Kevin Sandwith
Encyclopedia
Kevin Sandwith is an English
professional footballer
who plays as a defender
and midfielder for Conference North
side Gainsborough Trinity
.
He has previously played for Carlisle United
, Telford United
, Doncaster Rovers
, Halifax Town, Lincoln City
, Macclesfield Town
, Chester City
, Weymouth
, Oxford United
and Mansfield Town
.
and went on to sign professional terms with them, making his league debut in October 1997. However, after only three further appearances, he was released by the Cumbrians in May 1998 and joined non-league Barrow
. He made 14 appearances for Barrow, scoring three times, before moving to join Telford United
. Comfortable either at left-back or in midfield, Sandwith stayed at Telford until the summer of 2001 without every really fully establishling himself. He moved on to Doncaster Rovers
but, after starting the season as the regular left-back, a broken foot kept him on the sidelines for three months and he found it hard to regain a regular starting position. In November 2002, he moved on to Halifax Town
and cemented a regular starting berth. A series of impressive performances began to draw attention and, having scored against them in the Football League Trophy earlier in the season, Lincoln City
paid £10,000 for his services in March 2004. He spent a season and a half at Sincil Bank before a move to Macclesfield Town
where he spent a season before joining Chester City
. His first Chester goal ironically came against Macclesfield in September 2006.
Ex-Chester manager, Mark Wright was a big admirer of Kevin, stating that he is "undoubtedly one of the best players in this league at delivering a ball with his left foot, from free-kicks and corners".
On 28 December 2007, it was announced Sandwith was no longer in the club's plans and was available for sale. However, he returned to the starting line-up against Notts County
on 19 January 2008 and he regularly figured in the first–team in the closing months of the season, leading to him being offered a new contract at the end of the campaign. But he turned down the contract and left the club. Sandwith signed for Weymouth
on 1 July 2008, before moving to Oxford United in February 2009. Sandwith joined Mansfield Town by signing a one-year deal on May 28, 2010 after his release from Oxford United
. Sandwith was released on 31 May 2011.
After spending the pre-season training with Eastwood Town
, Sandwith joined Gainsborough Trinity
in August 2011, debuting in the club's 3-1 Conference North
victory at home to Solihull Moors
on 13 August 2011.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
professional footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
who plays as a defender
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
and midfielder for Conference North
Conference North
The Conference North also known as Blue Square Bet North for sponsorship reasons, is a division of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National. Along with Conference South it is at Step 2 of the National League System and the sixth overall tier of...
side Gainsborough Trinity
Gainsborough Trinity F.C.
Gainsborough Trinity Football Club are an English football club based in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire.Between 1896 and 1912 they were members of the Football League. They are currently in the Conference North, and play their home matches at The Northolme, which has a capacity of 4,304...
.
He has previously played for Carlisle United
Carlisle United F.C.
Carlisle United F.C. is an English football club based in Carlisle, Cumbria, where they play at Brunton Park. Formed in 1904, the club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system....
, Telford United
Telford United F.C.
Telford United F.C. was an English football club based in Telford, Shropshire.The club existed under various names for a total of 132 years from its formation in 1872. The club was founder members of the Alliance Premier League in 1979 and played at this level for 25 years before being wound up in...
, Doncaster Rovers
Doncaster Rovers F.C.
Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in...
, Halifax Town, Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
, Macclesfield Town
Macclesfield Town F.C.
Macclesfield Town Football Club is an English football team. The club was formed in 1874 and is based in the town of Macclesfield in Cheshire. The team play its home games at the 6,355 capacity Moss Rose stadium...
, Chester City
Chester City F.C.
Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the...
, Weymouth
Weymouth F.C.
Weymouth F.C. are an English football club based in the town of Weymouth, who currently play in the Southern League Premier Division.-History:Weymouth Football Club were founded in 1890 and played their first game on 24 September of that year...
, Oxford United
Oxford United F.C.
Oxford United Football Club is an English association football club based in Oxford, Oxfordshire. The club play in League Two, following promotion from the Conference National in May 2010. The club had been a non-League side since their relegation from the Football League in the 2005–06 season. The...
and Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
.
Career
Sandwith began his career as a Youth Trainee at Carlisle UnitedCarlisle United F.C.
Carlisle United F.C. is an English football club based in Carlisle, Cumbria, where they play at Brunton Park. Formed in 1904, the club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system....
and went on to sign professional terms with them, making his league debut in October 1997. However, after only three further appearances, he was released by the Cumbrians in May 1998 and joined non-league Barrow
Barrow A.F.C.
Barrow A.F.C. are an English football club founded in 1901 based in the town of Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria. Following promotion at the end of the 2007–08 season, they currently play in the Conference National. The club spent over fifty years in the Football League between 1921 and 1972, and have...
. He made 14 appearances for Barrow, scoring three times, before moving to join Telford United
Telford United F.C.
Telford United F.C. was an English football club based in Telford, Shropshire.The club existed under various names for a total of 132 years from its formation in 1872. The club was founder members of the Alliance Premier League in 1979 and played at this level for 25 years before being wound up in...
. Comfortable either at left-back or in midfield, Sandwith stayed at Telford until the summer of 2001 without every really fully establishling himself. He moved on to Doncaster Rovers
Doncaster Rovers F.C.
Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in...
but, after starting the season as the regular left-back, a broken foot kept him on the sidelines for three months and he found it hard to regain a regular starting position. In November 2002, he moved on to Halifax Town
Halifax Town A.F.C.
Halifax Town Association Football Club were an English football team who most recently played in the Conference National, although prior to that they participated in the Football League for over eighty years...
and cemented a regular starting berth. A series of impressive performances began to draw attention and, having scored against them in the Football League Trophy earlier in the season, Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
paid £10,000 for his services in March 2004. He spent a season and a half at Sincil Bank before a move to Macclesfield Town
Macclesfield Town F.C.
Macclesfield Town Football Club is an English football team. The club was formed in 1874 and is based in the town of Macclesfield in Cheshire. The team play its home games at the 6,355 capacity Moss Rose stadium...
where he spent a season before joining Chester City
Chester City F.C.
Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the...
. His first Chester goal ironically came against Macclesfield in September 2006.
Ex-Chester manager, Mark Wright was a big admirer of Kevin, stating that he is "undoubtedly one of the best players in this league at delivering a ball with his left foot, from free-kicks and corners".
On 28 December 2007, it was announced Sandwith was no longer in the club's plans and was available for sale. However, he returned to the starting line-up against Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
on 19 January 2008 and he regularly figured in the first–team in the closing months of the season, leading to him being offered a new contract at the end of the campaign. But he turned down the contract and left the club. Sandwith signed for Weymouth
Weymouth F.C.
Weymouth F.C. are an English football club based in the town of Weymouth, who currently play in the Southern League Premier Division.-History:Weymouth Football Club were founded in 1890 and played their first game on 24 September of that year...
on 1 July 2008, before moving to Oxford United in February 2009. Sandwith joined Mansfield Town by signing a one-year deal on May 28, 2010 after his release from Oxford United
Oxford United F.C.
Oxford United Football Club is an English association football club based in Oxford, Oxfordshire. The club play in League Two, following promotion from the Conference National in May 2010. The club had been a non-League side since their relegation from the Football League in the 2005–06 season. The...
. Sandwith was released on 31 May 2011.
After spending the pre-season training with Eastwood Town
Eastwood Town F.C.
Eastwood Town F.C. is a football club from Eastwood, Nottinghamshire formed in 1953, currently playing in the Conference North.-History:Although there was a football club named Eastwood Town operating in the Nottinghamshire Alliance in 1921, its was only in existence for two years. It was not until...
, Sandwith joined Gainsborough Trinity
Gainsborough Trinity F.C.
Gainsborough Trinity Football Club are an English football club based in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire.Between 1896 and 1912 they were members of the Football League. They are currently in the Conference North, and play their home matches at The Northolme, which has a capacity of 4,304...
in August 2011, debuting in the club's 3-1 Conference North
Conference North
The Conference North also known as Blue Square Bet North for sponsorship reasons, is a division of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National. Along with Conference South it is at Step 2 of the National League System and the sixth overall tier of...
victory at home to Solihull Moors
Solihull Moors F.C.
Solihull Moors F.C. is an English football club, founded in 2007 by the merger of Moor Green and Solihull Borough.The club plays its games at Damson Park, Solihull and competes in the Conference North.-History:...
on 13 August 2011.