Macclesfield sign an ex-Palace, Leicester, Bolton, Bury, Blackburn midfielder, with the deal getting everyone talking right now.
The 38-year-old played in non league for the first time last season, with Radcliffe and FC Halifax Town.
The Guyana international went on to Connah’s Quay Nomads in the Cymru Premier, where he won the title, and he now signs for Macclesfield as they look to earn promotion from the NWCFL Premier Division. Danns has joined Danny Whitaker’s side on a non-contract basis.
✍️ | Macclesfield FC are delighted to announce the signing of highly experienced Guyana international Neil Danns on a non-contract basis.
Full story 👇https://t.co/7IdXM1CUM5 pic.twitter.com/3U03S0RwMG
— Macclesfield FC (@thesilkmen) September 9, 2021
CLUB STATEMENT:
Macclesfield FC are delighted to announce the signing of highly experienced Guyana international Neil Danns on a non-contract basis.
The 38-year-old midfielder began his illustrious career at Liverpool, before joining Graeme Souness’ Blackburn Rovers at the age of 16. Making his debut during a UEFA Cup clash against CSKA Sofia in September 2002, Neil would first appear in the Premier League three days later as part of a 1 – 0 victory over Leeds United.
After an initial loan period, Neil joined Colchester United in 2004 and played a crucial role in the Essex side gaining promotion to the second tier of English football for the first time in their history. This was recognised by the PFA, as they named him in their 2005/6 Team of the Year.
Neil would make the move to Birmingham City in 2006 and after helping The Blues return to the Premier League, signed for Crystal Palace in January 2008.
Going on to make over one hundred appearances for The Eagles, Neil would then become Sven Goran Eriksson’s second signing at Leicester City and would find the back of the next five times in thirty appearances for The Foxes.
Loan spells at Bristol City, Huddersfield Town and Bolton Wanderers ensued before Neil would join the latter on a permanent basis in 2014.
After making over a century of appearances for The Trotters, Neil would then make the move across Lancashire to join Bury in 2016. It was during his time at Gigg Lane that Neil joined Blackpool on loan and would help The Seasiders to promotion via the Sky Bet League Two play-offs.
Since then, Neil has represented Tranmere Rovers, Radcliffe and FC Halifax Town, before joining Connah’s Quay Nomads earlier this year – helping them to claim the Cymru Premier League title.
We would like to welcome Neil to Macclesfield FC and discussing the move with him shortly.
HIS CAREER:
Youth career
–2000 – Blackburn Rovers
Senior career
2000–2004 – Blackburn Rovers – 3 games (0 goals)
2003 → Blackpool (loan) – 12 games (2 goals)
2004 → Hartlepool United (loan) – 11 games (1 goal)
2004 → Colchester United (loan) – 10 games (3 goals)
2004–2006 – Colchester United – 63 games (16 goals)
2006–2008 – Birmingham City – 31 games (3 goals)
2008–2011 – Crystal Palace – 103 games (18 goals)
2011–2014 – Leicester City – 30 games (5 goals)
2012–2013 → Bristol City (loan) – 9 games (2 goals)
2013 → Huddersfield Town (loan) – 17 games (2 goals)
2013–2014 → Bolton Wanderers (loan) – 33 games (6 goals)
2014–2016 – Bolton Wanderers – 73 games (3 goals)
2016–2019 – Bury – 77 games (9 goals)
2017 → Blackpool (loan) – 13 games (2 goals)
2019–2020 – Tranmere Rovers – 18 games (0 goals)
2020 – Radcliffe
2020–2021 – FC Halifax Town
2021 – Connah’s Quay Nomads – 16 games (1 goal)
2021– Macclesfield
National team
2015– Guyana – 17 games (9 goals)
PERSONAL LIFE:
Danns was born in Liverpool, the son of Neil and Karen Danns. Neil senior was a backing singer on the UK’s entry in the 1987 Eurovision Song Contest as well as a European title-winning skateboarder. Danns grew up in Toxteth, a difficult neighbourhood, and credited his parents for maintaining discipline and keeping him from involvement in crime. He has three children; the eldest, Jayden, has been a member of the academy at Liverpool, the club which Danns supported as a boy.
In 2010, Danns took a video editing and production course at the London Academy of Media, Film and TV. He was reported to be about to release a single, but did not. His music interests and career were featured in BBC Sport’s The Football League Show in February 2010. He is a regular user of Twitter.
HONOURS:
Blackburn Rovers
FA Youth Cup runner-up: 2000–01
Colchester United
League One runner-up: 2005–06
Birmingham City
Championship runner-up: 2006–07
Blackpool
EFL League Two play-offs: 2017
Bury
EFL League Two runner-up: 2018–19
Connah’s Quay Nomads
Cymru Premier: 2020–21
Individual
PFA Team of the Year: 2005–06 League One
Fans reacted as Macclesfield sign up ex-Palace, Leicester, Bolton, Bury, Blackburn midfielder Neil Danns…
@NCE1988: Fantastic signing 👏🏻👏🏻 good luck Danzy and everyone at Macc 👍🏻
@mainstand_eagle: Good luck Neil Danns!
@rabbittman18: @harveybrad1789 big signing for that league 👀
@davebyrne01: 👏 That’s a great pro signed up, good luck for season
@niny1976: “Everybody Danns now!”
@Redgrift0: Good luck mate shame didn’t stay at Tranmere longer
@bfclee53: All the best Neil. Great to see you helping the cause at Macc.
@lmw9568: Bury legend once a shaker 💙
@NLVlogs_: That’s an unreal signing, especially considering that they’re 9th tier!
@RavTrfc: Good luck @dannzy1 mate 👍
@djbowers14: What a signing! @dannzy1
@Wil1J: Macc moving maddd, former #bwfc man @dannzy1 joins the @nwcfl with @thesilkmen, makes the game at Longridge all the more interesting a week on Monday!
@djshaker78: I don’t wanna bust your bubble so I will just say good luck 🤣🤣🤣
@microtutor: Good luck Dannsy
— Steve Bowyer (@stevebowyer84) September 10, 2021
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