Steven Mark Drench (born 11 September 1985) is an English footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Chorley.
Club career
Drench began his career with the Blackburn Rovers youth system.[3] Following an injury to Ryan Robinson, he joined Conference National team Morecambe on loan as goalkeeping cover in November 2005.[4] The loan was extended for a second month in December and to the end of the 2005–06 season in February.[5][6]
Following his release by Blackburn, Drench signed for Morecambe permanently in the summer of 2006.[2] After beginning the 2006–07 season competing with Robinson for the starting goalkeeper's spot, Drench was confirmed as the club's first choice goalkeeper when Robinson left to join Forest Green Rovers.[4] However, he dislocated his elbow in a challenge with York City's Clayton Donaldson in the play-off semi-final second leg,[7] which forced him to miss the successful play-off Final against Exeter City.[8] He finished the season with 47 appearances and won Morecambe's Player of the Year award.[2][9] Following this injury, he struggled to regain his first team place following the signing of Joe Lewis on loan and Drench joined Conference North team Southport on a month's loan in January 2008.[2][10] His stayed at Southport until the end of the season and he made 26 appearances for the club.[11]

After being released by Morecambe in June 2008, he signed for Southport permanently in July.[12] However, he was allowed to leave the club on a free transfer and had a one-week trial with Conference team Stevenage Borough due to Drench's desire to remain full-time after the club reverted to part-time status following the departure of manager Gary Brabin to Cambridge United.[13] Drench was reunited with Brabin after signing for Cambridge on a six-month loan on 21 August to provide cover for Danny Potter.[12] He subsequently left the club following the expiration of the loan in January 2009.[14]
Southport released Drench on 26 March 2009 and he signed for Leigh Genesis, finishing the 2008–09 season with five appearances for the team.[15] He made 47 appearances in the 2009–10 season.[15]
He had a trial with Conference team Barrow in July 2010 and he played in a pre-season friendly against Oldham Athletic.[16] He later joined York City on trial and after featuring in pre-season friendlies against Hull City and Barnsley he was not offered a contract by the club.[17][18][19][20]
He joined Conference North team Guiseley on trial in August,[21] and played a large part in Guiseley's debut season in the Conference North.[22] Drench was in goal as Guiseley earned promotion to the Conference National.
In 2017, Drench joined Bradford Park Avenue.[23]
In 2019, Drench joined Altrincham and made his debut on 9 February against FC United.[24]
In 2020, Drench joined Farsley Celtic.[25]
Following the conclusion of his contract, in 2021, he temporarily retired from football before re-joining Altrincham as a player / coach.[26]
International career
Drench played for the England Schoolboys and England national under-17 team while with Blackburn.[3]
References
- ^ "List of Players under Written Contract Registered Between 01/08/2010 and 31/08/2010" (PDF). The Football Association. Retrieved 16 July 2011.
- ^ a b c d e "First Team". Morecambe F.C. Archived from the original on 13 June 2011. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
- ^ a b Quinn, Derek (17 May 2007). "Super Shrimps!". BBC Lancashire. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
- ^ a b "Steven Drench – Goalkeeper". Leigh Genesis F.C. Archived from the original on 8 April 2010. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
- ^ "Shrimps extend Drench's loan stay". BBC Sport. 22 December 2005. Retrieved 16 July 2011.
- ^ "Shrimps extend Drench loan spell". BBC Sport. 1 February 2006. Retrieved 16 July 2011.
- ^ "Morecambe 2–1 York (2–1 agg)". BBC Sport. 7 May 2007. Retrieved 16 July 2011.
- ^ "Exeter 1–2 Morecambe". BBC Sport. 20 May 2007. Retrieved 16 July 2011.
- ^ "Morecambe 2006/2007 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
- ^ "Morecambe secure Watford keeper". BBC Sport. 2 January 2008. Retrieved 16 July 2011.
- ^ "Southport FC complete NL player list as at 24 April 22 May 2010" (PDF). Southport FC Stats. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 August 2010. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
- ^ a b "Keeper Drench joins U's on loan". BBC Sport. 22 August 2008. Retrieved 16 July 2011.
- ^ "Latest News". Southport F.C. Retrieved 13 July 2010. [dead link ]
- ^ "Brabin rules out more departures". BBC Sport. 7 January 2009. Retrieved 16 July 2011.
- ^ a b "Steven Drench". TheFootballNetwork.net. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
- ^ "Good Kompany kept as Barrow AFC take on Oldham". North-West Evening Mail. 12 July 2010. Archived from the original on 1 April 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
- ^ Flett, Dave (13 July 2010). "Quartet of trialists hope to catch eye of York City manager Martin Foyle". The Press. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
- ^ Flett, Dave (19 July 2010). "York City 0, Hull City 1". The Press. Retrieved 23 July 2010.
- ^ Flett, Dave (21 July 2010). "York City 0, Barnsley 2". The Press. Retrieved 23 July 2010.
- ^ Carroll, Steve (23 July 2010). "York City's David McGurk and Greg Young primed to make pre-season starts". The Press. Retrieved 23 July 2010.
- ^ "Guiseley trialists catch the eye in away triumph". Wharfedale Observer. 5 August 2010. Retrieved 10 August 2010.
- ^ "Goalkeepers". Guiseley A.F.C. Archived from the original on 2 February 2012. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
- ^ Goalkeeper Steve Drench reunited with Mark Bower as Bradford Park Avenue swoop‚ thetelegraphandargus.co.uk, 6 June 2017
- ^ http://www.altrinchamfc.co.uk/team.htm#Steven DRENCH
- ^ "Farsley Complete Signing of Steve Drench". farsleyceltic.com. 11 August 2020.
- ^ "Bradford and Guiseley ex-stopper retires from football". thetelegraphandargus.com. 31 July 2021.
External links
- Steven Drench at Soccerway
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