Brian Attley

Brian Attley
Personal information
Full name Brian Robert Attley[1]
Date of birth (1955-08-23) 23 August 1955 (age 69)
Place of birth Cardiff, Wales
Position(s) Defender/Midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1973–1979 Cardiff City 79 (1)
1979–1982 Swansea City 89 (6)
1982–1984 Derby County 55 (1)
1982–1983Oxford United (loan)[2] 5 (0)
1984–1986 Gresley Rovers
1986–? Stapenhill
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Brian Robert Attley (born 23 August 1955) is a Welsh former professional footballer. Able to play in either defence or midfield, he made over 200 appearances in The Football League during his career.

Early life

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Attley was born in Cardiff and attended Fitzalan High School.[1][3]

Career

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In Wales

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Attley began his career at Cardiff City, where his uncle Len Attley had played in the 1930s, making his professional debut in March 1975 against Blackpool.[4] He was involved in the club's 1975–76 promotion season, scoring his first professional goal against Port Vale,[4] as well as their FA Cup run the following season.[5] He joined Swansea City in February 1979 for £20,000 and played for them in the First Division.[5] However, Attley was unable to hold down a starting place in the team at this higher level and fell out of favour.[6] In February 1982 he left the club to join Derby County in a £25,000.[5]

Derby County

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He made his Derby debut against Leicester City on 6 February 1982 and altogether made 55 appearances for the Baseball Ground side.[7] He also spent part of the 1982–83 season on loan at Oxford United.

Non-league

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Attley left the Football League in the 1984 close season to sign for Gresley Rovers, having been convinced to sign by player-manager Roger Davies,[8] and made his debut for the club in August against Oldswinford. He remained with the club until 1986 when he joined Stapenhill for a time,[9] having been convinced to join the club by manager Mick Allsopp and an offer of a full-time job by one of the club's sponsors.[8] Attley left the game following his retirement and settled in Rhoose where he works in floor tiling.[5]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Brian Attley". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
  2. ^ Brian Attley at Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Transfer Database
  3. ^ "Double delight for Cardiff goal Wizard Attley". South Wales Echo. Cardiff, Wales. 2 February 2002. Retrieved 5 November 2023 – via TheFreeLibrary.
  4. ^ a b Hayes, Dean (2006). The Who's Who of Cardiff City. Derby: Breedon Books. pp. 15–16. ISBN 1-85983-462-0.
  5. ^ a b c d Swansea City past players Archived 27 July 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ Caught in Time: Swansea City win promotion to the First Division, 1981
  7. ^ Brian Attley Derby County F.C.
  8. ^ a b "Attley's swan song". Burton Mail. 12 March 1986. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  9. ^ "Brian Attley". Gresley F.C. Retrieved 18 September 2018.