Anthony Elding at one time was one of the most dangerous strikers in the lower-leagues, but unfortunately that time didn't overlap with his spell at Spotland.

Having spent his youth career bouncing around several Football League clubs, Elding made a breakthrough at hometown club Boston United, before a very successful stint at Stevenage, where he scored 50 times in 106 appearances, really kick-started his career.

That spell took him back to York Street, via a short stint with Kettering, but he would need to leave the Pilgrims to join Stockport County before the goals would really start to flow again.

In just over a year at Edgeley Park, Elding racked up 26 goals in 52 games in all competitions, leading to a big money move to Leeds United - but he would score just one league goal at Elland Road before being moved on to Crewe, spending time out on loan at Lincoln and back at Kettering before making a move away from the UK in 2010.

Having moved to Budapest to join Ferencvaros, Elding managed to find the net eight times in 15 appearances before he would return to British shores, joining Dale with a view to displaying his goalscoring credentials in the Football League once again.

Unfortunately, it never quite worked out for Elding, although he gave supporters hope with a well-taken header in an away win over Barnsley in the League Cup in one of his first appearances for the club.

However, he would manage just three goals in 17 league appearances, all three being close-range finishes that showcased his poacher's instinct - but he was never firing on all cylinders. Perhaps the width of Dale's 4-3-3 formation left him isolated at times, but in truth Elding looked a shadow of the player that had scored so many goals at Stockport earlier in his career.

Eventually, he returned to Edgeley Park on a loan deal and his former strike partner from that time with County, Liam Dickinson, would come in as his replacement as the No.9; There's still a belief that had either of those players shown their absolute best in that season, Dale could've enjoyed an even better campaign and a potential push for the play-offs.

Elding enjoyed a better spell with Grimsby between 2011 and 2013, before a very prolific campaign with Sligo Rovers in Ireland and short spells with other Irish clubs Cork City, Ballinamallard United and Derry City. He returned to Sligo in 2015/2016 for the final eight games of his career before finally hanging up his boots.

He has remained in Ireland since his playing days came to an end, working as an academy coach with some of his former clubs.

Photo: Action Images

gloriajohnson added 04:39 - Dec 28 So pity. I hope that he's in Spotland at that time. https://uno-online.io
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alicebobby added 08:20 - Jan 25 Such a shame. At that time, hopefully, he's in Spotland. https://retrobowlcollege.io
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