	5	5	—		2	3	66	35
Braintree Town	2015–16 [24] [3]	National League	40	15	3	2	—		4 [lower-alpha 2]	0	47	17
	2016–17 [24] [3]	National League	44	19	3	3	—		3 [lower-alpha 3]	3	50	25
	Total		84	34	6	5	—		7	3	97	42
Dagenham & Redbridge	2017–18 [24] [3]	National League	34	13	1	0	—		1 [lower-alpha 3]	1	36	13
Ebbsfleet United	2018–19 [24] [3]	National League	39	16	1	0	—		1 [lower-alpha 3]	0	41	16
Bromley	2019–20 [24] [3]	National League	37	13	3	2	—		1 [lower-alpha 3]	0	41	15
	2020–21 [24] [3]	National League	43	23	2	1	—		2 [lower-alpha 4]	1	47	25
	2021–22 [24] [3]	National League	42	17	2	1	—		3 [lower-alpha 3]	5	47	22
	2022–23 [24] [3]	National League	43	15	1	0	—		3 [lower-alpha 5]	2	47	17
	2023–24 [24] [3]	National League	44	21	2	1	—		7 [lower-alpha 6]	4	53	26
	2024–25 [25]	League Two	2	2	0	0	1	0	0	0	3	2
	Total		211	91	10	5	1	0	16	12	238	108
Career total			427	181	23	15	1	0	27	19	478	215

1. One appearance and one goal in FA Trophy, one appearance and two goals in Essex Senior Cup
2. Two appearances in FA Trophy, two appearances in National League play-offs
3. Appearance(s) in FA Trophy
4. One appearance in FA Trophy, one appearance in National League play-offs
5. One appearance in FA Trophy, two appearances and two goals in National League play-offs
6. Five appearances and two goals in FA Trophy, two appearances and two goals in National League play-offs

Honours

Bromley

• FA Trophy: 2021–22 ^[26]
• National League play-offs: 2024 ^[27]

References

1. "Rovers trio make the switch to Heybridge Swifts". Maldon Standard. 31 May 2012. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
2. "C&EEFL annual general meeting". Colchester & East Essex Football League. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
3. "Michael Cheek". Aylesbury United F.C. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
4. "Striker Cheek is set to leave Heybridge Swifts and join Chelmsford City". Maldon Standard. 31 May 2012. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
5. "SKRILL SOUTH: Concord Rangers 1, Chelmsford City 3". Basildon Echo. 21 January 2014. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
6. "Chelmsford City 7–1 Tonbridge Angels". Chelmsford City F.C. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
7. "Four-Goal Cheek helps see off Staines". Chelmsford City F.C. 28 December 2014. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
8. "Michael Cheek: Braintree Town sign Chelmsford City striker". BBC. 23 May 2015. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
9. "Braintree Town: Michael Cheek and Chez Isaac sign new contracts". BBC. 1 June 2016. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
10. "Michael Cheek is looking forward to having a different attacking role for Braintree Town". Braintree & Witham Times. 29 July 2016. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
11. "Jamie Day: Braintree Town part company with manager". Braintree & Witham Times. 25 September 2016. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
12. "Dagenham & Redbridge sign striker Michael Cheek from Braintree Town". Barking and Dagenham Post. 15 June 2017. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
13. "Michael Cheek". Soccerbase.
14. "Michael Cheek leaves Daggers for Ebbsfleet". Time 107.5FM. 2 August 2018. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
15. "Michael Cheek on the stress caused by Ebbsfleet United paying wages late". Kent Online. 14 May 2019. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
16. "Bromley sign Ebbsfleet United striker Michael Cheek". Kentish Football. 10 May 2019. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
17. "Michael Cheek surpasses 200 appearances". Bromley FC. 12 November 2023. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
18. "Michael Cheek signs new deal!". Bromley FC. 18 January 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
19. "Cheek wins National League Golden Boot award". Bromley F.C. 11 June 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
20. "Michael Cheek surpasses 200 appearances". Bromley FC. 12 November 2023. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
21. "Bromley 2–2 Solihull Moors: Line-ups". BBC Sport. 5 May 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
22. "Michael Cheek nets first ever EFL goal for Bromley". Sky Sports. 10 August 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
23. "Michael Cheek surpasses 200 appearances". Bromley FC. 12 November 2023. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
24. "M. Cheek: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
25. "Games played by Michael Cheek in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
26. "Bromley beat Wrexham to win FA Trophy". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
27. "Bromley 2–2 Solihull Moors: Line-ups". BBC Sport. 5 May 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.

External links

• Michael Cheek at Soccerbase
• Michael Cheek at Soccerway