English Football League

Ashton United confirm signing of former EFL player taking to life in the NPL

Ashton United confirm signing of former EFL player Joe Bunney who is taking to life in the NPL – the Northern Premier League.

The 29 year old defender joins on a three-month loan from league below Macclesfield, with Ashton being his 14th club of a professional career that started in 2011.

The Premier Division mid table outfit said on Friday night: “We’re delighted to announce the signing of Joe Bunney on a three-month loan deal from Macclesfield @TheSilkmen.”

𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞’𝐬 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐚𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐧𝐬! 🎁

We’re delighted to announce the signing of Joe Bunney on a three-month loan deal from @TheSilkmen.

Welcome to Hurst Cross, Joe! 🤝#AUFC #ONECLUB pic.twitter.com/sMWvAPGIg9

— Ashton United FC (@AshtonUnitedFC) December 23, 2022

His career began at Lancaster City before he moved to Kendal Town in 2012.

Then came a move to Stockport County, then Joe made 26 appearances for Northwich Victoria.

He attracted many Football League scouts to The Vics, and would eventually sign for Rochdale.

Bunney made his professional debut on the last day of the 2012/13 campaign. He went on to make 122 appearances over a period of five years for the club.

Joe would sign for Northampton Town from Spotland in January 2018. He was to make 16 appearances with The Cobblers, as well as loan spells at Blackpool (and Rochdale).

In September 2019, Joe signed for Bolton Wanderers as a free transfer, but his game time at the University of Bolton Stadium was limited due to broken collarbone and ribs in a car accident.

Joe was able to regain his fitness and enjoyed spells at Matlock Town, Hartlepool United and Grimsby Town before he spent last season at Warrington Rylands, where he scored five goals in seven appearances.

Joe spent his pre-season on trial at National League strugglers Scunthorpe United, and then he decided join Macclesfield this summer 2022.

Bunney opened up on the car crash, admitting he “counts his blessings every day” having survived after falling asleep at the wheel while travelling along the M55 – just a week after signing for the Whites on a free transfer from Northampton in September 2019.

“I’m lucky to be alive.”

New Grimsby Town left-back Joe Bunney tells @mattdeanbbc why.

WATCH ⬇️ (sound on)#gtfc #bbcfootball pic.twitter.com/7wtUsPXl2K

— BBC Humberside Sport (@HumbersideSport) February 4, 2021

Speaking to Radio Humberside, he said: “I had a lot of injuries, I had a fractured eye socket, collarbone, cheekbone, rib,” he said.

“I had a blood clot in my leg that was the longest injury. Ideally I thought I was only going to be out for a few weeks but the blood clot seemed to take 12 and it was hard getting fit with a blood clot but thankfully I am over that now and I am fit and ready to go and can’t wait to get going.”

He added, as per Bolton News: “It was simply a mistake of falling asleep at the wheel, nothing I could do about it.

“It was one of those things, I was unfortunate. I was gutted at the time because I had just signed for Bolton seven days before. I was gutted but it was just one of those things.”

When asked was he lucky to be alive, Bunney said: “Definitely, I count my blessings every day.”

After having stints at Matlock and Hartlepool, he said he was delighted to be back in the EFL with Grimsby, but since then he’s gone back into non league.

“I just wanted to play so I went back in to non league just to get some games under my belt, I just love playing football so that is what I wanted to do,” he added.

“Then the Hartlepool opportunity came, there was the chance it was going to be short term and maybe get back in to the league and that is what it has done and thankfully it has turned out well.”

Having a lot of time off gives you time to look back & reflect 🧠 .. Enjoyed the journey so far & cant wait to be back & make more memories ⚽️ Thanks @tb_highlightsss for the video 👍🏼 pic.twitter.com/buUgSkqwPh

— Joe Bunney (@Bunney_93) June 25, 2020

This is what fans had to say as Ashton United confirm the signing of the former EFL player taking to life in the NPL…

@watson6543: Wat a signing that is

@kenbo0133: Oh I say, nice bit of Christmas shopping by @clegg_mc

@alexsmart1994: Don’t get why he isn’t getting game time at macc me great player

@dannyhewitt243: How’ve you managed that 👏🏼

@alexbyrne93: Great signing! Go on the bunster 👏🏼

@anotherredrebel: Shouldn’t you have got him at Easter.

@JonathanSayer1: Welcome to the club Joe!

@Mr_Rochdale18: Swear he’s at a new club every 6 months?

@PaulSunderlandd: Time to shine 🤩👏🏻 @Bunney_93

@CiaranBWFC2002: Remember when the days were that dark Joe Bunney seemed like a class signing 🥴 #bwfc

@TJBVideography: Smash it, brother. @Bunney_93 🫶🏼