Michael Black (footballer)

Michael James Black (born 6 October 1976) is an English former professional footballer who played as a midfielder and forward. After beginning his career in the Arsenal academy, he played in the Football League for Tranmere Rovers and Southend United, before dropping into non-League football in 2002.

Michael Black
Personal information
Full name Michael James Black[1]
Date of birth (1976-10-06) 6 October 1976
Place of birth Chigwell, England
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)[2]
Position(s) Midfielder, forward
Youth career
1993–1997 Arsenal
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1997–1999 Arsenal 0 (0)
1997 → Brentford (loan) 0 (0)
1997–1998 → Millwall (loan) 13 (2)
1999–2001 Tranmere Rovers 22 (0)
2000–2001 → Southend United (loan) 3 (0)
2001 Southend United 12 (1)
2001–2003 Barking & East Ham United
2003 Bishop's Stortford 7 (0)
2003 Barking & East Ham United 3 (0)
2003–2004 Billericay Town 23 (2)
2004–2005 Cheshunt 20 (0)
2005–2006 Boreham Wood 44 (4)
2006 Enfield Town 7 (0)
2006–2007 Potters Bar Town 33 (1)
2007–2008 Billericay Town 19 (0)
2008–2009 Tilbury 35 (2)
Total 238 (12)
International career
England U15 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

Arsenal

Black began his career as a trainee Arsenal academy in 1993 and was later joined in the academy by his brother Tommy.[3] He won the 1994 FA Youth Cup with the youth team and received a first team squad number for the 1997–98 season.[4][5] Black joined Second Division club Brentford on a one-month loan on 29 August 1997.[2] He failed to make an appearance for the club and joined Second Division club Millwall on a three-month loan on 3 October 1997.[2][6] He made his debut the following day, playing the full 90 minutes of a 2–1 victory over Blackpool and scored the first senior goal of his career in the following game, with the winner in a 2–1 victory over Oldham Athletic.[6] Black made 14 appearances and scored two goals before returning to Arsenal on 3 January 1998.[6]

Black made his only senior appearance for Arsenal in a UEFA Champions League group stage match against Panathinaikos on 9 December 1998, when he replaced Alberto Méndez after 78 minutes of the 3–1 win.[7] Black was released by the Gunners at the end of the 1998–99 season.[8]

Tranmere Rovers

Black signed a permanent contract with First Division club Tranmere Rovers in July 1999.[8] He made 27 appearances during the 1999–00 season and was an unused substitute during the 2–1 2000 League Cup Final defeat to Leicester City.[9][10] Black failed to make an appearance for Tranmere during the 2000–01 season and departed the club on 31 January 2001.[9]

Southend United

Black joined Third Division club Southend United on a one-month loan on 29 December 2000 and after three appearances, his loan was made permanent on 31 January 2001.[11] He made 16 appearances and scored one goal during the 2000–01 season.[11] After failing to agree terms over a new contract, Black left the club during the 2001 off-season.[12]

Barking & East Ham United

Following persistent trouble with a knee ligament problem (which caused potential moves to Chesterfield and Queens Park Rangers to fall through), Black joined Isthmian League First Division club Barking & East Ham United during the early months of the 2001–02 season. After returning to fitness, Black was awarded the captaincy and won the club's Supporters' Player of the Year award.[13] He signed new contract in April 2002 and left the club at the end of the 2002–03 season.[13][14]

Bishop's Stortford

Black signed for Isthmian League Premier Division club Bishop's Stortford during the 2003 off-season.[14] Utilised as a substitute or rarely completing 90 minutes when given a start, Black made only seven appearances for the club before departing in late October 2003.[15][16]

Return to Barking & East Ham United

Black re-signed for Barking & East Ham United in late October 2003.[16] He made three appearances before leaving the club on 8 November.[17][18] During his two spells with the club, Black made 91 appearances and scored 15 goals.[19][20][17]

Billericay Town

Black joined Isthmian League Premier Division club Billericay Town in early November 2003.[18] He made 23 appearances and scored two goals during the 2003–04 season and departed the Blues at the end of the campaign.[15]

Cheshunt

Black signed for Isthmian League Premier Division club Cheshunt in August 2004.[21] He made 20 appearances during his time with the Ambers.[22]

Boreham Wood

Black signed for Southern League Eastern Division club Boreham Wood in January 2005.[23] He was one of a mass exodus of Cheshunt staff to sign for the Wood, which included 10 players and manager Andy Leese.[24] Remaining with the club for the 2005–06 season, Black made the highest seasonal appearance and goalscoring totals of his career so far, with 46 appearances and six goals.[25] In a successful season, the Wood reached the FA Trophy semi-finals and won the Southern League First Division East championship.[26] He left the club at the end of the 2005–06 season.

Enfield Town

Black signed for Isthmian League First Division North club Enfield Town prior to the start of the 2006–07 season. His time with the club was fleeting and he made his eighth and final appearance in a 0–0 draw with Aveley on 23 September.[27][28]

Potters Bar Town

Black joined Isthmian League First Division North club Potters Bar Town in November 2006. In a mediocre season for the club, he made 33 appearances and scored one goal.[27]

Return to Billericay Town

Black moved back up to the Isthmian League Premier Division to re-sign for Billericay Town in November 2007. He made 19 appearances and scored no goals during what remained of the 2007–08 season and was released at the end of the campaign.[29][30]

Tilbury

Black signed for Isthmian League First Division North club Tilbury during the 2008 off-season.[31] He won the second piece of silverware of his career when he played in the 2–0 2009 Isthmian League Cup Final win over Harrow Borough on 8 April.[32] During the course of the 2008–09 season, Black made 44 appearances and five goals.[32] He departed the club during the 2009 off-season, citing work commitments.[33]

Hutton Old Boys

Black joined Essex Saturday Veterans League Premier Division club Hutton Old Boys in 2012 and won the league title and the Essex Saturday Veterans Cup during the 2013–14 season.[34][35] He made 12 appearances and scored five goals during the 2013–14 season.[36] He won further Veterans Cups, as both player and manager, in the 2014–15, 2015–16 and 2017–18 seasons.[37]

Career statistics
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Arsenal 1998–99[7] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 1[lower-alpha 1] 0 — 1 0
Millwall (loan) 1997–98[6] Second Division 14 2 0 0 — — — 14 2
Tranmere Rovers 1999–00[9] First Division 22 0 0 0 5 1 — — 27 1
Southend United 2000–01[11] Third Division 15 1 — — — 1[lower-alpha 2] 0 16 1
Bishop's Stortford 2003–04[15] Isthmian League Premier Division 7 0 0 0 — — 0 0 7 0
Barking & East Ham United 2003–04[17] Isthmian League First Division North 3 0 — — — — 3 0
Billericay Town 2003–04[15] Isthmian League Premier Division 23 2 — — — — 23 2
Cheshunt 2004–05[22] Isthmian League Premier Division 20 0 0 0 — — 0 0 20 0
Boreham Wood 2005–06[25] Southern League First Division East 38 4 0 0 — — 3[lower-alpha 3] 1 41 5
Enfield Town 2006–07[27] Isthmian League First Division North 7 0 — — — 1[lower-alpha 4] 0 8 0
Potters Bar Town 2006–07[27] Isthmian League First Division North 33 1 — — — — 33 1
Billericay Town 2007–08[29] Isthmian League Premier Division 19 0 0 0 — — 0 0 19 0
Total 42 2 0 0 — — 0 0 42 2
Tilbury 2008–09[32] Isthmian League First Division North 35 2 1 0 — — 8[lower-alpha 5] 3 44 5
Career total 201 12 1 0 5 1 1 0 13 4 221 17
  1. Appearance in UEFA Champions League
  2. Appearance in Football League Trophy
  3. Appearances in FA Trophy
  4. Appearance in Isthmian League Cup
  5. 5 appearances and 2 goals in Isthmian League Cup, 3 appearances and 1 goal in FA Trophy

Honours

Arsenal

Boreham Wood

Tilbury

Hutton Old Boys

Individual

References
  1. "Michael Black". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  2. Michael Black at Soccerbase
  3. "Arsenal ex trainees". www.arseweb.com. Archived from the original on 28 March 2019. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  4. Mewis, Joe (1 October 2016). "How many of Wenger's 209 Arsenal players can you remember?". mirror. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  5. "Arsenal – 1997/98". FootballSquads. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  6. "Games played by Michael Black in 1997/1998". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
  7. "Games played by Michael Black in 1998/1999". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 September 2017.
  8. "Arsenal Transfers | Premiership Transfers". Transferleague.co.uk. 7 July 2010. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
  9. "Games played by Michael Black in 1999/2000". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
  10. "Leicester triumph at Wembley". BBC News. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  11. "Games played by Michael Black in 2000/2001". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
  12. "Black Marks Rovers' Card". Liverpool Echo. 8 January 2002. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
  13. "Past News l April 2002". 7 April 2014. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  14. "Player Profile". NonLeagueDaily.com. 21 January 2005. Archived from the original on 21 August 2014. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
  15. "Player Details: Season 2003–2004". SoccerFacts UK. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
  16. "Past News l October 2003". 7 April 2014. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 25 September 2017.
  17. "First Team Archive: Season 2003/04". www.barking-fc.co.uk. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
  18. "Past News l November 2003". Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 25 September 2017.
  19. "First Team Archive: Season 2001/02". www.barking-fc.co.uk. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
  20. "First Team Archive: Season 2002/03". www.barking-fc.co.uk. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
  21. "Harrow Borough v Cheshunt". BBC Three Counties. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
  22. "Player Details: Season 2004–2005". SoccerFacts UK. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
  23. "Yet More Ambers Join Wood". NonLeagueDaily.com. 28 January 2005. Archived from the original on 21 August 2014. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
  24. "Cheshunt feel their loss". This Is Local London. 27 January 2005. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
  25. "Player Details: Season 2005–2006". SoccerFacts UK. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
  26. Boreham Wood F.C. at the Football Club History Database
  27. "All Competitions : Player's Appearances – Black Michael". Football.mitoo. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
  28. "Enfield Town FC past players' page". Enfield Town F.C. Archived from the original on 16 February 2012. Retrieved 4 April 2011.
  29. "All Competitions : Player's Appearances – Black Michael James". Football.mitoo. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
  30. "Town part company with quartet". Echo. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  31. "Tilbury boss on a high after successful start to season". Thurrock Gazette. 16 August 2008. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
  32. "All Competitions : Player's Appearances – Black Michael James". Football.mitoo. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
  33. "Chester Remains Upbeat". Tilburyfc.com. Archived from the original on 21 December 2016. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
  34. "Match Reports 11th May 2013". Essex Veterans Football League. 12 May 2013. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
  35. "Football: Little Thurrock go down in Veterans Cup". Your Thurrock. 20 March 2014. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  36. "Greene King Essex Veterans League". Full-time.thefa.com. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
  37. "Veterans Cup Silverware for Hutton Old Boys". www.essexfa.com. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.