Brendon Daniels

Brendon George Kofi Nana Osei Mainoo Daniels (born 24 September 1993) is an English footballer who plays as a winger for club Stourbridge.

Born in Stoke-on-Trent, Daniels started his career with Crewe Alexandra at the age of nine, before signing a scholarship in 2010.

Back with his local school, Haywood High, he formed a strike partnership with Crewe teammate Ryan Colclough and helped Haywood to reach the Sentinel Schools' Shield final at Vale Park in 2010, where they were beaten 3–1 by Alleyne's. In May 2011, he signed his first professional contract after being handed a two-year deal by manager Dario Gradi.

He turned professional at Crewe Alexandra in May 2011, but was released after two years with the club and dropped out of the English Football League.

He made his professional debut on 11 August 2012, replacing A-Jay Leitch-Smith as a 78th-minute substitute in a 5–0 win over Hartlepool United at the Alexandra Stadium in the League Cup.

He made a total of ten appearances for the "Railwaymen" in the first half of the 2012–13 season, though started only two games in League One.

On 21 February 2013, he joined Conference North side Chester on a one-month loan.

Two days later he scored just 12 minutes into his debut for Neil Young's "Blues", in a 2–0 win over Vauxhall Motors at the Deva Stadium.

He played just one further game before returning to Crewe, who released him at the end of his contract in May 2013.

Manager Steve Davis had told him he did not feature in his plans due to his lack of experience.

Daniels had a trial with Championship side Blackburn Rovers in October 2013 and scored a brace in a Lancashire Senior Cup win over Rochdale.

He went on to make three league appearances for the "Seals", before he was released at the end of the 2013–14 season.

He had brief stays with Chester and Gateshead, before signing with Tamworth in August 2014.

In January 2014, he went on trial at Gateshead and scored a hat-trick for a Gateshead XI in a Durham Challenge Cup game against Darlington 1883 at the Gateshead International Stadium.

Despite this feat "Heed" manager Gary Mills opted not to offer him a contract.

On 25 February 2014, Daniels signed for Chester, now of the Conference Premier and managed by Steve Burr, on non-contract terms.

On 2 August 2014, Brendon joined Tamworth after impressing manager Dale Belford on a trial basis.

He scored seven goals in 31 appearances across the 2014–15 season as Andy Morrell's side posted a seventh-place finish, missing out on the play-offs by a single point.

He joined Harrogate Town in June 2015 and went on to be named as both the club's Player of the Year and in the National League North Team of the Year for the 2015–16 season.

Speaking in January 2015, after the "Lambs" had won their ninth consecutive Conference North game, Daniels stated that he was happy at The Lamb Ground despite being linked to a number of other clubs.

On 8 June 2015, he signed with Harrogate Town.

He was named as Harrogate's Player of the Year after scoring 23 goals in 43 appearances during the 2015–16 season.

This tally included a strike against Grimsby Town in the FA Cup.

He was also named on the National League North Team of the Year.

His goals helped Simon Weaver's Town to secure a play-off place, before they were eliminated at the semi-final stage by AFC Fylde.

His form also attracted the attention of the England C selectors, and he made his debut for the "Three Lions" in a 2–0 victory over Ukraine C in March.

Manager Dave Challinor had previously had an approach for Daniels rejected by Harrogate early in the 2015–16 season.

Fylde made a switch to full-time training over the summer in what chairman David Haythornthwaite described as "the biggest few months in the history of this club".

He signed with AFC Fylde in May 2016, who had beaten Harrogate in the play-offs, and helped his new club to win promotion as champions of the National League North for the 2016–17 campaign.

On 25 May 2016, Daniels signed a three-year contract at beaten National League North play-off finalists AFC Fylde.

Daniels scored seven goals in 32 appearances during the 2016–17 season, helping the "Coasters" to achieve their ambition by winning promotion as champions of the National League North.

He remained in the National League North however, joining Alfreton Town in August 2017, before making a return to the Football League after being signed to Port Vale in May 2018.

On 24 August 2017, Daniels joined Alfreton Town on a one-year deal.

The "Reds" could only manage a 17th-place finish at the end of the 2017–18 season, though Daniels managed to claim 13 goals from 36 National League North games, finding an upturn in form under new manager Chris Moyses after initially struggling for form at North Street under John McDermott.

He started the 2018–19 season on loan at Altrincham and went on to sign with AFC Telford United in January 2019 following a successful loan spell.

On 17 May 2018, Daniels signed a six-month contract with League Two side Port Vale; manager Neil Aspin said that "he is a local lad who is desperate to prove himself at this level".

Daniels himself said that "this is perfect, I couldn't wish to be at a better club. It is my local club... in the last four years I have worked hard and learned my craft and believe I can deliver in League Two".

However, manager Neil Aspin said that Daniels reported for pre-season training unfit, and so before the 2018–19 season began Aspin sent Daniels out on loan to newly promoted National League North side Altrincham in order to gain match fitness.

He won the club's Player of the Year award for the 2019–20 season.

He joined Stourbridge in August 2023.