Callum Ainley Explained

Callum Ainley
Fullname:Callum Thomas Ainley[1]
Birth Date:1997 11, df=y[2]
Birth Place:Swindon, England
Currentclub:Grimsby Town
Clubnumber:16
Position:Midfielder
Youthyears1:2011–2015
Youthclubs1:Crewe Alexandra
Years1:2015–2023
Clubs1:Crewe Alexandra
Caps1:242
Goals1:17
Years2:2023–
Clubs2:Grimsby Town
Caps2:9
Goals2:0
Club-Update:08:43, 19 August 2024 (UTC)

Callum Thomas Ainley (born 2 November 1997) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for side Grimsby Town.

Career

Crewe Alexandra

Ainley began his career in Crewe Alexandra's academy and made his professional debut, aged 17, on 5 September 2015 in a 3–1 defeat against Swindon Town.[3] [4] He scored his first goal for Crewe in a 3–1 win against Doncaster Rovers on 30 April 2016.[5] Exactly four months later, he scored his second senior goal in a 3–0 win at Accrington Stanley in a Football League Trophy tie on 30 August 2016.[6] Two days after his 20th birthday, on 4 November 2017, he scored the 89th-minute winner in a 2–1 victory over Rotherham United in the FA Cup first round at Gresty Road.[7]

On 3 May 2018, Ainley signed a new three-year contract at Crewe.[8]

In December 2020, Ainley had surgery to repair a hamstring injury sustained in an FA Cup tie at Cheltenham Town.[9] He returned to first team action on 14 March 2021, coming on as a second-half substitute against Burton Albion.[10] He scored his first goal of the season in a 1–0 win at Bristol Rovers on 1 May 2021, and Crewe manager David Artell was keen to get him to sign a new contract.[11] On 13 May 2021, Crewe announced that it had offered Ainley a new contract,[12] and Ainley signed a two-year deal on 30 June 2021.[13]

On 25 September 2021 at Rotherham United, Ainley suffered a new hamstring injury ruling him out of first team action for two months.[14] He returned to the side on 1 December, playing the first half of Crewe's 2–0 win over Doncaster Rovers in the Football League Trophy,[15] and played a total of 36 games as Crewe were relegated from League One.

After suffering a shoulder injury during a League Two game against Mansfield Town at Gresty Road on 24 September 2022, Ainley required surgery and was ruled out for around three months.[16] He resumed first-team appearances coming on as a substitute in Crewe's goalless draw with AFC Wimbledon on 7 January 2023.[17] Eighteen months after his last Crewe goal, against Hartlepool United in the EFL Cup in August 2021,[18] Ainley scored the opener in Crewe's 2–0 League Two win over the same opposition on 14 February 2023.[19]

On 12 May 2023, the club announced Ainley's departure after making 278 first-team appearances. Manager Lee Bell said "it's time for him to try something else. ... I've no doubt that in six months he will be settled and pleased with the way things have worked out. Callum will always be welcome at Crewe Alexandra."[20]

Grimsby Town

After leaving Crewe Alexandra in the summer of 2023, Ainley signed for League Two side Grimsby Town on a one-year deal in September 2023.[21] He made his Grimsby debut in a 3–0 league defeat at Wrexham on 16 September 2023, coming on as a 71st-minute substitute for Gavan Holohan.[22]

In January 2024, Grimsby announced that Ainley had been diagnosed with thyroid cancer, and that after having surgery he could return to training in the second half of February.[23] He made his first Grimsby appearance since the diagnosis, being brought on as a late substitute by Grimsby's former Crewe manager David Artell in a 3–0 win at Crewe on 13 April 2024.[24] Ainley agreed a new one-year contract with Grimsby in June 2024.[25]

Career statistics

ClubSeasonDivisionLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotal
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Crewe Alexandra2015–16League One161000010171
2016–17League Two271100031312
2017–18League Two454311030525
2018–19League Two436101030486
2019–20League Two252102031313
2020–21League One221201030281
2021–22League One310002130361
2022–23League Two332001010352
Total24217818120227821
Grimsby Town2023–24League Two7020000090
2024-25League Two2000100030
Total90201000120
Career total251171019120229021

Honours

Crewe Alexandra

Notes and References

  1. News: The Football League Limited: Club list of registered players as at 16th May 2015 . The Football League . 46 . 16 May 2015 . 1 December 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150616201258/http://www.football-league.co.uk/documents/pages-from-fl-professional-retain-list-free-transfers-2014-15-2.pdf-...549-2491536.pdf# . 16 June 2015 . dead . dmy-all .
  2. Web site: Callum Ainley . 11v11 . 1 December 2015.
  3. News: Crewe 1–3 Swindon. BBC Sport . 20 October 2015.
  4. Web site: Callum Ainley will learn from midweek mistake – Steve Davis. Stoke Sentinel. 20 October 2015.
  5. News: Crewe 3–1 Doncaster. BBC Sport. 30 April 2016. 30 August 2016.
  6. Web site: Accrington Stanley 0–3 Crewe Alexandra. CreweAlex.net. 30 August 2016.
  7. News: Crewe Alexandra 2-1 Rotherham United. 4 November 2017. BBC Sport. BBC. 4 November 2017.
  8. News: Contract: Callum Ainley Agrees New Deal. 4 May 2018. CreweAlex.net. 3 May 2018.
  9. News: Ainley Has Successful Surgery On Hamstring Injury . 11 December 2020 . CreweAlex.net . 10 December 2014.
  10. News: Crewe Alexandra 0-3 Burton Albion . 15 March 2021 . BBC Sport . 13 March 2021.
  11. News: Baggaley . Michael . 'Terrific player' - Crewe Alex boss answers questions on Callum Ainley's future . 5 May 2021 . Cheshire Live . 5 May 2021.
  12. Web site: 20/21 Retained List . Crewe Alexandra F.C. . 13 May 2021.
  13. Web site: Callum Ainley Agrees New Two-Year Deal . Crewe Alexandra F.C. . 30 June 2021.
  14. News: 'Ainley Expected To Be Sidelined For Up To Two Months' . 30 September 2021 . CreweAlex.net . 30 September 2021.
  15. News: Crewe 2-0 Doncaster . 2 December 2021 . CreweAlex.net . 2 December 2021.
  16. News: Baggaley . Michael . Injury blow for influential Crewe Alex midfielder Callum Ainley . 27 September 2022 . Cheshire Live . 27 September 2022.
  17. News: Crewe Alexandra 0-0 AFC Wimbledon . 15 February 2023 . BBC Sport . 7 January 2023.
  18. News: Hartlepool United 0-1 Crewe Alexandra . 17 September 2023 . BBC Sport . 10 August 2021.
  19. News: Crewe Alexandra 2–0 Hartlepool United . 15 February 2023 . BBC Sport . 14 February 2023.
  20. News: Callum Ainley: Long-serving promotion-winner to leave club . 12 May 2023 . CreweAlex.com . 12 May 2023.
  21. Web site: AINLEY JOINS THE MARINERS!. Grimsby Town. 9 September 2023. 9 September 2023.
  22. News: Wrexham 3 Grimsby Town . 17 September 2023 . BBC Sport . 16 September 2023.
  23. News: Callum Ainley: Grimsby Town midfielder diagnosed with thyroid cancer . 17 January 2024 . BBC Sport . 16 January 2024.
  24. News: Crewe Alexandra 0-3 Grimsby Town . 30 April 2024 . BBC Sport . 13 April 2024.
  25. News: Grimsby confirm new deals for Ainley and Hume . 26 June 2024 . BBC Sport . 26 June 2024.
  26. Web site: C.Ainley summary . Soccerway . Perform Group . 12 September 2023.