[caption id="attachment_14621" align="alignnone" width="300"] Phil in action against Marine[/caption]

Midfielder

DOB 7/1/87

Phil started his career in the Football League at Hartlepool, and had a loan spell at Gateshead in 2005. He turned pro in July 2006, but only played one first team game for Hartlepool before being freed in May 2007.

He joined York, but then a shoulder injury sidelined him for six months, and when he recovered, he signed for Gateshead in March 2008. He helped Gateshead win promotion from the EvoStik Premier to the Conference North that season, and again the following season to the Conference Premier.

He went on to establish himself as a regular at the club, and went on to make 362 appearances for them, including one in the Conference play off final at Wembley in 2014. He was also on the losing side against Quakers in the FA Trophy semi final in 2011.

In 2014-15 he never missed a game for the Heed until a foot injury in February forced him to sit out the rest of the season.

He turned down a new contract at Gateshead in favour of the security of a teaching job, and he joined Darlington, for whom he made 42 league appearances in season 2015-16 and helped Quakers win the EvoStik Premier title.

His experience was again invaluable last season, when he started 39 league games, and he also scored his first goal for the club.

Stats up to 3rd February 2018

Appearances: League: Full 26, sub 1. Cups: 2

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