 Sweeney coaching before aHartlepool United game in 2023 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Antony Thomas Sweeney | ||
| Date of birth | (1983-09-05)5 September 1983 (age 41) | ||
| Place of birth | Stockton-on-Tees, England | ||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2001–2014 | Hartlepool United | 444 | (52) |
| 2014–2016 | Carlisle United | 48 | (2) |
| 2016 | Gateshead | 1 | (0) |
| Total | 493 | (54) | |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2019 | Hartlepool United (caretaker) | ||
| 2021 | Hartlepool United (caretaker) | ||
| 2022 | Hartlepool United (caretaker) | ||
| 2022 | Hartlepool United (caretaker) | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Antony Thomas Sweeney (born 5 September 1983) is an English professional football coach and former player. Amidfielder, he played in theFootball League forHartlepool United andCarlisle United, in a senior career that lasted between 2001 and 2016.
In thirteen seasons with Hartlepool, he made 444 appearances, making him the third highest appearance maker in the club's history. During his time there, he won the player of the year accolade for the2010–11 season and won two promotions out ofthe fourth tier. He left the club in 2014 for Carlisle United, where he spent two seasons, before retiring atNational League sideGateshead.
After retiring in 2016, he returned to Hartlepool United, initially working with their youth team before becoming a first-team coach. His tenure there led to four individual spells ascaretaker manager, between 2019 and 2022, whilst emerging as an ever-present in the senior coaching staff. A brief return to Gateshead as an assistant coach led to his return to the Football League, becoming a first-team coach atCrawley Town in 2024.
Antony Sweeney was born inStockton-on-Tees.[1] He joined Hartlepool's Youth Development programme, the same programme that developed players such asAdam Boyd andJim Provett into first team regulars. He established himself as a hot prospect whilst in the youth team and was offered a permanent contract underChris Turner.[2]
In the2001–02 season, Sweeney made his debut in the 3–0 win overYork City after coming on as a substitute.[3] On the first day of the following season, Sweeney made his first Hartlepool start in the 3–1 win overCarlisle United.[3] However, despite his potential Sweeney found it difficult to establish himself as permanent fixture in the team and spent the majority of the following two seasons in the reserves.[2]
However towards the end of the2003–04 season, Sweeney was given a chance to cement his place in the first team due to injuries. Soon after, Sweeney quickly scored his first goal against former managerMike Newell'sLuton Town.[4] Sweeney's second goal for the club gained him even more recognition as it was in the second leg of the play-off semi-final againstBristol City.[5]
Sweeney's next season would prove to be even more action-packed as he played in 44 of Hartlepool's 46 league matches.[6] He received his first red card againstMilton Keynes Dons after a tussle withIzale McLeod but he more than made up for it when he scored his first hat-trick againstChesterfield in his next appearance.[2] Sweeney's deceiving runs from midfield enabled him to get in behind opposition defences and this helped him to notch up 12 goals for the season, making him Hartlepool's highest scoring midfield player.[citation needed] This made him one of the front-runners for both Hartlepool's Fans' and Players' Player of the Year, but he missed out toJoel Porter andAdam Boyd respectively.[citation needed] Sweeney would start in the2005 Football League One play-off final as Hartlepool were defeated in extra-time toSheffield Wednesday.[7]
Sweeney demonstrated his versatility by spending much of the2009–10 season playing in an unfamiliar right-back role.[8] In both the2010–11 and2011–12 seasons he prospered in his regular position of central midfield, top scoring in both campaigns with nine and eight goals respectively.[citation needed] Sweeney won Hartlepool's Supporters' and Player's Player of the Year award for the2010–11 season.[9] Ahead of the2013–14 season, Sweeney was named as Hartlepool's new club captain but struggled for game time.[2] Sweeney left at the end of the 2013–14 season having made 444 appearances in his thirteen years at the club. This placed him third in the all time appearances rankings.[10]
On 20 June 2014, Sweeney signed a two-year deal with League Two sideCarlisle United following their relegation from League One.[11]
Sweeney was released at the end of his two years and signed forGateshead.[12] He made 58 appearances in all competitions for The Cumbrians.
Sweeney made one appearance for Gateshead, as a substitute in a 0–1 defeat atForest Green Rovers before leaving to join previous club Hartlepool United as a coach.[13]
Sweeney holds aUEFA A Licence qualification. In 2016, Sweeney began coaching Hartlepool United U16s part-time while playing for Gateshead. After retiring from professional football in September 2016, Sweeney took up a full-time role at Hartlepool as youth development coach.[14]
In January 2019, Sweeney began coaching Hartlepool's first team as a part ofCraig Hignett's backroom staff.[15] Following the departure of first team manager Hignett, Sweeney was appointed caretaker manager at Hartlepool in October 2019. Sweeney returned to his previous role as first team coach whenDave Challinor was appointed Pools manager in November 2019.
Sweeney was appointed interim manager after Dave Challinor left the club to joinStockport County in November 2021.[16] He won his first game in charge, a 1–0 win againstEverton U21s in theEFL Trophy.[17] He finished his second spell in charge with a 3–0 win againstSheffield Wednesday in theEFL Trophy.[18]
On 2 March 2022, Sweeney signed a long term contract with the club. The deal would see him to continue to work with the Hartlepool first team while also helping to re-develop the club's academy.[19]
In March 2022, at the annual North East Football Writers Association Awards, Sweeney received the prestigious John Fotheringham Award which goes to someone who has made a significant contribution to football in the North East.[20]
Following the appointment ofKevin Phillips in January 2024, Sweeney was announced as one of Phillips' assistant managers.[21] On 9 May 2024, it was confirmed that Sweeney would depart the club.[22] On his departure, Sweeney said: "I would like thank everyone at the Club for the support they have given me over the years. It has given me enormous pride and pleasure to represent Hartlepool United as both a player and as a coach, and I leave with some incredible memories on and off the pitch."[22]
On 1 July 2024, it was announced that Sweeney had been appointed as a first team coach atNational League sideGateshead as a part ofRob Elliot's coaching staff.[23]
On 1 October 2024, Sweeney joined Elliot in moving toCrawley Town.[24] In March 2025, he departed the club following the sacking of Elliot.[25]
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Hartlepool United | 2001–02[26] | Division Three | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 2002–03[27] | Division Three | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2003–04[28] | Division Two | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 13 | 2 | |
| 2004–05[29] | League One | 44 | 13 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 57 | 15 | |
| 2005–06[30] | League One | 35 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 40 | 5 | |
| 2006–07[31] | League Two | 35 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 4 | |
| 2007–08[32] | League One | 36 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 41 | 4 | |
| 2008–09[33] | League One | 44 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 53 | 5 | |
| 2009–10[34] | League One | 42 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 2 | |
| 2010–11[35] | League One | 40 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 48 | 14 | |
| 2011–12[36] | League One | 39 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 42 | 9 | |
| 2012–13[37] | League One | 34 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 37 | 2 | |
| 2013–14[38] | League Two | 19 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 23 | 0 | |
| Total | 385 | 52 | 25 | 5 | 17 | 2 | 17 | 3 | 444 | 62 | ||
| Carlisle United | 2014–15[39] | League Two | 29 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 32 | 2 |
| 2015–16[40] | League Two | 19 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 26 | 4 | |
| Total | 48 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 58 | 6 | ||
| Gateshead | 2016–17[41] | National League | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Career total | 434 | 54 | 30 | 8 | 20 | 2 | 19 | 4 | 503 | 68 | ||
| Team | From | To | Record | Ref | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | Win % | ||||
| Hartlepool United (caretaker) | 10 October 2019 | 11 November 2019 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 060.0 | |
| Hartlepool United (interim manager) | 1 November 2021 | 1 December 2021 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 037.5 | [42] |
| Hartlepool United (joint caretaker) | 5 May 2022 | 3 June 2022 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 000.0 | |
| Hartlepool United (caretaker) | 18 September 2022 | 21 September 2022 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 000.0 | |
| Total | 15 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 040.00 | — | ||
Hartlepool United
Individual
