Roger Preece
Encyclopedia
Roger Preece was an English
professional footballer who mainly played as a midfielder. He played in The Football League
for three clubs and has also played and managed in non–league football.
, but in August 1986 he moved to Wrexham
. He made more than 100 Football League
appearances over the next four years but suffered from a poor disciplinary record, as he was sent off five times. In the summer of 1990 he was released by Wrexham and switched to local rivals Chester City
, who were a division higher in the Football League Third Division
. He began his Chester days at full back but went on to make his greatest mark as a midfielder.
He helped Chester win promotion from Division Three
in 1993–94
, with Preece scoring in the promotion clincher against Hereford United
on 23 April 1994. He was named player of the season the following campaign. Unfortunately, Preece was to play just one more game for the club as a clattering tackle from Hartlepool United's
Mick Tait
on the opening day of 1995–96
ruled him out of action for the remainder of the season. He eventually left the club in October 1996 after failing to recover, spending the remainder of the season with GM Vauxhall Conference
sides Southport
and Telford United
.
In June 1997 Preece returned to The Football League
as player–coach with Shrewsbury Town
. In 2000 he teamed up again with boss Jake King
at Telford United
, where the pair worked together until Preece became Newtown
manager in June 2003. He remained in charge until October 2006, leaving after a 6–0 loss to Rhyl
.
Preece is now a coach with Wrexham
based side Gap Queens Park, as well as with Wrexham's centre of excellence.
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 who mainly played as a midfielder. He played in The Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
for three clubs and has also played and managed in non–league football.
Playing and Coaching Career
Preece began his playing days as an apprentice with Coventry CityCoventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
, but in August 1986 he moved to Wrexham
Wrexham A.F.C.
Wrexham Football Club are a professional football team based in Wrexham, north-east Wales, who play in the English football pyramid.Founded in 1872, they are one of the oldest surviving football clubs in Britain and the oldest professional club in Wales...
. He made more than 100 Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
appearances over the next four years but suffered from a poor disciplinary record, as he was sent off five times. In the summer of 1990 he was released by Wrexham and switched to local rivals 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...
, who were a division higher in the Football League Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
. He began his Chester days at full back but went on to make his greatest mark as a midfielder.
He helped Chester win promotion from Division Three
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
in 1993–94
1993-94 in English football
The 1993-1994 season was the 114th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:From the start of this season, the FA Premier League would be sponsored by Carling Breweries - an association which would last for eight years...
, with Preece scoring in the promotion clincher against Hereford United
Hereford United F.C.
Hereford United Football Club is an English professional football club based in the city of Hereford. Founded in 1924, they are competing in Football League Two in the 2011–12 season. Hereford have played at Edgar Street for their entire history and are nicknamed 'The Whites' or 'The Lilywhites',...
on 23 April 1994. He was named player of the season the following campaign. Unfortunately, Preece was to play just one more game for the club as a clattering tackle from Hartlepool United's
Hartlepool United F.C.
Hartlepool United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Hartlepool that currently play in League One. The team won promotion to League One in the 2006–07 season...
Mick Tait
Mick Tait
Michael 'Mick' Tait was an English footballer and later a manager at the end of his playing career. His 760 league games puts him 13th in the list of English footballers. His clubs were Oxford United, Carlisle United, Hull City, Portsmouth, Reading, Darlington and Hartlepool United as well as...
on the opening day of 1995–96
1995-96 in English football
- Premiership :Newcastle United were 12 points clear at the top of Manchester United, but Alex Ferguson's relatively young and inexperienced side overhauled them during the second half of the season to win the title....
ruled him out of action for the remainder of the season. He eventually left the club in October 1996 after failing to recover, spending the remainder of the season with GM Vauxhall Conference
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
sides Southport
Southport F.C.
Southport Football Club are an English football club, based in Southport, Merseyside. They are currently in the Conference National, and play their home matches at Haig Avenue, which has a capacity of 6,008...
and 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...
.
In June 1997 Preece returned to The Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
as player–coach with Shrewsbury Town
Shrewsbury Town F.C.
Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football...
. In 2000 he teamed up again with boss Jake King
Jake King
Jacob 'Jake' King is an Australian rules football player for the Richmond Football Club.-Career:King previously played for North Heidelberg in the Diamond Valley Football League before moving to the Coburg Tigers in the VFL...
at 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...
, where the pair worked together until Preece became Newtown
Newtown F.C.
Newtown Association Football Club is a Welsh football club who currently play in the Welsh Premier League, with a reserve team currently playing in the Mid Wales Football League....
manager in June 2003. He remained in charge until October 2006, leaving after a 6–0 loss to Rhyl
Rhyl F.C.
Rhyl Football Club is a Welsh football club, playing in the Cymru Alliance.The club was founded in 1882 and the team plays its home matches at Belle Vue, Rhyl, which can accommodate 3,000 spectators.- History :Few clubs in the Welsh Premier League have as distinguished a past as Rhyl's...
.
Preece is now a coach with Wrexham
Wrexham
Wrexham is a town in Wales. It is the administrative centre of the wider Wrexham County Borough, and the largest town in North Wales, located in the east of the region. It is situated between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley close to the border with Cheshire, England...
based side Gap Queens Park, as well as with Wrexham's centre of excellence.
Honours
Chester City- Football League Division Three runners-up: 1993–941993-94 in English footballThe 1993-1994 season was the 114th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:From the start of this season, the FA Premier League would be sponsored by Carling Breweries - an association which would last for eight years...
.
- Player of the Season: 1994–951994-95 in English football-Premiership:Blackburn Rovers ended their 81-year wait for the league title thanks to the strike partnership of Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton which scored a total of more than 50 league goals. Manchester United would have made it three league titles in a row if they had been able to turn a 1-1 draw...