1st Debut : Aylesbury Utd (H) - 03/12/05 Last Game : Salisbury City (H) - 02/01/06
2nd Debut : Maidenhead Utd (H) - 19/08/06 Last Game : Eastwood Town (A) - 01/12/09
There aren't many players who have achieved legendary status at two different clubs, yet Alex Sykes is one of them.
Having been a youngster with Mansfield Town Alex found his way to Forest Green Rovers via ambitious Cheltenham side Endsleigh. He was one of the key players in FGR's rise up the pyramid before expanding his horizons with a move to Nuneaton Borough. Although The Lawn was always his home and he returned there for three spells all told before eventually joining up with Gary owers at Bath City.
Alex was originally signed for City on loan from Bath by the outgoing Chris Burns in December 2005 in an effort to get his fitness up after injury and his first game back for the Romans was Tim Harris' first home game, a 0-2 defeat for the Tigers which Sykes scored Bath's opener in!
Upon his release from Twerton Park his signed permanently, making his debut as a left winger at home to Maidenhead and failing to impress. This followed spells at left back, not really his best position before finally finding a berth that suited him behind the front two.
His first goal for the club was a deflected free kick away at Rugby Town in a 1-2 defeat in August 2005, but the first real spectacular effort came away at Hemel Hempstead when he lashed in a wicked swerving and dipping effort with his left foot from an angle for City's second in two minutes following a diving header from Lyndon Tompkins.
His goal, the eventual winner in the mudfest at Mangotsfield was another from the top drawer before his audacious long shot from almost the halfway line at Team Bath made a mug of Darren Chitty, sadly it was only a consolation.
Fourteen goals in 2006/07 was an exceptional effort for a midfielder, so to go three better the following season was unexpected. Highlights were a bullet free kick at Supermarine, one into the top corner from distance at home to Rugby, an unstoppable shot laid on by Jamie Reid at Brackley plus the tap in that gave City the lead in the last home game against Kings Lynn.
So, if his seventeen wasn't enough, amazingly he almost doubled that tally in our promotion winning campaign, finishing with 27 goals. 27!
Words aren't enough to do justice to this tremendous feat, thats why you should be able to see video clips of many of Alex's goals on this website.
Of course, by now he'd added to his sweetest left foot in the league with a range of set pieces including a virtually unstoppable shot from a cut back corner and, well, his goal at Cambridge City speaks volumes.
His hat trick at home to Mangotsfield was undoubtedly a major highlight, mostly because he'd missed a penalty en route to it and the third goal was a stunning volley but he was always modest enough to accredit his midfield partners Matt Rose and Tom Webb for their parts played in his record haul.
With promotion to the Blue Square North and a necessary change of formation Alex found chances limited and moved to Bishops Cleeve to become player/assistant manager to Paul Collicutt at the start of December 2009.
"The Boy's a bit special" Q & A's with Syko
Name :
Alex Sykes
DoB :
02/04/74
Birthplace :
Newcastle Under Lyme - Staffs
Playing Position :
Normally Left Midfield - currently left Back!
Other teams played for :
Mansfield Town, Endsleigh, Forest Green Rovers(3 spells), Nuneaton Borough, Bath City, Gloucester City (loan)
Nickname :
Syko, Sykesy
Team(s) Supported :
Arsenal
Strengths :
Crossing / Shot and Set Pieces – Honest!
Weaknesses :
Slight Lack of pace now in my later years and anything aerial!
How do you keep yourself fit for football?
Working as a PE teacher helps, although not as fit as Webby because he puts cones out all day!
I play a bit like :
Brian Marwood / Anders Limpar on a good day, Dave Mehew on a bad day!
Heroes :
Alan Shearer – legend!
Highlight :
Playing at Wembley for FGR and captaining my country at Futsal.
Lowlight :
Being injured any time and not playing at any point.
Honours :
Southern League Winners Medal – FGR, Dr Martens Prem Winners Medal – FGR, FA Trophy Runner Up – FGR, Southern League Runner Up – Bath City, Great Britain Universities, England Under 18, England Students, England Futsal – 18 Caps/12 goals
Injuries :
Bad groin Strain last year, only just getting back to somewhere near full fitness.
Best player played with :
Darren Ward – (Now Sunderland Keeper), Aidy Boothroyd – funniest man I ever played with. Both whilst I was at Mansfield.
Toughest opponent :
In the early days used to love playing against Bradley Thomas, hardest one ever was Frank Stapleton – I’m showing my age now.
Best friend at club :
All top lads, probably Bathy though my travel partner.
Favourite Music :
U2
Favourite Movies(s) :
Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels / Life of Brian
Favourite TV Programme :
Deal or no Deal – cant wait to see Jody on there one day!
Tell us something about yourself that we don't know!
I’m left footed!
Most embarrassing moment :
About to have my first touch in an Under 18 and the ball went right under my foot in front of about 6000 at Leicester City!
Describe yourself in five words :
I’m older than I look!
In five years you'll be ....
Tim's assistant manager! Or maybe even manager somewhere!
Clubs: Westfields, Mansfield Town, Endsleigh, Forest Green Rovers, Nuneaton Borough, Forest Green Rovers (loan), Bath City (loan), Forest Green Rovers, Bath City, Gloucester City (loan), Gloucester City, Shortwood United (loan), Bishops Cleeve
Appearances & Goals:
Season
Apps
Subs
Goals
2005/06
6
-
-
2006/07
41
4
14
2007/08
42
9
17
2008/09
37
5
27
2009/10
7
8
2
Total
131
26
60
Page last updated : 28th November 2010
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