Antony Sweeney

Antony Thomas Sweeney (born 5 September 1983 in Stockton-on-Tees) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Hartlepool United F.C. in Football League One.

Career

Antony Sweeney grew up as a Liverpool F.C. fan and his favourite player was Robbie Fowler. After developing into a good footballer, he joined Hartlepool’s Youth Development programme, the same programme that developed players such as Adam Boyd and Jim Provett into first team regulars. He established himself as a hot prospect whilst in the youth team and was offered a permanent contract under Chris Turner (footballer b. 1958)‎ to stop him going elsewhere.

In the 2001-02 in English football season, Sweeney made his debut in the 3–0 win over York City F.C. after coming on as a substitute. On the first day of the following season, Sweeney made his first Hartlepool start in the 3–1 win over Carlisle United F.C.. However despite his potential Sweeney found it difficult to establish himself as permanent fixture in the team and spent the majority of the following two seasons in the reserves.

However towards the end of the 2003-04 in English football season, Sweeney was given a chance to cement his place in the first team due to injuries. Soon after, Sweeney quickly scored his first goal against former manager Mike Newell (footballer)'s Luton Town F.C.. Sweeney's second goal for the club gained him even more recognition as it was in front of British Sky Broadcasting cameras in the second leg of the play-off semi-final against Bristol City F.C..

Sweeney's next season would prove to be even more action-packed as he played in 44 of Hartlepool's 46 league matches. He received his first red card against Milton Keynes Dons F.C. after a tussle with Izale McLeod but he more than made up for it when he scored his first hattrick against Chesterfield F.C. in his next appearance. Sweeney's deceiving runs from midfield enabled him to get in behind opposition defences and this helped him to notch up 12 goals for the season, making him Hartlepool's highest scoring midfield player. This made him one of the front-runners for both Hartlepool's Fans' and Players' Player of the Year, but he missed out to Joel Porter and Adam Boyd respectively.

Sweeney started the current season a slight bit inconsistently but has now formed a formidable partnerside in midfield with Gary Liddle. He scored five goals in the first half of the season from midfield.