Tony Funnell

Anthony Funnell (born 20 August 1957) is an English retired professional football forward who played in the Football League for Bournemouth, Gillingham, Brentford and Southampton.[1] After dropping into non-league football, he had a notable spell with Poole Town, making over 300 appearances and being inducted into the club's Hall of Fame in 2014.[1][2] He later became a manager.

Tony Funnell
Personal information
Full name Anthony Funnell[1]
Date of birth (1957-08-20) 20 August 1957
Place of birth Eastbourne, England
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
Newhaven
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1975–1977 Eastbourne United
1977–1979 Southampton 17 (8)
1977 → Vancouver Whitecaps (loan) 10 (2)
1979–1980 Gillingham 33 (10)
1980–1981 Brentford 32 (8)
1981–1983 Bournemouth 64 (22)
Poole Town
Teams managed
Hamworthy United
Wimborne Town
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Playing career

Southampton

After rising to prominence at Athenian League club Eastbourne United, Funnell joined Second Division club Southampton for a £250 fee in January 1977.[3] He made quite an impression during the second half of the 1977–78 season, by scoring 9 goals to help the Saints clinch promotion to First Division with a second-place finish.[4][5] The higher level of football during the 1978–79 season meant Funnell rarely figured in the first team picture and he departed The Dell in March 1979.[6] Funnell made 20 appearances and scored 9 goals during his time with Southampton.[4]

Vancouver Whitecaps (loan)

Funnell spent the 1977 English off-season in Canada with North American Soccer League club Vancouver Whitecaps.[7] He scored two goals in 10 games for the club,[7] which fell to the Seattle Sounders in the first round of the 1977 playoffs.

Gillingham

In March 1979, Funnell signed for Third Division club Gillingham for a then-club record fee of £50,000.[1][6] He made 38 appearances and scoring 10 goals during just over a year at Priestfield.[8]

Brentford

Funnell joined Third Division club Brentford for a then-club record fee of £56,000 in March 1980.[3] Not rated by incoming manager Fred Callaghan, he made only 23 appearances and scored six goals during his only full season at Griffin Park.[1] Funnell departed the Bees in the summer of 1981, having made 35 appearances and scored 10 goals.[1]

Bournemouth

Funnell signed for Fourth Division club Bournemouth in September 1981 for a £5,000 fee.[3] Under David Webb's management, he had the best season of his career in 1981–82, top-scoring 16 goals in 43 league games to help the Cherries to promotion to Division Three with a fourth-place finish.[9] A back injury during the 1982–83 season ended Funnell's career in league football.[3] He made 64 appearances and scored 22 goals during his time at Dean Court.[9]

Poole Town

Funnell dropped into non-league football and signed for Southern League Premier Division club Poole Town in 1983.[1] In a long spell with the club, Funnell scored 127 goals in 308 games for the Dolphins.[1] He was recognised for his service with a testimonial versus former club Southampton in May 1991 and was inducted into the club's Hall of Fame in 2014.[2]

Managerial career

Funnell had spells as manager of Dorset League club Hamworthy United and Wessex League club Wimborne Town.[1]

Personal life

Funnell's son Gary is also a footballer and represented non-league clubs Wimborne Town, Salisbury City and Poole Town, in addition to the England beach football team at international level.[10]

Honours

As a player

Southampton

Bournemouth

As an individual

Career statistics
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Southampton 1977–78[4] Second Division 15 8 1 0 2 1 18 9
1978–79[4] First Division 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Total 17 8 2 0 2 1 20 9
Vancouver Whitecaps (loan) 1977[7] North American Soccer League 10 2 — — 10 2
Gillingham 1978–79[8] Third Division 12 7 — — 12 7
1979–80[8] 21 3 2 0 3 0 26 3
Total 33 10 2 0 3 0 38 10
Brentford 1979–80[11] Third Division 9 2 — — 9 2
1980–81[11] 23 6 3 2 0 0 26 8
Total 32 8 3 2 0 0 35 10
Career total 92 28 7 2 5 1 103 31

References
  1. Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Harefield: Yore Publications. p. 61. ISBN 978-0955294914.
  2. "Hall of Fame 2014". Poole Town FC. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  3. Croxford, Mark; Lane, David; Waterman, Greville (2011). The Big Brentford Book of the Seventies. Sunbury, Middlesex: Legends Publishing. p. 294. ISBN 978-1906796709.
  4. "Tony Funnell". 11v11.com. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  5. "Football Club History Database – Southampton". fchd.info. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  6. "Southampton v Norwich City, 11 November 1978". 11v11.com. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  7. "North American Soccer League Players". Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  8. "Gillingham FC Career Details". Retrieved 26 May 2017.
  9. Wadley, Ian. "Funnell: Cherries have done 10 times better than Saints". Bournemouth Echo. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  10. Wadley, Ian. "Wimborne Town: Funnell after more FA Cup exploits". Bournemouth Echo. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  11. White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. pp. 393–398. ISBN 0951526200.
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