AIRBUS UK BROUGHTON FC – SQUAD 2015/16
21 James Coates (GK)
26 Lee Owens
3 Bailey Jackson
4 Michael Pearson
5 Ian Kearney
6 Liam Blake
7 Andy Jones
8 Ryan Fraughan
9 Chris Budrys
10 Wayne Riley
11 Tony Gray
12 Jordan Barrow
13 Keighan Jones (GK)
14 Ryan Wade
15
16 Ryan Wignall
17 Ashley Williams
18 Jay Owen
19 Jonny Spittle (on loan at Llandudno)
22 Matty McGinn
30 Liam Smith (Youth)
31 James Murphy
33 Paulo Mendes
34 Kevin Monteiro
39 Charles Short (Youth)
00 Zebb Edwards (Youth)
12 JORDAN BARROW
Born 18 October 1993
Position: Midfield
Joined the Everton academy when he was 11 and moved up through the ranks to the Under 18s
before being released. A strong tackling defensive midfielder with an excellent range of passing, he
signed for Stalybridge Celtic and showed remarkable versatility, playing right back, centre midfield,
on both wings, up front and even spent time in goal! Spent season 2013/14 with Caernarfon Town in
the Huws Gray Alliance, joining the Wingmakers in May 2014.
Previous clubs: Everton, Stalybridge Celtic, Caernarfon Town.
6 LIAM BLAKE
Born 7 May 1996
Position Midfield
Came through the academies at Wrexham and Crewe before joining Chester FC in September 2014.
Loaned to Witton Albion he was released by Chester and signed non-contract terms with Airbus UK
Broughton in January 2016.
Previous clubs: Chester FC, Witton Albion (loan).
9 CHRIS BUDRYS
Born 13 August 1985
Position: Forward
Previous clubs: Queen of the South, Alsager Town, Newcastle Town, Stafford Rangers, Northwich
Victoria.
After previous experience with Queen of the South, Alsager Town, Newcastle Town, Stafford
Rangers and Northwich Victoria, joined Airbus UK Broughton in June 2012.
11 TONY GRAY
Born 6 April 1984
Position: Striker
Striker who joined Bangor City in September 2004 from West Cheshire League Division One Club
Newton where he had played a part in the club's 2003/4 championship season. Moved to Burscough
before making his mark in the Football Conference with Southport, Droylsden, Chester and Telford,
scoring 56 goals from 133 (+29) appearances. Notched 20 goals for the Bucks in 2014/15 and was
voted club and players' player of the season, but left to join Airbus UK Broughton at the end of the
campaign.
Previous clubs: Bangor City, Burscough, Southport, Droylsden, Chester, AFC Telford.
8 RYAN FRAUGHAN
Born 2 February 1991
Position: Midfielder
Previous clubs: Tranmere Rovers, Aberystwyth Town, Stockport County, The New Saints, Gap
Connah’s Quay.
Joined Aberystwyth Town on loan from Tranmere Rovers in January 2010 having made his Football
League debut for the Wirral outfit on 8 August 2009 against Yeovil Town at Huish Park. Was
rewarded for an excellent spell at Park Avenue with a new one-year deal at Prenton Park but
released at the end of 2010/11 and joined Stockport County. Loaned to The New Saints in January
2012, he made a permanent move to Park Hall in the summer and was voted the Welsh Premier
young player of the season for 2012/13. Loaned to Gap Connah's Quay in January 2015, joined the
Wingmakers in August 2015.
3 BAILEY JACKSON
Born 22 February 1997
Position: Defender
Promoted to the first team squad from the Under-19s for the 2015/16 season.
7 ANDY JONES
Born: 23 March 1985
Position: Defender/Striker
Previous clubs: Shrewsbury Town, AFC Telford United, Hednesford Town, Bromsgrove Rovers,
Stourport Swifts, Redditch United, Evesham United, Newtown AFC.
Centre-back who can also play up front who was selected to attend the English Universities' squad
trials while studying at Worcester University in 2008, Jones has also been on the books of
Shrewsbury Town, AFC Telford United, Hednesford Town, Bromsgrove Rovers, Stourport Swifts and
Redditch United, joining Newtown from Evesham United in January 2012. Spent two seasons with
the Robins before signing for Airbus UK Broughton in January 2014.
30 KEIGHAN JONES
Born: 4 April 1997
Position: Goalkeeper
Previous clubs: Chester FC
Young goalkeeper who has represented Flintshire Primary Schools and Chester FC Colts as well as
being named in the Wales Under-16 training squad.
5 IAN KEARNEY
Born 15 June 1987
Position: Defender
Previous clubs: Southport, Radcliffe Borough, Witton Albion, Ashton United, Northwich Victoria.
Right-sided or central defender previously with Southport, Radcliffe Borough, Witton Albion and
Ashton United, who captained Northwich Victoria before following former manager Andy Preece to
Airbus UK Broughton in summer 2012.
22 MATTY McGINN
Born: 27 June 1983
Position: Defender
Previous clubs: Runcorn, Southport, Chester, AFC Telford.
Has won three Conference North winners' medals with Southport, Chester FC and AFC Telford
United after staring his career with Runcorn. Scored 22 goals in 35 appearances to help earn the
Blues the Conference North title during the 2012/13 campaign and was a major contributor as
Telford gained automatic promotion a year later. Unable to commit to Conference Premier football
due to work, signed for Airbus UK Broughton in June 2014.
33 PAULO MENDES
Born: 7 August 1993, Portugal
Position: Midfield
Played for Est Amadora, Oeiras and 1st Dezembro as a youth in his native Portugal before arriving in
the UK where he has appeared for Brymbo, Vauxhall Motors, Nantwich Town, Buckley Town, Colwyn
Bay and Oxford City before joining Airbus UK Broughton in January 2016.
Previous clubs: Est Amadora, Oeiras, 1st Dezembro, Brymbo, Vauxhall Motors, Nantwich Town,
Buckley Town, Colwyn Bay, Oxford City.
34 KEVIN MONTEIRO
Born: 21 March 1994, France
Position: Defender
French-born defender who was on the books of FC United of Manchester before joining Airbus UK
Broughton in January 2016.
Previous clubs: FC United of Manchester.
31 JAMES MURPHY
Born: 31 January 1991
Position: Striker
Promoted to the first team squad from the Under-19s for the 2016/16 season and awarded an
extended deal until the end of 2016/17.
18 JAY OWEN
Born: 14 January 1991
Position: Midfielder
Previous clubs: Chester City, Barrow AFC
Started his career with Chester where he made seven Football League appearances and represented
Wales at Under-17 level.
Moved to Barrow where he made 95 appearances in the Conference and was capped by the Wales
Under-23 semi-pros.
Signed for the Wingmakers in August 2013.
26 LEE OWENS
Born 29 June 1986
Position: Defender
Previous clubs: Vauxhall Motors, Wigan Athletic.
Formerly with Wigan Athletic, played for Vauxhall Motors in two spells punctuated by injury and had
been out of football for two years before joining the Wingmakers in July 2012.
4 MIKE PEARSON
Born 19 January 1988
Position: Defender
Previous clubs: Oldham Athletic, Farsley Celtic, Barrow AFC.
Bangor-born defender who progressed through the Oldham Athletic youth system, making his
Football League debut in February 2007. After a loan spell with Farsley Celtic he was released and
joined Barrow where, after recovering from a double leg break, he went on to captain the side and
make 151 appearances. A Welsh semi-professional international, he joined Airbus UK Broughton in
June 2013.
10 WAYNE RILEY
Born 26 September 1989
Position: Midfielder
Previous clubs: Northwich Victoria, Hednesford Town, Chester FC.
Midfielder who famously scored the goal for Northwich Victoria that knocked then League One
outfit Charlton Athletic out of the FA Cup in November 2009. A consistent goal scorer with the Vics,
following his former manager Andy Preece to Airbus in July 2012 where he top scored in his first
season. Left in the summer of 2013 to sign for Hednesford Town and move to Chester FC a year
later, rejoining the Wingmakers in January 2015.
39 CHARLES SHORT
Born 21 April 1998
Position: Midfielder
Youth teamer promoted to the first team squad at Airbus in August 2015.
19 JONNY SPITTLE
Born 13 August 1994
Position: Defender
Had previous spells at Wigan Athletic, Blackburn Rovers and Rochdale before joining Llandudno in
September 2013, switching to the Wingmakers in May 2014.
Previous clubs: Wigan Athletic, Blackburn Rovers, Rochdale.
14 RYAN WADE
Born 22 January 1988
Position: Midfielder
Previous clubs: Skelmersdale United, Vauxhall Motors, Burscough, Runcorn Town, Prescot Cables,
Northwich Victoria.
Former Skelmersdale United, Vauxhall Motors, Burscough, Runcorn Town, Prescot Cables and
Northwich Victoria wingman who signed for Airbus UK Broughton in June 2012.
16 RYAN WIGNALL
Born: 12 March 1989
Position: Winger
A product of the Liverpool academy who won the FA Youth Cup twice with the Reds and was a
regular in the reserve side before being released. After spells with AFC Liverpool and Cammell Laird,
he signed a full-time contract with Belgian side Royal Racing FC Montegnee. Has also played for
Wimborne Town and Burscough before joining Conwy Borough in the summer of 2013, moving to
Airbus UK Broughton in January of the following year.
Previous clubs: Liverpool, AFC Liverpool, Cammell Laird, RRFC Montegnee, Wimborne Town,
Burscough, Conwy Borough.
17 ASHLEY WILLIAMS
Born: 8 October 1987
Position: Midfielder
Previous clubs: Upton AA, Vauxhall Motors, Chester FC
A Manchester City youngster from the age of 14, Williams played for West Cheshire League Division
1 side Upton Athletic Association after his release by the Blues. Joined Airbus UK Broughton from
Vauxhall Motors in July 2008 and became an influential member of the side, winning two Wales
Under-23 semi-pro caps, before leaving to join Chester in January 2011. After three successful years,
returned to the Airfield in January 2014.
MANAGEMENT STAFF
ANDY PREECE
Director of football
Andy Preece was appointed director of football at The Airfield in January 2012 after spending three
years in charge at Northwich Victoria.
The former Bury boss scored 125 goals from 387 Football League appearances as a player after
starting his career with local club Worcester City, making his debut in the Conference at the age of
16.
He subsequently played for Evesham United before joining Northampton Town in August 1988 but
made just one substitute appearance before being released at the end of the following season.
In July 1989 he rejoined Worcester and, in March 1990, signed for Wrexham making 51 appearances
before a move to Stockport in December 1991.
He scored the goal that beat Queens Park Rangers in the FA Cup and attracted the attention of
Crystal Palace, who paid £350,000 to take him to Selhurst Park in June 1994 as a strike partner for
Chris Armstrong.
Preece struggled to establish himself and joined Blackpool for a fee of £200,000 in July 1995 and,
after making 129 appearances for the Tangerines, moved on to Bury and in 1999 was appointed
player-manager. After 166 appearances for the Shakers, he was released in December 2003 and
joined Carlisle United as a player.
In February 2005, Preece joined Worcester again, this time as player-manager, and led the side to
three consecutive top-10 finishes in Conference North and in 2006 to the second round of the FA
Cup. He became caretaker manager of Northwich in February 2009, leading Vics to the second round
of the FA Cup in 2009/10 by defeating former Premier League side Charlton Athletic.
In August 2010, at the age of 43, he returned to football action for the first time in three years by
coming off the bench in a game against Retford United and, last February, scored a seven-minute
hat-trick as Northwich defeated Barnton in the Mid-Cheshire Senior Cup.
Preece brought assistant manager Andy Morrison and head coach Darren Ryan with him to The
Airfield.
ANDY THOMAS
Coach
A right-sided defender who began his career with Wrexham and played in the European Cup
Winners' Cup. Had Welsh Premier experience at Newtown, Connah's Quay, Cwmbran Town and
Airbus UK, making 152 Welsh Premier appearances. After ending his playing career with the
Wingmakers in 2007, remained with the club as a valuable member of the coaching staff.
CLUB HISTORY
WITH changes in the factory name the football team has followed suit, being known at various times
as Vickers-Armstrong, de Havilands, Hawker Siddeley, British Aerospace, BAe Systems and Airbus UK.
The club is now firmly established as Airbus UK Broughton and, until the end of the 2003/04 season,
played its football in the Huws-Gray Fitlock Cymru Alliance, the second tier of the Welsh soccer
pyramid.
The club was formed 1946 and has played in both Chester & District League and the Welsh National
League (Wrexham area). Their last move, into the Welsh pyramid system, saw them canter to the
Welsh National League (Wrexham area) Division Two title during the 1991/92 season winning it by a
clear nineteen points from Gresford Athletic Reserves. In that season they won 28 of their 34
matches and scored a remarkable 130 goals, an average of almost four goals per game. They also
reached the NEWFA Challenge Cup final losing narrowly to Gresford Athletic.
They then spent four seasons in Division One, the first two seasons finishing sixth then, in third
season, two places better in fourth. Season 1995/96 saw a further promotion, finishing runners-up
behind Wrexham Colts at the end of the campaign: enough to see them move into the Premier
Division of the Welsh National League along with the divisional champions.
Once again they spent four seasons at that level, the first two witnessing steady consolidation,
finishing seventh and sixth respectively. In 1998/99, the side pushed hard for the championship but
could only finish runners-up once again, a mere two points behind eventual champions Corwen
Amateurs.
At last, in 1999/2000, British Aerospace went one better and won the title with 21 victories from
thirty matches, finishing their programme four points ahead of Ruthin Town and Penycae. This
success meant promotion once again, into the Cymru Alliance league and to coincide with the
promotion the club changed its name from British Aerospace to Airbus UK.
Their first season in the Cymru Alliance was something of a struggle, eventually finishing in a
creditable eleventh place with ten wins and fourteen defeats. Unfortunately, the campaign was
badly affected by the outbreak of ‘foot and mouth’ disease which disrupted much of life in Wales.
Continuing the pattern seen after previous promotions, the second term saw a steady improvement
and in the 2001/02 Airbus UK finished in eighth spot with sixteen wins. The club was clearly
ambitious and again showed signs of progress in the 2002/03 season, achieving their highest ever
finish of fifth spot in the Cymru Alliance and reaching the NEWFA Challenge Cup final, losing
narrowly on penalties.
2003/04 was tremendously successful when Airbus UK took the Cymru Alliance title with
considerable ease, winning it by nineteen clear points from closest rivals Buckley Town, and thus
gained promotion to the national competition, the Welsh Premier.
‘The Wingmakers’ as they are known carried out steady improvements to their ground sited just
inside the massive Airbus Works in Broughton, near Chester. A new stand was built with a pavilion
incorporating changing rooms being completed early in 2004 and this year another impressive stand
has been constructed on the opposite side of the ground. The pitch has been enclosed and is
surrounded by hard standing. Floodlights were installed in time for the beginning of the 2004/05
season in the Welsh Premier League.
In 1992, the club introduced a reserve side which still operates in the Welsh National League
(Wrexham Area), and is well established in Division One, winning the Division One Cup in both
2000/01 and 2001/02 seasons.
The first two seasons in the Welsh Premier League were a bit of a struggle as Airbus UK came to
terms with the higher standards. The club battled hard to avoid relegation and appointed the former
Wrexham midfielder Gareth Owen as player-manager following two seasons at nearby Connah’s
Quay Nomads.
Performances have gradually improved and The Wingmakers finished 12th in 2006/07 earning a spot
in the FAW Premier Cup for the first time. Last season was the club’s best-ever in the Welsh Premier
as eleven victories and 42 points saw them finish in 11th place.
Gareth Owen moved to Rhyl during the 2008 close season and the former Middlesbrough player
Craig Harrison took over the managerial reins having previously been assistant to Owen at The
Airfield.
However, after three and a half years, Harrison moved on to TNS and was replaced by Andy Preece
as director of football.
The new management team of Preece and ex-Football League defender Andy Morrison led the club
to a Welsh Cup semi-final and seventh place in the WPL after their first half season in charge. But, in
the following campaign, the Wingmakers finished in a highest-ever second place to qualify for
Europe for the first time in their history.
Preece and Morrison repeated the success the following season, again finishing in the runners-up
spot and qualifying for another Europa League campaign, where the Wingmakers were narrowly
beaten 3-2 on aggregate by Norwegian full-timers FK Haugesund.
In 2014, the playing surface at the Hollingsworth Group Stadium was converted to synthetic 3G.