Rob Wolleaston

Infobox Football biography
playername = Rob Wolleaston


fullname = Robert Ainsley Wolleaston
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1979|12|21|df=y
cityofbirth = Perivale, London
countryofbirth = England
height = height|ft=5|in=11
position = Midfielder / Striker
currentclub = Rushden & Diamonds
clubnumber = 17
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 1998–2003
2000
2000
2001
2001
2003–2004
2004–2005
2006–2008
2008–
clubs = Chelsea
→ Bristol Rovers (loan)
→ Nottingham Forest (loan)
→ Portsmouth (loan)
→ Northampton Town (loan)
Bradford City
Oxford United
Cambridge United
Rushden & Diamonds
caps(goals) = 01 (0)
04 (0)
00 (0)
06 (0)
07 (0)
14 (1)
20 (0)
92 (9)
12 (1)
nationalyears =
nationalteam =
nationalcaps(goals) =

Robert Ainsley Wolleaston (born 21 December 1979) is an English footballer who plays in the Conference National for Rushden & Diamonds. He is a midfielder or striker. Wolleaston started his career with Chelsea, but he only made two first-team appearances in five years, and instead had short loan spells with Bristol Rovers, Nottingham Forest, Portsmouth and Northampton Town. Following his release from Chelsea, he moved to Bradford City, but was released after one season, in which the club suffered relegation and administration. He spent more than a season with Oxford United but left following a series of injuries and instead dropped into non-league with Cambridge United, for whom he played 92 league games in three seasons, until he moved to Rushden in 2008.

Career

Chelsea

Born in Perivale, London, Wolleaston started his career at Chelsea.cite web
url=http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=17767
title=Rob Wolleaston
accessdate=2008-10-08
publisher=Soccerbase] He made his Chelsea debut in a League Cup against Huddersfield Town and made his second game in Premier League as a late substitute against Sunderland both in 1999.cite web
url=http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?seasonid=129&playerid=17767
title=Games played by Rob Wolleaston in 1999/2000
accessdate=2008-10-08
publisher=Soccerbase] In March 2000, he was sent on loan to Bristol Rovers, playing four games, but failed to score or help Rovers to a victory.

In August 2000, he was due to go on loan to West Bromwich Albion but instead opted to join Nottingham Forest on a similar deal for one month. [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/nottm_forest/864756.stm
title=Wolleaston joins Forest
date=2000-08-16
accessdate=2008-10-08
publisher=BBC Sport] Forest had an option to extend the loan spell for the season, but Wolleaston never appeared for the club. Instead in March 2001, Wolleaston was given another loan spell, this time with First Division Portsmouth, for the rest of the 2000–01 season. [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/portsmouth/1207223.stm
title=Pompey snap up Wolleaston
date=2001-03-07
accessdate=2008-10-08
publisher=BBC Sport] He made his debut three days later when Portsmouth defeated Stockport County 2–1, when Wolleaston hit the crossbar and was later replaced by match winner Steve Lovell. [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/1211170.stm
title=Portsmouth 2-1 Stockport
date=2001-03-10
accessdate=2008-10-08
publisher=BBC Sport] Wolleaston played a total of six games for Portsmouth, once as substitute, but failed to score.

Wolleaston returned to Chelsea but again left on a loan deal ahead of the 2001–02 season, joining Second Division-side Northampton Town with fellow Chelsea youngster Sam Parkin. [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/1472123.stm
title=Division Two runners and riders
date=2001-08-05
accessdate=2008-10-08
publisher=BBC Sport] Wolleaston's debut for Northampton came on 18 August 2001 as they lost 2–0 to Stoke City, going on to make eight appearances in three months for the club, seven in the league, again without scoring a goal. [cite web
url=http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?seasonid=131&playerid=17767
title=Games played by Rob Wolleaston in 2001/2002
accessdate=2008-10-08
publisher=BBC Sport] [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/1575233.stm
title=Wolleaston heads back to Bridge
date=2001-10-02
accessdate=2008-10-08
publisher=BBC Sport] He returned to Chelsea but never appeared in another first-team appearance in another two seasons.

Bradford City

Wolleaston played two reserve games for Bradford City at the end of the 2002–03 season, and in June 2003 signed a one-year deal with the First Division-side. [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bradford_city/2990496.stm
title=Bradford bag Wolleaston
date=2003-06-14
accessdate=2008-10-08
publisher=BBC Sport] He made his debut for Bradford in a League Cup tie with Darlington, which City lost 5–3 on penalties after the game had finished 0–0.cite web
url=http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?seasonid=133&playerid=17767
title=Games played by Rob Wolleaston in 2003/2004
accessdate=2008-10-08
publisher=Soccerbase] [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_cup/3133075.stm
title=Bradford City 0-0 Darlington
date=2003-08-12
accessdate=2008-10-08
publisher=BBC Sport] His first league game came just over a week later as Bradford lost 1–0 to Gillingham. Bradford struggled for form and Wolleaston's first goal did not come until April when he gave the team hope in a crucial game against Derby County. However, Derby went on to win the game 3–2, which effectively ended City's hopes of avoiding relegation. [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/3592945.stm
title=Derby 3-2 Bradford
date=2004-04-12
accessdate=2008-10-08
publisher=BBC Sport] City's relegation was followed by a fall into administration, and Wolleaston, along with Michael Branch and Mark Paston, was released from the club at the end of the season. [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bradford_city/3797657.stm
title=Trio leave Bradford
date=2004-06-11
accessdate=2008-10-08
publisher=BBC Sport] He had played 15 games for Bradford, all but one of which was in the league, with his goal against Derby being the only time he scored.

Oxford United

He soon signed for League Two's Oxford United, who were managed by his former coach at Chelsea and Portsmouth, Graham Rix. [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/o/oxford_utd/3797877.stm
title=Oxford to sign Wolleaston
date=2004-06-11
accessdate=2008-08-10
publisher=BBC Sport] Wolleaston made his debut for Oxford on the opening day of the 2004–05 as their new look side lost 1–0 to Boston United. [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/3942129.stm
title=Boston 1-0 Oxford
date=2004-08-07
accessdate=2008-10-08
publisher=BBC Sport] He played 22 games during his first season with Oxford, with one each coming in the League Cup and Football League Trophy, and the remaineder coming in the league, but he failed to score.cite web
url=http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?seasonid=134&playerid=17767
title=Games played by Rob Wolleaston in 2004/2005
accessdate=2008-10-08
publisher=Soccerbase] However, his last game came in January against Bury, before he was first dropped and then suffered a series of injuries.cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/o/oxford_utd/4179886.stm
title=Wolleaston put on transfer list
date=2005-08-24
accessdate=2008-10-08
publisher=BBC Sport] He returned from injury in August 2005, ahead of the following season, [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/o/oxford_utd/4156902.stm
title=Injured U's stars begin comeback
date=2005-08-16
accessdate=2008-10-08
publisher=BBC Sport] but was immediately placed on the transfer list and never appeared for Oxford again.

Cambridge United

Wolleaston was released by Oxford in October 2005 and five months later joined Conference-side Cambridge United on a free transfer, initially on non-contract terms. [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/cambridge_utd/4708604.stm
title=Wolleaston seals Cambridge move
date=2006-02-13
accessdate=2008-10-08
publisher=BBC Sport] He made his debut against Altrincham on 11 February 2006, in a 2–1 defeat, and a week later scored only the second goal of his first-team career as Cambridge reversed the scoreline against Southport.cite web
url=http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?seasonid=135&playerid=17767
title=Games played by Rob Wolleaston in 2005/2006
accessdate=2008-10-08
publisher=Soccerbase] [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/4703936.stm
title=Cambridge United 2-1 Southport
date=2006-02-18
accessdate=2008-10-08
publisher=BBC Sport] The following month he received the first red card of his career against Crawley Town. [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/4819858.stm
title=Crawley 1-0 Cambridge Utd
date=2006-03-25
accessdate=2008-10-08
publisher=BBC Sport] He helped Cambridge to a mid-table position during 13 games, and scored twice more, both in a 2–1 victory against Scarborough. [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/4907404.stm
title=Scarborough 1-2 Cambridge
date=2006-04-22
accessdate=2008-10-08
publisher=BBC Sport]

Manager Rob Newman rewarded Wolleaston's good form by offering him a new contract to stay with Cambridge for the 2006–07 season. [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/cambridge_utd/4971896.stm
title=Cambridge manager releases trio
date=2006-05-04
accessdate=2008-10-08
publisher=BBC Sport] Wolleaston scored only one goal during his second season, in 35 league games for Cambridge, [cite web
url=http://www.soccerbase.com/squad_season.sd?seasonid=136&teamid=483
title=Cambridge 2006/2007 player appearances
accessdate=2008-10-08
publisher=Soccerbase] as they finished in 18th place, just four points above the relegation zone. [cite web
url=http://www.soccerbase.com/league2.sd?seasonid=136&competitionid=9
title=Final 2006/2007 Football Conference Table
accessdate=2008-10-08
publisher=Soccerbase]

He was rewarded with another one-year deal by new manager Jimmy Quinn, who called him "as good a midfielder as you'll see in this division." [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/cambridge_utd/6687099.stm
title=Wolleaston signs new U's contract
date=2007-05-24
accessdate=2008-10-08
publisher=BBC Sport] Wolleaston showed his best goal-scoring form during the 2007–08, recording five goals during the league campaign.cite web
url=http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?seasonid=137&playerid=17767
title=Games played by Rob Wolleaston in 2007/2008
accessdate=2008-10-08
publisher=Soccerbase] His goals helped Cambridge to two five-goal defeats of first Farsley Celtic, [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/6941843.stm
title=Cambridge Utd 5-1 Farsley Celtic
date=2007-08-21
accessdate=2008-10-08
publisher=BBC Sport] then Droylsden. [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/7197796.stm
date=2008-01-22
title=Cambridge Utd 5-0 Droylsden
accessdate=2008-10-08
publisher=BBC Sport] He played 44 league games during the season [cite web
url=http://www.soccerbase.com/squad_season.sd?seasonid=137&teamid=483
title=Cambridge 2007/2008 player appearances
accessdate=2008-10-08
publisher=Soccerbase] to help Cambridge both to the third round of the FA Cup, where they lost to Wolverhampton Wanderers, [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/7163992.stm
title=Wolves 2-1 Cambridge Utd
date=2008-01-05
accessdate=2008-10-08
publisher=BBC Sport] and the play-offs of the Conference National. [cite news
url=http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/cn_sport_camb_utd/displayarticle.asp?id=310657
title=Three steps to heaven!
date=2008-04-28
accessdate=2008-10-08
publisher=Cambridge News] The first leg of the semi-final against Burton Albion ended in a 2–2 draw, before Wolleaston scored twice in the second leg to help Cambridge to a 2–1 victory, and a 4–3 win on aggregate. [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/7381796.stm
title=Cambridge 2-1 Burton (4-3 agg)
date=2008-05-06
accessdate=2008-10-08
publisher=BBC Sport] Cambridge faced fellow league-side Exeter City in the final, but were unable to win promotion back into The Football League, falling to a 1–0 defeat at Wembley Stadium. [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/7393784.stm
title=Exeter 1-0 Cambridge Utd
date=2008-05-18
accessdate=2008-10-08
publisher=BBC Sport
first=Chris
last=Whyatt] Despite signing a contract with Cambridge in January 2008 keeping him at the club until 2010, [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/cambridge_utd/7172246.stm
title=Cambridge loan switch for Carden
date=2008-01-04
accessdate=2008-10-09
publisher=BBC Sport] Wolleaston signed for Conference rivals Rushden & Diamonds for an undisclosed fee on 2 June 2008, [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/rushden_and_diamonds/7431820.stm
title=Wolleaston makes Rushden switch
date=2008-06-02
accessdate=2008-06-03
publisher=BBC Sport] with Cambridge manager insisting finances would be tight following a series of departures. [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/cambridge_utd/7433146.stm
title=Cambridge finances tight - Quinn
date=2008-06-03
accessdate=2008-10-09
publisher=BBC Sport] Wolleaston had played 92 league games for Cambridge, scoring nine goals.

Rushden & Diamonds

Wolleaston made his debut for Rushden in a 1–0 victory against newly-promoted Eastbourne Borough on the opening day of the 2008–09 season. [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/7541360.stm
title=Eastbourne 0-1 Rushden
date=2008-08-09
accessdate=2008-10-09
publisher=BBC Sport] His first goal for his new club came in his ninth game, on 20 September 2008, to help Rushden defeat Burton 2–1. [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/7614147.stm
title=Rushden & Diamonds 2-1 Burton
date=2008-09-20
accessdate=2008-10-09
publisher=BBC Sport]

References

External links

*soccerbase|17767|Rob Wolleaston