Mike Calveley Explained

Mike Calveley
Fullname:Michael Thomas Calveley[1]
Birth Date:22 June 1999[2]
Birth Place:Chester, England
Height:[3]
Position:Midfielder
Currentclub:Chorley
Clubnumber:8
Youthclubs1:Port Vale
Years1:2017–2019
Clubs1:Port Vale
Caps1:3
Goals1:0
Years2:2017
Clubs2:Leek Town (loan)
Caps2:8
Goals2:0
Years3:2018–2019
Clubs3:Nuneaton Borough (loan)
Caps3:38
Goals3:4
Years4:2019–2020
Clubs4:Curzon Ashton
Caps4:21
Goals4:3
Years5:2020–
Clubs5:Chorley
Caps5:143
Goals5:13
Club-Update:00:14, 29 April 2024 (UTC)

Michael Thomas Calveley (born 22 June 1999) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for club Chorley.

He turned professional at Port Vale in May 2017 and went on to play on loan at Leek Town and Nuneaton Borough. Released in May 2019, he signed for Curzon Ashton four months later. He joined Chorley in July 2020.

Career

Port Vale

Calveley turned professional at Port Vale in May 2017; he signed a one-year contract shortly after receiving the club's Youth Player of the Year award.[4] On 13 September 2017, he joined Northern Premier League Division One South side Leek Town on a one-month loan.[5] Vale manager Michael Brown said that he sanctioned the loan move because of his respect for "Blues" manager Neil Baker.[6] He scored his first senior goal with a strike in Town's 4–1 FA Trophy victory over Lincoln United at Harrison Park on 7 October.[7] He was recalled by new "Valiants" manager Neil Aspin to make his senior debut in a 4–2 victory over Crewe Alexandra in an EFL Trophy group stage match at Vale Park on 7 November.[8]

On 19 July 2018, he joined National League North side Nuneaton Borough on loan, along with teammate Dior Angus.[9] He made his debut for "Boro" on the opening day of the 2018–19 season, and went in goal for the last ten minutes of the game after goalkeeper Louis Gray was sent off, managing to keep a clean sheet as his new team recorded a 0–0 draw with Ashton United.[10] On 26 December, he scored his first goal for Nuneaton in a 3–1 defeat at A.F.C. Telford United.[11] On 19 January, he scored both of Nuneaton's goals in their 2–2 draw at Hereford.[12] He was recalled from his loan spell by new Vale manager John Askey in April, having scored four goals in 42 matches for Nuneaton.[13] However, he played just two minutes for Vale as a substitute and Askey confirmed that he would not be offering Calveley a new contract on 16 May; meanwhile he was voted as Nuneaton's players' Player of the Year.[14] [15]

Curzon Ashton

Calveley joined National League North side Curzon Ashton and made his debut for the "Nash" on 28 September 2019, in a 2–1 defeat at Farsley Celtic.[16] He scored three goals in 22 games during the 2019–20 season, which was curtailed early due to the COVID-19 pandemic in England.

Chorley

He was signed by National League North rivals Chorley on 8 July 2020.[17] Manager Jamie Vermiglio said that "he'll bring strength and energy to the midfield and our supporters will no doubt appreciate his work ethic".[18] The "Magpies" enjoyed a deep run in the FA Cup, making it through three rounds of qualification with wins over Gateshead and York City and a bye. In the First Round Proper, they came from two goals down to beat Wigan Athletic 3–2 after extra time, with Calveley providing the assist for Elliot Newby in Chorley's first goal of the comeback.[19] They beat another League One side away from home in the second round, Peterborough United, and Calveley scored the winning goal on 62 minutes.[20] He also scored in the next round as Chorley beat Championship side Derby County 2–0 at Victory Park.[21] The cup run came to an end in the fourth round with a 1–0 home defeat to Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers.[22] However, the 2020–21 season was curtailed early in February due to the pandemic.[23]

He agreed a one-year contract extension in October 2021, keeping him at Chorley until the summer of 2023.[24] He scored three goals across 42 appearances in the 2021–22 campaign, including playing in the play-off quarter-final defeat to York City.[25] He made 46 appearances in the 2022–23 season, where Chorley missed out on the play-offs with defeat on the final day.[26] He played 44 of Chorley's 46 league games of the 2023–24 season, helping the club to the play-offs with a fourth-place finish. They were beaten by Brackley Town at the semi-final stage.[27]

Style of play

Port Vale youth team coach Mick Ede stated that Calveley is "a big midfielder, a destroyer, but when he gets on the ball you know he generally looks for that forward pass and breaks lines".[28]

Career statistics

ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Port Vale2017–18League Two2000001030
2018–19EFL League Two1000000010
Total3000001040
Leek Town (loan)2017–18[29] NPL - Division One South80000031111
Nuneaton Borough (loan)2018–19[30] National League North384000040424
Curzon Ashton2019–20National League North213000010223
Chorley2020–21National League North151420010203
2021–22National League North403000020423
2022–23National League North442000020462
2023–24National League North447000051498
2024–25National League North0000000000
Total14313420010115716
Career total21721420015123625

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Retained List 2016-17. English Football League. 13 June 2017.
  2. Web site: FootballSquads - Port Vale - 2018/2019 . www.footballsquads.co.uk . 1 February 2021.
  3. Web site: FootballSquads - Port Vale - 2018/2019 . www.footballsquads.co.uk . 24 June 2019.
  4. News: Mike Calveley Signs Pro Deal. 10 May 2017. port-vale.co.uk. 10 May 2017.
  5. News: Baggaley. Michael. Port Vale's Mike Calveley joins Leek Town on loan. 13 September 2017. Stoke Sentinel. 13 September 2017.
  6. News: Baggaley. Michael. Port Vale diary with news of Mike Calveley, Callum Guy and supporters' meeting. 15 September 2017. Stoke Sentinel. 15 September 2017.
  7. Web site: Leek Town 4 vs. 1 Lincoln United - 7 October 2017 - First - Leek Town. www.pitchero.com. 11 October 2017.
  8. News: Baggaley. Michael. Aspin revolution continues as Port Vale beat Crewe 4-2 in Checkatrade Trophy. 8 November 2017. Stoke Sentinel. 7 November 2017.
  9. News: Baggaley . Michael . Port Vale transfer updates on Rory McKeown, Dior Angus and Mike Calveley . 30 July 2018 . Stoke Sentinel . 19 July 2018.
  10. News: Baggaley . Michael . Loan watch as Port Vale midfielder goes in goal for Nuneaton Borough . 6 August 2018 . Stoke Sentinel . 6 August 2018.
  11. News: Baggaley . Michael . Brendon Daniels' wonder-goal as Port Vale players feature in Telford v Nuneaton . 27 December 2018 . Stoke Sentinel . 27 December 2018.
  12. Web site: Highlights: Hereford vs Nuneaton Borough . www.thenationalleague.org.uk . 20 January 2019 . en.
  13. News: Smith . Peter . Four changes for Port Vale v Stevenage - and loanee returns for place on bench . 19 April 2019 . Stoke Sentinel . 19 April 2019.
  14. News: Baggaley . Michael . Port Vale's retained list in full as nine players are released . 16 May 2019 . Stoke Sentinel . 16 May 2019.
  15. News: Sherwin . Phil . From local heroes who impressed to lost boys: Port Vale class of 2018/19 rated . 19 May 2019 . Stoke Sentinel . 19 May 2019.
  16. News: Curzon Ashton FC : News . 5 November 2019 . Curzon Ashton FC . 28 September 2019.
  17. News: Chorley sign Curzon Ashton midfielder Calveley Non League Daily . 26 September 2020 . nonleaguedaily.com . 8 July 2020.
  18. News: Birch . Alex . Midfielder Calveley signs up for 2020/21 . 26 September 2020 . 7 July 2020.
  19. News: Non-league Chorley stun Wigan in FA Cup . 12 May 2021 . BBC Sport . 8 November 2020.
  20. News: Rindl . Josef . Non-league Chorley stun Peterborough . 12 May 2021 . BBC Sport . 28 November 2020.
  21. News: Rams win would have been 'fairytale' . 12 May 2021 . BBC Sport . 9 January 2021.
  22. News: Stone . Simon . Superb Vitinha goal seals Wolves win . 12 May 2021 . BBC Sport . 22 January 2021.
  23. News: National League Statement Outcome Of Written Resolutions. Osborn. Oliver. Vanarama National League. 18 February 2021. 18 February 2021.
  24. News: Salmon . Craig . Midfield man Mike Calveley agrees new deal to remain at Chorley . 19 May 2022 . Lancashire Post . 18 October 2021 . en.
  25. News: Magpies bow out of Playoffs at York Chorley FC . 19 May 2022 . Chorley F.C. . 11 May 2022.
  26. News: Salmon . Craig . Boss Andy Preece left deflated after Chorley suffer late play-off agony at Gloucester . 1 May 2023 . Lancashire Evening Post . 1 May 2023 . en.
  27. News: Tscherewik . Pete . Brackley Town 1, Chorley 0: Magpies promotion dream is over after narrow play-off semi-final defeat . 29 April 2024 . Lancashire Evening Post . 28 April 2024.
  28. News: Baggaley. Mike. Port Vale: Midfielder Mike Calveley signs senior deal. 10 May 2017. Stoke Sentinel. 10 May 2017.
  29. Web site: Fixtures and Results - First - Leek Town. www.pitchero.com. 13 September 2017.
  30. Web site: Mike Calveley - Nuneaton Borough 1st Team - Nuneaton Borough FC . www.pitchero.com . 19 October 2018 . en.