Mitch Hancox

Mitchell John Hancox (born 9 November 1993) is an English professional footballer who plays for National League club Solihull Moors.

Mitch Hancox
With Birmingham City in 2012 pre-season
Personal information
Full name Mitchell John Hancox[1]
Date of birth (1993-11-09) 9 November 1993[2]
Place of birth Solihull, England
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[3]
Position(s) Left back, midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Harrogate Town
(on loan from Solihull Moors)
Number 25
Youth career
2001–2011 Birmingham City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2016 Birmingham City 33 (0)
2015–2016 → Crawley Town (loan) 15 (2)
2016–2018 Macclesfield Town 77 (13)
2018–2019 Milton Keynes Dons 1 (0)
2019– Solihull Moors 28 (1)
2019–2020 → Harrogate Town (loan) 5 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 09:34, 28 January 2021 (UTC)

A left back or midfielder, Hancox began his career with hometown club Birmingham City, for whom he made his Football League debut in October 2012. In the 2015–16 season, he spent three months on loan to League Two club Crawley Town. Released by Birmingham at the end of that season, Hancox signed for National League club Macclesfield Town in August 2016. After two years, during which he helped Macclesfield win the 2017–18 National League title, he moved on to Milton Keynes Dons. Hancox joined his hometown club Solihull Moors in May 2019, and spent time on loan to another National League club, Harrogate Town at the end of that year.

Early life

Hancox was born in Solihull, West Midlands.[4] He has three older brothers; the eldest, Matthew, was seriously wounded in 2011 while serving in Afghanistan with the Royal Marines.[5] Hancox was recruited into Birmingham City's youth system at the age of eight after being noticed playing in a six-a-side competition.[6] As a youngster, he was a Birmingham City supporter, and particularly admired full-backs Jeff Kenna and Martin Grainger and wing-back Stan Lazaridis.[6]

While still a 15-year-old Lyndon School student, he played for Birmingham's reserve team. He was picked out as "one of the bright spots of the evening from a home perspective" in a heavy defeat to Arsenal in the 2009–10 Premier Reserve League,[5][7] and described by then Academy manager Terry Westley as "one of the few players to come out with any credit" from a defeat to Leamington in the Birmingham Senior Cup.[8] On leaving school, he began a two-year scholarship with Birmingham City in July 2010.[1]

Career

Birmingham City

His first competitive involvement with Birmingham City's first team came when he was an unused substitute for the 2011–12 Europa League play-off round second leg against Nacional.[9] Hancox signed his first professional contract, of six months, in May 2012,[10] and was given a first-team squad number in August of that year.[4]

Hancox made his competitive debut in the 1–0 home defeat by Huddersfield Town in the Championship on 6 October, as an 80th-minute substitute for the injured Curtis Davies.[11] He played at left back, allowing Paul Robinson to move to centre back, and according to the Birmingham Mail, "can be pleased with his urgent and determined contribution in the last 10 minutes. He's only on a six-month contract but would sweat blood for his boyhood club."[12] A few days later, he was given a six-month extension to his contract.[13] When Robinson took over from Steven Caldwell as first-choice centre back, Hancox was able to establish himself at left back.[14] He ended the season with 20 appearances, including 14 starts,[15] and signed a new three-year contract.[16]

With David Murphy still recovering from injury, Hancox hoped to establish himself as first choice at left back,[17] but a bruised testicle sustained in training and the loan signing of Shane Ferguson obstructed his progress.[18] His first appearance of the season was in mid-September, as a substitute with Birmingham already 3–0 down at Burnley, followed by two League Cup ties, the second of which, at home to Stoke City, was 4–4 after extra time. Hancox volunteered to take the first penalty in the shootout, but his powerful kick struck the top of the crossbar and went over; Birmingham went on to lose the shootout.[19][20] A run of games in November was halted by a knee injury,[21] and ankle damage put an end to another run in the new year.[22] He returned for the last few matches of the season, with Birmingham in danger of relegation. Needing at least a point from the final fixture, away to Bolton Wanderers and for other results to go in their favour, Hancox came on at half-time, and two minutes after Bolton took a two-goal lead, he crossed for Nikola Žigić to score with a header. Well into stoppage time, Paul Caddis scored the equaliser that kept Birmingham in the second tier.[23]

In the 2014 close season, Lee Clark signed left-back Jonathan Grounds, who was almost ever-present under the management both of Clark and his successor Gary Rowett.[24] Hancox played only one first-team match in 2014–15, in the FA Cup against Blyth Spartans,[25] but he was a member of the 2015 Birmingham Senior Cup-winning team, consisting mainly of reserve-team players but also including first-teamers Matt Green and Žigić, who was making his last appearance for the club.[26]

Crawley Town (loan)

After just one League Cup appearance in 2015–16, Hancox joined League Two club Crawley Town on a month's loan on 2 October 2015.[27] He went straight into the starting eleven for the next day's visit to Plymouth Argyle, which Crawley lost 2–1 to a very late goal.[28] In his second League Two match, at home to Leyton Orient, he scored his first senior goal. The score was 1–1 when Orient's goalkeeper Alex Cisak put the ball behind from Hancox's cross. Hancox himself took the corner, and when it was cleared he hit the loose ball past Cisak at his near post. He then made the pass that put Rhys Murphy through on goal, Murphy was fouled for a penalty that put Crawley two goals ahead, and the team held on for a 3–2 win.[29] After he started all seven of Crawley's matches during his first month with the club, his loan was extended for a second month,[30] and then a third.[31] He finished his loan spell with two goals from sixteen appearances in all competitions.[32]

Hancox played no more first-team football after returning to Birmingham. His last appearance for the club was as captain of the reserve team in the 2016 Birmingham Senior Cup final defeat to National League North champions Solihull Moors.[33] Anxious for regular football, he was released when his contract expired at the end of the season; he had been with the club for fourteen years,[34] and made 40 first-team appearances without scoring.[32]

Macclesfield Town

Hancox signed for National League club Macclesfield Town on 4 August 2016.[35] He made his debut two days later in the opening match of the season, a 2–1 win against Torquay United, but in his third match, a 3–1 defeat of Braintree Town, he conceded a penalty and was sent off for two yellow cards.[36][37] In December 2016, Hancox signed a new deal with Macclesfield to run until the end of the 2017–18 season.[38] As well as at left back, he also featured as a holding midfielder for Macclesfield.[38] He finished his first season with 38 National League appearances and 6 goals,[39] which included a hat-trick against Boreham Wood in March 2017,[40] and helped his team reach the 2017 FA Trophy Final against York City. He took the free kick that led to Rhys Browne making the score 1–1, but Macclesfield finished on the losing side.[41]

Hancox scored his second hat-trick for Macclesfield on 1 January 2018 in a 4–1 win away to F.C. Halifax Town.[42] He finished the 2017–18 season with 7 goals in 39 appearances as Macclesfield were promoted to League Two as National League champions.[39][43]

Milton Keynes Dons

Hancox rejected Macclesfield's offer of a new contract, and signed for newly-relegated League Two club Milton Keynes Dons on 21 June 2018 on a one-year contract.[44] However, following limited first team opportunities, Hancox was one of ten players released by the club at the end of the 2018–19 season.[45]

Solihull Moors

Hancox signed for National League club Solihull Moors on 24 May 2019 on a two-year contract.[46] He made nine league appearances in the first few weeks of the season, but only two were starts.[39] After two months during which his only appearance was in the Scottish Challenge Cup[39] – Solihull Moors were one of eight non-Scottish participants[47] – he joined another National League team, Harrogate Town on loan until 5 January 2020; striker Sam Jones made a similar move in the opposite direction.[48]

Career statistics
As of match played 27 January 2021
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Birmingham City 2011–12[49] Championship0000000000
2012–13[15] Championship1901000—200
2013–14[19] Championship1402020—180
2014–15[25] Championship001000—10
2015–16[32] Championship000010—10
Total 330403000400
Crawley Town (loan) 2015–16[32] League Two15200—1[lower-alpha 1]0162
Macclesfield Town 2016–17[39] National League38630—8[lower-alpha 2]0496
2017–18[39] National League39710—1[lower-alpha 2]0417
Total 771340—909013
Milton Keynes Dons 2018–19[50] League Two1000103[lower-alpha 3]151
Solihull Moors 2019–20[39] National League19100—2[lower-alpha 4]0211
2020–21[39] National League9030—2[lower-alpha 2]1141
Total 28130—41352
Harrogate Town (loan) 2019–20[39] National League50——1[lower-alpha 2]060
Career total 159161104018219218
  1. Appearance in Football League Trophy
  2. Appearance(s) in FA Trophy
  3. Appearances in EFL Trophy
  4. Appearances in Scottish Challenge Cup

Honours

Macclesfield Town

References
  1. "List of Players Registered as Scholars in Accordance with Rule C.3 Between 01/07/2010 and 31/07/2010" (PDF). The Football Association. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
  2. "Mitch Hancox". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  3. "Mitch Hancox". Macclesfield Town F.C. Archived from the original on 10 June 2017. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
  4. "Hancox handed squad number". Birmingham City F.C. 8 August 2012. Archived from the original on 15 August 2012. Retrieved 6 October 2012.
  5. Evans, Gregg (30 May 2013). "The Big Interview: Mitch Hancox now living the dream after family nightmare". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
  6. Tattum, Colin (26 July 2012). "I want to be a Blues first-teamer for a long time to come – Mitch Hancox". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
  7. "Westley: It was a tough night". Birmingham City F.C. 1 September 2009. Archived from the original on 5 September 2009.
  8. "Westley on Senior Cup exit". Birmingham City F.C. 17 November 2009. Archived from the original on 4 October 2015. Retrieved 10 May 2016.
  9. "UEFA Europa League 2012: Birmingham–Nacional". UEFA. 7 January 2012. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
  10. "Mitch signs-up". Birmingham City F.C. 26 May 2012. Archived from the original on 3 October 2015. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
  11. "Blues 0 Huddersfield 1". Birmingham City F.C. 6 October 2012. Archived from the original on 18 December 2013. Retrieved 6 October 2012.
  12. Tattum, Colin (8 October 2012). "Birmingham City 0 Huddersfield Town 1". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 23 November 2012.
  13. Walker, Andy (9 October 2012). "Young pair pen extensions". Birmingham City F.C. Archived from the original on 14 November 2012. Retrieved 9 October 2012.
  14. Tattum, Colin (25 April 2013). "Blues secure future of youngsters". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
  15. "Games played by Mitch Hancox in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 May 2013.
  16. "Mitch signs up". Birmingham City F.C. 14 May 2013. Archived from the original on 8 June 2013. Retrieved 14 May 2013.
  17. Evans, Gregg (20 June 2013). "Mitch Hancox aims to play regularly for Birmingham City". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
  18. Tattum, Colin (15 August 2013). "Mitchell Hancox: 'I want to try and play 40 games in the season.'". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
  19. "Games played by Mitch Hancox in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 May 2014.
  20. Tattum, Colin (1 November 2013). "Mitch Hancox admits spot-kick agony will haunt him for some time". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
  21. Tattum, Colin (8 December 2013). "Mitch Hancox to have scan on injured knee". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
  22. Tattum, Colin (6 March 2014). "Birmingham City's Mitch Hancox out for a minimum of six weeks". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
  23. Hart, Simon (3 May 2014). "Bolton 2 Birmingham 2 match report: Paul Caddis gets Birmingham out of jail". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
  24. Dick, Brian (18 May 2015). "Latest Blues player heads for the exit door". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
  25. "Games played by Mitch Hancox in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
  26. Lewis, Peter (20 April 2015). "Blues win the Senior Cup". Birmingham City F.C. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
  27. Talbot, Bruce (2 October 2015). "Reds sign a Blue". Crawley Town F.C. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
  28. Talbot, Bruce (3 October 2015). "Report: Plymouth 2 Reds 1". Crawley Town F.C. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
  29. Sessions, George (10 October 2015). "10-man Orient on the wrong end of a five-goal thriller at Crawley". Docklands & East London Advertiser. Retrieved 10 October 2015.
  30. "Mitch Hancox: Crawley Town extend defender's loan". BBC Sport. 2 November 2015. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
  31. "Mitch Hancox extends Crawley stay". Birmingham City F.C. 30 November 2015. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
  32. "Games played by Mitch Hancox in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
  33. Dick, Brian (5 May 2016). "Birmingham Senior Cup final: Birmingham City U21s 1 Solihull Moors 2". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  34. "Blues bid farewell to Mitch Hancox". Birmingham City F.C. 10 May 2016. Retrieved 10 May 2016.
  35. "Silkmen complete deal to sign Mitch Hancox". Macclesfield Town F.C. 4 August 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
  36. "Games played by Mitch Hancox in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
  37. "Braintree 1–3 Macclesfield Town". Macclesfield Town F.C. 14 August 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  38. "Mitch Hancox signs new Macclesfield Town contract". Macclesfield Town F.C. 22 December 2016. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
  39. "M. Hancox: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  40. "Boreham Wood 2–4 Macclesfield Town". BBC Sport. 1 April 2017. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
  41. "Match Report: Macclesfield 2–3 York". Macclesfield Town F.C. 21 May 2017. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
  42. "FC Halifax Town 1–4 Macclesfield Town". BBC Sport. Press Association. 1 January 2018. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  43. "National League: 2017/18". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
  44. "Mitch Hancox: MK Dons sign Macclesfield Town left-back on one-year deal". BBC Sport. 21 June 2018. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
  45. "MK Dons retained list". Milton Keynes Dons F.C. 17 May 2019. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
  46. Turner, Luke (24 May 2019). "Hancox becomes first summer signing". Solihull Moors F.C. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
  47. "Tunnock's Caramel Wafer Cup 2019/20". Scottish Professional Football League. 2019. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  48. Howell, Rhys (22 November 2019). "Harrogate Town add ex-Birmingham City man to their ranks". Harrogate Advertiser. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  49. "Games played by Mitch Hancox in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
  50. "Games played by Mitch Hancox in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
  51. "Macclesfield Town 2–3 York City". BBC Sport. 21 May 2017. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
  52. Anderson, John, ed. (2018). Football Yearbook 2018–2019. London: Headline. pp. 642–643. ISBN 978-1-4722-6106-9.
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