Anton Rodgers (footballer)

Anton Michael Rodgers (born 26 January 1993) is a footballer who plays as a midfielder for Isthmian League South Central Division side Basingstoke Town. Born in England, he has represented Ireland at youth level.

Anton Rodgers
Personal information
Full name Anton Michael Rodgers[1]
Date of birth (1993-01-26) 26 January 1993 (age 31)[1]
Place of birth Reading,[1] England
Height 5 ft 6+12 in (1.69 m)[2]
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Basingstoke Town
Youth career
2006–2011 Chelsea
2011–2013 Brighton & Hove Albion
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2013 Brighton & Hove Albion 0 (0)
2013Exeter City (loan) 2 (0)
2013–2014 Oldham Athletic 7 (0)
2014–2017 Swindon Town 68 (5)
2017–2018 Hungerford Town 19 (1)
2018–2019 Wealdstone 0 (0)
2019 Bracknell Town
2019–2021 Marlow 11 (0)
2021– Basingstoke Town 31 (3)
International career
2009 Republic of Ireland U17
2010 Republic of Ireland U19 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 13:37, 3 May 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 11:55, 21 March 2018 (UTC)

Club career

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After departing the youth setup at Chelsea in May 2011, Rodgers joined the academy of recently promoted Championship club Brighton & Hove Albion, signing an initial one-year contract with the option of a further year which was taken up by the club in the summer of 2012.[3] Rodgers made his professional debut and only appearance for Brighton in an FA Cup match against Wrexham on 7 January 2012.[4] On 20 March 2013, Rodgers joined League Two side Exeter City on an initial two-month loan deal.[5] Rodgers made his professional League début for Exeter on 9 April during a 4–1 defeat at Rotherham United, appearing as a 70th-minute substitute.[6] On 21 May 2013, Rodgers was released by Brighton, along with former Chelsea teammate Ben Sampayo.[7]

On 12 July 2013, Rodgers signed for League One side Oldham Athletic on a one-year contract.[8] On 10 August 2013, Rodgers made his Oldham debut in their 1–0 home defeat against Walsall, replacing James Dayton in the 74th minute.[9] On 3 September 2013, Rodgers was given his first Oldham start in their Football League Trophy away tie against Shrewsbury Town, featuring for 71 minutes before being replaced by David Mellor. The game resulted in a 4–1 victory for the visitors with Danny Philliskirk scoring a hat-trick.[10] Rodgers was released by Oldham at the end of the 2013–14 season after limited appearances in the first team.

On 17 July 2014, preceding his release from Oldham, Rodgers joined League One side Swindon Town.[11] On 23 September 2014, Rodgers made his Swindon debut in a Football League Trophy 2–1 victory over Newport County, in which he replaced Louis Thompson in the 58th minute.[12] A month later, Rodgers scored on his league debut for the club in their 3–2 home defeat against Rochdale, netting the game's opener in the 35th minute.[13]

In June 2017, Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers fielded his son, Anton, as a trialist during the Scottish champions' 1–0 friendly win over BW Linz in Austria. He was a free agent after leaving Swindon Town.[14]

On 3 November 2017, Rodgers joined National League South side Hungerford Town following his release from Swindon.[15] Following a lack of game time, Rodgers opted to leave Hungerford; however, just two months later he rejoined the club.[16]

In July 2018, Rodgers was fielded as a trialist for Peterborough United in their pre-season friendlies.[17]

In September 2018, he joined Falkirk on trial after leaving Hungerford at the end of the 2017/18 season.[18]

Rodgers featured for Wealdstone and Bracknell Town during the 2018–19 season.[19][20] On 19 August 2019, Rodgers joined Marlow.[21]

On 1 October 2021, Basingstoke Town announced the signing of Rodgers for the 2021-22 season.[22]

International career

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Rodgers has been capped twice by the Republic of Ireland U19, making his debut against Luxembourg on 7 October 2010.[23] He is eligible to play for England through birth, and Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland through parentage.[24]

Personal life

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Rodgers is the son of Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers.[25]

Career statistics

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As of match played 28 April 2018.[26]
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Brighton & Hove Albion 2011–12 Championship 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0
Exeter City (loan) 2012–13 League Two 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Oldham Athletic 2013–14 League One 7 0 4 0 0 0 3[a] 0 14 0
Swindon Town 2014–15 League One 10 2 0 0 0 0 3[b] 0 13 2
2015–16 League One 36 2 1 0 0 0 2[a] 1 39 3
2016–17 League One 22 1 1 0 1 0 3[c] 0 27 1
Total 68 5 2 0 1 0 8 1 79 6
Hungerford Town 2017–18 National League South 19 1 0 0 1[d] 0 20 1
Career total 96 6 7 0 1 0 12 1 116 7
  1. ^ a b Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy
  2. ^ Two appearances in Football League Trophy, one in League One play-offs
  3. ^ Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
  4. ^ Appearance(s) in FA Trophy

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Anton Rodgers". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 12 May 2019.
  2. ^ "Anton Rodgers". swindontownfc.co.uk. Swindon Town FC. Archived from the original on 8 November 2015. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  3. ^ Tanner, Rob. "Anton Rodgers: 'I've refound my love of football. I want my dad to come and watch again'". The Athletic. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
  4. ^ "BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION VS. WREXHAM 1 – 1". SoccerWay. 7 January 2012. Retrieved 10 April 2013.
  5. ^ "Exeter City sign Brighton's Anton Rodgers on loan". BBC Sport. 20 March 2013. Retrieved 10 April 2013.
  6. ^ "Rotherham 4–1 Exeter". BBC Sport. 9 April 2013. Retrieved 10 April 2013.
  7. ^ "New Deals for Development Squad players". Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. 21 May 2013. Archived from the original on 29 December 2014. Retrieved 21 May 2013.
  8. ^ "Anton Rodgers: Oldham Athletic sign Liverpool manager's son". BBC Sport. 12 July 2013. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  9. ^ "Oldham Athletic vs. Walsall". Soccerway. 10 August 2013. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
  10. ^ "Shrewsbury Town vs. Oldham Athletic". Soccerway. 3 September 2013. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
  11. ^ "Anton Rodgers: Swindon Town sign ex-Oldham midfielder". BBC Sport. 17 July 2014. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
  12. ^ "Newport County vs. Swindon Town". Soccerway. 23 September 2014. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
  13. ^ "Swindon Town vs. Rochdale". Soccerway. 21 October 2014. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
  14. ^ "Brendan Rodgers fields son Anton in Celtic friendly against BW Linz". BBC Sport. 28 June 2017. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  15. ^ "The Crusaders are pleased to announce the signing of Anton Rodgers". Hungerford Town Official Site. 3 November 2017. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  16. ^ "Rodgers departs". Hungerford Town Official Site. 15 January 2018. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  17. ^ "PREVIEW: Peterborough United give another chance to Anton the trialist". Peterborough Telegraph. 10 July 2018. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
  18. ^ "Brendan Rodgers' son Anton on trial with Falkirk". The Herald. 24 September 2018. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  19. ^ "Wealdstone draw with Welling United before Uxbridge victory in County Cup". Harrow Times. 7 November 2018. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  20. ^ "Former Swindon man joins Bracknell". The Bostik League. 29 March 2019. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  21. ^ Squad Update - New Signing - Rodgers is on board!, marlowfc.co.uk, 19 August 2019
  22. ^ "Anton Rodgers Signs". Basingstoke Town Football Club. 1 October 2021. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  23. ^ "IRELAND REP U19 VS. LUXEMBOURG U19 5 – 0". SoccerWay. 7 October 2010. Retrieved 10 April 2013.
  24. ^ "Anton Rodgers set to switch allegiance from Republic". Belfast Telegraph. Independent News & Media. 24 September 2011. Retrieved 10 April 2013.
  25. ^ "Brendan Rodgers: Northern Ireland is where my heart lies". Belfast Telegraph. Independent News & Media. 14 April 2012. Retrieved 19 May 2012.
  26. ^ "A. Rodgers". Soccerway. Retrieved 29 March 2017.