Michael McElhatton
April 13, 2017 Leave a comment
Michael McElhatton
Born 16 April 1975 (Age 23 at debut)
Position: Midfielder
(Diamonds player #102)
Total appearances 96 – 22 goals
(69 League, 13 FA Cup, 7 FA Trophy, 3 League Cup, 3 Maunsell Cup, 1 Conference Shield)
Debut:
25 August 1998 (Away Kingstonian)
Final game:
22 January 2002 (Away Carlisle United)
Born in Killarney, Republic of Ireland, Michael spent some four years at Nene Park. The midfielder had started his career under Harry Redknapp at AFC Bournemouth, rising up through the youth ranks, and into the first team. He made several appearances for the Irish schoolboys side. He left Dean Court in September 1996 after 42 appearances on loan to Division Three side Scarborough, making the move permanent the following month. He helped them to the Play-offs the following season and his 59th and last game for them was in the semi-final defeat to Torquay United. He joined Diamonds on 16 May 1998 on a free transfer. The dynamic midfielder had a phenomenal eye for goal, scoring 22 goals for Diamonds, placing him at number 12 in the all time leading scorers list for the club.
He had an incredible amount of energy and covered more ground than most players during the course of a game. This led to him being named players “Player of the season” in 1999. Unfortunately, Michael sustained a serious knee injury after a collision with Yeovil player Warren Patmore on 7 March 2000.
After the injury and some extensive rehabilitation, he returned to the side in October 2000, and scored three goals in his first two games back but he broke down after an hour in that second game back against Grantham Town. After a further twelve months on the sidelines, he did return briefly before he went out on an end of season loan to Chester City in order to gain match fitness. Further knee problems persisted however, and after advice from a consultant, he was eventually forced forced to retire in April that year, at the age of 27. He was extremely popular with the fans and was awarded a benefit match on 3 November 2002 between a Decade of Diamonds side and a Showbiz XI. After retirement, he returned to Bournemouth where he went into the building trade.
Appearances
1998/1999
|
Conf |
25.8.98 |
Kingstonian (A) |
as sub |
|
Conf |
29.8.98 |
Southport (A) |
as sub |
|
Conf |
12.9.98 |
Telford Utd (H) |
as sub |
|
Conf |
19.9.98 |
Doncaster Rvrs (A) |
|
|
Conf |
26.9.98 |
Hereford Utd (H) |
|
|
Conf |
3.10.98 |
Northwich Vic (H) |
|
|
FAC3q |
17.10.98 |
Forest Green (H) |
|
|
Conf |
24.10.98 |
Morecambe (H) |
|
|
Conf |
7.11.98 |
Hednesford Tn (A) |
|
|
FAC4q |
9.11.98 |
Leatherhead (A) |
|
|
FAC1 |
14.11.98 |
Shrewsbury Tn (H) |
|
|
FAT2 |
21.11.98 |
Bath City (H) |
|
|
Conf |
28.11.98 |
Cheltenham Tn (A) |
|
|
FAC2 |
5.12.98 |
Doncaster Rvrs (A) |
|
|
Conf |
12.12.98 |
Telford Utd (A) |
|
|
ET2 |
22.12.98 |
Farnborough Tn (A) |
|
|
Conf |
28.12.98 |
Woking (H) |
|
|
FAC3 |
2.1.99 |
Leeds Utd (H) |
|
|
FAC3r |
13.1.99 |
Leeds Utd (A) |
|
|
Conf |
23.1.99 |
Doncaster Rvrs (H) |
|
|
FAT3 |
25.1.99 |
Slough Town (A) |
|
|
Conf |
30.1.99 |
Northwich Vic (A) |
|
|
Conf |
2.2.99 |
Kidderminster (H) |
|
|
FAT4 |
6.2.99 |
Woking (A) |
|
|
FAT4r |
9.2.99 |
Woking (H) |
|
|
Conf |
13.2.99 |
Kidderminster (A) |
|
|
Conf |
16.2.99 |
Welling Utd (A) |
|
|
Conf |
20.2.99 |
Hednesford Tn (H) |
|
|
Conf |
23.2.99 |
Southport (H) |
1 goal |
|
Conf |
6.3.99 |
Hayes (A) |
|
|
Conf |
9.3.99 |
Stevenage Boro(H) |
|
|
Conf |
13.3.99 |
Leek Town (H) |
1 goal |
|
Conf |
16.3.99 |
Dover Athletic (H) |
|
|
Conf |
20.3.99 |
Morecambe (A) |
1 goal |
|
Conf |
23.3.99 |
Leek Town (A) |
|
|
Conf |
27.3.99 |
Kettering Town (A) |
|
|
Conf |
3.4.99 |
Cheltenham Tn (H) |
|
|
Conf |
5.4.99 |
Woking (A) |
|
|
Conf |
13.4.99 |
Yeovil Jct (H) |
|
|
Conf |
20.4.99 |
Kingstonian (H) |
|
|
Conf |
24.4.99 |
Hereford Utd (A) |
|
|
Conf |
26.4.99 |
Forest Green (H) |
|
|
Conf |
1.5.99 |
Kettering Town (H) |
1 goal |
1999/2000
|
MCF |
31.7.99 |
Northampton Tn(H) |
|
|
Conf |
14.8.99 |
Morecambe (A) |
|
|
Conf |
17.8.99 |
Telford Utd (H) |
|
|
Conf |
21.8.99 |
Kidderminster (H) |
2 goals |
|
Conf |
28.8.99 |
Sutton Utd (A) |
1 goal |
|
Conf |
30.8.99 |
Welling Utd (H) |
2 goals |
|
Conf |
4.9.99 |
Northwich Vic (A) |
|
|
Conf |
7.9.99 |
Hayes (H) |
|
|
Conf |
11.9.99 |
Woking (H) |
|
|
Conf |
14.9.99 |
Kettering Town (A) |
|
|
Conf |
18.9.99 |
Southport (H) |
2 goals |
|
Conf |
25.9.99 |
Hednesford Tn (A) |
|
|
Conf |
28.9.99 |
Hereford Utd (A) |
|
|
Conf |
2.10.99 |
Altrincham (A) |
|
|
Conf |
9.10.99 |
Kingstonian (H) |
|
|
FAC4q |
16.10.99 |
Sutton Utd (H) |
2 goals |
|
Conf |
23.10.99 |
Scarborough (A) |
|
|
FAC1 |
29.10.99 |
Scunthorpe Utd(H) |
|
|
Conf |
2.11.99 |
Nuneaton Boro (A) |
|
|
Conf |
6.11.99 |
Dover Athetic (H) |
|
|
Conf |
13.11.99 |
Yeovil Town (A) |
|
|
FAC2 |
20.11.99 |
Ilkeston Town (A) |
|
|
NT2 |
23.11.99 |
Telford Utd (H) |
|
|
FAT2 |
27.11.99 |
Havant & W (H) |
|
|
FAC2r |
30.11.99 |
Ilkeston Town (H) |
|
|
Conf |
4.12.99 |
Hayes (A) |
|
|
FAC3 |
12.12.99 |
Sheffield Utd (A) |
|
|
Conf |
18.12.99 |
Telford Utd (A) |
1 goal |
|
FAC3r |
21.12.99 |
Sheffield Utd (H) |
|
|
Conf |
27.12.99 |
Stevenage Boro(H) |
|
|
Conf |
3.1.00 |
Stevenage Boro(A) |
|
|
FAT3 |
15.1.00 |
Bath City (A) |
|
|
Conf |
22.1.00 |
Forest Green (A) |
|
|
Conf |
29.1.00 |
Northwich Vic (H) |
2 goals |
|
Conf |
12.2.00 |
Dover Athletic (A) |
|
|
Conf |
15.2.00 |
Forest Green (H) |
1 goal |
|
Conf |
19.2.00 |
Doncaster Rvrs (A) |
|
|
Conf |
22.2.00 |
Hednesford Tn (H) |
|
|
FAT5 |
26.2.00 |
Marine (H) |
|
|
Conf |
4.3.00 |
Kingstonian (A) |
|
|
Conf |
7.3.00 |
Yeovil Town (H) |
2000/2001
|
NWT2 |
24.10.00 |
Stevenage Bor (H) |
1 goal |
|
FAC4q |
28.10.00 |
Grantham Tn (H) |
2 goals |
2001/2002 – squad number 4
|
MCSF |
6.11.01 |
Northampton Tn(H) |
|
|
CS |
13.11.01 |
Chester City (H) |
as sub |
|
MCF |
12.12.01 |
Peterborough (H) |
1 goal |
|
D3 |
15.12.01 |
Luton Town (A) |
as sub |
|
D3 |
22.12.01 |
Carlisle Utd (H) |
as sub |
|
D3 |
26.12.01 |
Southend Utd (A) |
as sub |
|
D3 |
29.12.01 |
Plymouth Arg (A) |
|
|
D3 |
12.1.02 |
Lincoln City (A) |
|
|
D3 |
19.1.02 |
York City (H) |
1 goal |
|
D3 |
22.1.02 |
Carlisle Utd (A) |
rdfc1992 