Tony Mahoney

Anthony Joseph Mahoney (born 29 September 1959) is an English retired professional footballer who played in the Football League for Fulham, Brentford and Crystal Palace as a forward. He later forged a career in non-League football and played a decade with Canvey Island.

Not to be confused with Tony Mahoney (baseball).
Tony Mahoney
Personal information
Full name Anthony Joseph Mahoney[1]
Date of birth (1959-09-29) 29 September 1959
Place of birth Barking, England
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
Fulham
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1976–1982 Fulham 59 (10)
1981 → Northampton Town (loan) 6 (0)
1982–1984 Brentford 41 (12)
1984–1985 Crystal Palace 18 (4)
1985–1988 Grays Athletic
1988–1989 Dartford
1989–1999 Canvey Island
International career
England Youth
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

Fulham

Mahoney began his career as a trainee with Second Division club Fulham.[2] Aged just 17 years and 38 days, he made his professional debut in a league match versus Cardiff City on 6 November 1976 and became the-then second-youngest Fulham debutant.[2] Out of favour at Fulham, Mahoney joined Fourth Division club Northampton Town on loan in October 1981 and made six league appearances without scoring.[1] Mahoney failed to break through to the first team at Craven Cottage was released in 1982.[2] He made 69 appearances and scored 13 goals during six seasons as a first team player with the club.[2]

Brentford

Mahoney joined Third Division club Brentford on a three-month trial in July 1982.[1][3] Partnering Francis Joseph up front, Mahoney had a good start to life at Griffin Park, scoring 15 goals in his first 28 appearances and signing a permanent contract,[4] before suffering a fractured leg in an FA Cup second round replay versus Swindon Town in December.[3] After recovering, he failed to show the same kind of form and was released at the end of the 1983–84 season.[2] Mahoney made 58 appearances and scored 19 goals during his two years with Brentford.[2]

Crystal Palace

Mahoney joined Second Division club Crystal Palace in June 1984.[1] In a one-season stay at Selhurst Park, he made 24 appearances and scored five goals.[5]

Non-League football

Mahoney dropped into non-League football to sign for Isthmian League First Division club Grays Athletic in July 1985.[6] He was part of the team which secured promotion to the Premier Division and won two cups during the 1987–88 season, with Mahoney's striker partnership with Micky Welch being regarded as the most-feared in non-League football.[7] Mahoney transferred to Southern League Premier Division club Dartford in 1988 and then to Essex Senior League club Canvey Island in 1989.[8] He was a part of a golden era for Canvey Island, which saw the club rise from the Essex Senior League to the Isthmian League First Division with three promotions in three seasons.[9] Mahoney was also part of the Canvey Island team which went on a run to the first round proper of the 1995–96 FA Cup,[10] when they took Second Division club Brighton & Hove Albion to a replay before going out.[11][12]

International career

Mahoney represented England Youth at international level.[3]

Personal life

Mahoney married his wife Michele on Saturday 21 February 1981 in Grays and together with best man Kevin Lock,[13] he played for Fulham later that day.[14] Mahoney's son, Tony Jr, was fatally stabbed in September 1999.[15]

Career statistics
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Brentford 1982–83[4] Third Division 18 9 3 3 7 3 — 28 15
1983–84[4] 23 3 4 1 1 0 1[lower-alpha 1] 0 29 4
Career total 41 12 7 4 8 3 1 0 57 19
  1. Appearances in Football League Trophy

Honours

Grays Athletic

Canvey Island

References
  1. "Tony Mahoney". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
  2. Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Harefield: Yore Publications. p. 99. ISBN 978-0955294914.
  3. Croxford, Mark; Lane, David; Waterman, Greville (2011). The Big Brentford Book of the Eighties. Sunbury, Middlesex: Legends Publishing. p. 341. ISBN 978-1906796716.
  4. White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. p. 397. ISBN 0951526200.
  5. "Tony Mahoney". Holmesdale Online. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
  6. Jarvis, Glyn. "My First XI: Grays Athletic, Glyn Jarvis". The Pitching In Isthmian Football League. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  7. "A century and more for Grays". Gazette. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
  8. "Club Year – Clubs". The Non-League Club Directory. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
  9. Canvey Island F.C. at the Football Club History Database
  10. "Gulls set sights on Seagulls". The Independent. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
  11. "CIFC v Brighton (12/11/95)". Retrieved 27 November 2014.
  12. "CIFC v Brighton (21/11/95)". Retrieved 27 November 2014.
  13. "Murder victim's mum: 'Killer should be locked up for life after latest armed robbery'". Echo. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  14. Fulham v Portsmouth Division 3 21st February 1981. Event occurs at 0:07. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  15. "Canvey: Murderer begins life sentence". Thurrock Gazette. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
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