Tony Funnell

Tony Funnell
Anthony Funnell (born 20 August 1957) is an English retired professional footballer who played as a forward in the Football League.
Funnell played in the Football League for Bournemouth, Gillingham, Brentford and Southampton. After a back injury forced him to retire from League football, Funnell he had a notable spell with Poole Town in non-League football. He made over 300 appearances and was inducted into the club's Hall of Fame in 2014. Funnell later became a manager.
Playing career
Southampton
After rising to prominence at Athenian League club Eastbourne United, Funnell joined Second Division club Southampton for a £250 fee in January 1977. Funnell played the 1977 English off-season in Canada with North American Soccer League club Vancouver Whitecaps. He scored two goals in 10 games for the club, which fell to the Seattle Sounders in the first round of the playoffs.
Funnell made an impression during the second half of the 1977–78 season, scoring 9 goals to help the Saints clinch promotion to First Division with a second-place finish. The higher level of football during the 1978–79 season meant Funnell rarely figured in the first team picture and he departed The Dell in March 1979. Funnell made 20 appearances and scored 9 goals during his time with Southampton.
Gillingham
In March 1979, Funnell transferred to Third Division club Gillingham for a then-club record fee of £50,000. He made 38 appearances and scored 10 goals during just over a year at Priestfield.
Brentford
Funnell joined Third Division club Brentford for a then-club record fee of £56,000 in March 1980. Not rated by incoming manager Fred Callaghan, he made only 23 appearances and scored six goals during his only full season at Griffin Park. Funnell departed the Bees in the summer of 1981, having made 35 appearances and scored 10 goals.
Bournemouth
Funnell signed for Fourth Division club Bournemouth in September 1981 for a £5,000 fee. Under David Webb's management, he had the best season of his career in 1981–82, top-scoring 16 goals in 43 league games to help the Cherries to promotion to Division Three with a fourth-place finish. A back injury during the 1982–83 season ended Funnell's career in league football. He made 64 appearances and scored 22 goals during his time at Dean Court.
Poole Town
After two years in Sunday league football, Funnell moved into non-League football to join Southern League Premier Division club Poole Town in 1985. During a long spell with the club, Funnell scored 127 goals in 308 appearances for the Dolphins. He was recognised for his service with a testimonial versus former club Southampton in May 1991 and he was inducted into the club's Hall of Fame in 2014.
Managerial career
Funnell had spells as manager of Dorset League club Hamworthy United and Wessex League club Wimborne Town.
Personal life
Funnell's son Gary is also a footballer, who represented non-League clubs Wimborne Town, Salisbury City and Poole Town, in addition to the England beach football team at international level.
Career statistics
Honours
Southampton
Football League Second Division second-place promotion: 1977–78
Bournemouth
Football League Fourth Division fourth-place promotion: 1981–82
Individual
Poole Town Hall of Fame
References
1957 births
Sportspeople from Eastbourne
English men's footballers
Eastbourne United A.F.C. players
English Football League players
Southampton F.C. players
Vancouver Whitecaps (1974–1984) players
Southern Football League players
Men's association football forwards
Living people
Gillingham F.C. players
Brentford F.C. players
AFC Bournemouth players
Poole Town F.C. players
English football managers
Hamworthy United F.C. managers
Wimborne Town F.C. managers
English expatriate men's footballers
English expatriate sportspeople in Canada
Expatriate men's soccer players in Canada
North American Soccer League (1968–1984) players
Newhaven F.C. players