 Challinor with the parade that followedYork City's victory in the2012 Conference Premier play-off final | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Jon Challinor[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1980-12-02)2 December 1980 (age 44)[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Northampton, England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[3] | ||
| Position | Defender /Midfielder[4] | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Stamford | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –1998 | Rushden & Diamonds | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1998–2000 | Rushden & Diamonds | 0 | (0) |
| 2000–2001 | Stamford | ||
| 2001–2002 | Cambridge City | 44 | (4) |
| 2002 | Kalamazoo Kingdom | ||
| 2002–2003 | St Albans City | 45 | (4) |
| 2003 | Kalamazoo Kingdom | 17 | (2) |
| 2003–2005 | Aldershot Town | 73 | (21) |
| 2005–2007 | Exeter City | 84 | (21) |
| 2007–2008 | Rushden & Diamonds | 45 | (5) |
| 2008–2010 | Cambridge United | 35 | (2) |
| 2009 | →Forest Green Rovers (loan) | 7 | (0) |
| 2009–2010 | →Mansfield Town (loan) | 5 | (1) |
| 2010 | Mansfield Town | 15 | (2) |
| 2010 | Brackley Town | ||
| 2010 | Newport County | 3 | (0) |
| 2011 | Kettering Town | 18 | (1) |
| 2011–2013 | York City | 58 | (2) |
| 2013– | Stamford | 379 | (33) |
| 2014 | FC Halifax Town (dual registration) | 5 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 2003–2004 | England National Game XI | 2 | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2015 | Stamford (caretaker) | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 22:23, 25 November 2025 (UTC) | |||
Jon Challinor (born 2 December 1980) is an English semi-professionalfootballer who plays as adefender ormidfielder forSouthern League Premier Division Central clubStamford. He has played inthe Football League forYork City.
Challinor started his career withRushden & Diamonds, and after being released in 2000 had spells with Stamford,Cambridge City, theKalamazoo Kingdom andSt Albans City. He reached the2004 Football Conference play-off final withAldershot Town, and after another unsuccessful play-off campaign in the2004–05 season signed forExeter City in 2005. He played in the2007 Conference National play-off final defeat before returning to Rushden in 2007. He left forCambridge United a year later, playing for them in the2009 Conference Premier play-off final. After spells withForest Green Rovers,Mansfield Town,Brackley Town,Newport County andKettering Town, Challinor signed for York City in 2011. Here, he wonpromotion toLeague Two in his fourth appearance in aConference Premier play-off final, following victory in the2012 Final, also winning in the2012 FA Trophy Final. He was released by the club a year later.
Challinor was born inNorthampton, Northamptonshire.[5] He married his wife Lara in 2007.[6][unreliable source?] As Challinor is a fan of theStar Wars films,The Imperial March was played as part of the ceremony.[6]
Challinor began his career in the youth system atRushden & Diamonds.[7] He made his first-team debut for theFootball Conference club as an 18-year-old in aConference League Cup match againstFarnborough Town on 22 December 1998.[7] He signed a contract at the end of his scholarship, but after failing to break into the first team squad was released in May 2000.[7] Challinor dropped two divisions to joinSouthern League Division One East clubStamford in search of first team football.[8] He impressed with Stamford, moving to Southern League Premier Division clubCambridge City in February 2001, scoring two goals in 11 league appearances before the end of the2000–01 season.[8][9] He made 46 appearances, scoring three goals, in2001–02 before spending theclose season with theKalamazoo Kingdom in the AmericanUSL Premier Development League.[7][10]
Challinor returned to England after joiningIsthmian League Premier Division clubSt Albans City on a two-year contract in August 2002.[11] His debut came in St Albans' 4–0 victory away toWare in theHerts Charity Cup first round on 3 August 2002, before scoring his first goal in a 2–0 home win againstHeybridge Swifts on 26 August.[12] Challinor played in St Albans' 4–1FA Cupfirst round defeat toSecond Division teamStockport County on 16 November 2002.[12] He scored six goals in 57 appearances in2002–03, before spending asecond close season with the Kalamazoo Kingdom, making 17 appearances and scoring two goals in the USL Premier Development League.[12][13]
After being released by St Albans, Challinor signed for Football Conference clubAldershot Town on 8 August 2003, having appeared for them in pre-season.[14][15] He made his debut in a 2–1 home win overAccrington Stanley on 10 August 2003, before scoring his first goal in a 5–2 win away toTelford United on 16 August.[16] Having made an impressive start for Aldershot, scoring five goals in 12 appearances, Challinor signed a contract lasting until the end of2004–05 on 14 October 2003.[16][17] After beingsent off in a 2–0 home defeat toMargate on 20 December 2003 he was given a three-matchsuspension, making his return in a 4–0 defeat away to Farnborough on 24 January 2004.[16][18] He played in the2004 Football Conference play-off final againstShrewsbury Town at theBritannia Stadium, which Aldershot lost 3–0 in apenalty shoot-out after a 1–1 draw followingextra time.[19] His2003–04 season with Aldershot finished having scored 13 goals in 48 appearances.[16]
Aldershot qualified for the play-offs again in 2004–05, and Challinor played in both semi-final matches againstCarlisle United, which ended in a 2–2 draw on aggregate.[20] Challinor missed hispenalty kick in the penalty shoot-out, beforeDanny Livesey scored the penalty that secured Carlisle's place in the play-off final.[20] Having finished the season with nine goals in 44 appearances,[21] Challinor was released by Aldershot on 18 May 2005, despite being rated as one of the bestattacking midfielders in theConference National.[22]
On 20 May 2005, Challinor joined Conference National clubExeter City on a two-year contract.[23]ManagerAlex Inglethorpe described him by saying "He's 24 years of age and he fits the bill of the type of player that will help us next season. I liken him toTim Cahill ofEverton. He likes to get forward and score goals, and has a good grounding in bothLeague andnon-League football."[23] Challinor made his debut in a 2–0 win away toGravesend & Northfleet on 13 August 2005, before scoring his first goal on 3 September in a 2–2 away toDagenham & Redbridge.[24] He scored in a 4–0 win over former club Aldershot on 26 December 2005, during which he was targeted by opposition fans, after his former managerTerry Brown claimed he left Aldershot for financial reasons.[25] After the match, Challinor said "I got one over on the manager and proved him wrong, he didn't think I was good enough. Their fans were at me throughout the game but it only made me focus more."[25] He finished2005–06 with 13 goals in 48 appearances for Exeter.[24]
Challinor was targeted by fellow Conference National clubGrays Athletic in December 2006,[26] but after remaining at Exeter he was offered a new contract at the club in February 2007,[27] which he did not sign.[28] He played for Exeter in the2007 Conference National play-off final on 20 May 2007, the first Conference play-off final to be played at the newly rebuiltWembley Stadium.[29] HeassistedLee Phillips' ninth-minute opening goal for Exeter, although the team went on to lose 2–1 toMorecambe.[29] Challinor made 48 appearances and scored 10 goals for Exeter in2006–07.[30]
Challinor returned toConference Premier club Rushden & Diamonds after signing a two-year contract on 28 May 2007.[31][32] He made his debut in a 1–1 draw away toWoking on 11 August 2007, before scoring his first goal in a 1–1 draw away toSalisbury City on 8 September.[33] He started the season playing inmidfield, but when being played as astriker in late February 2008 he went on a run of scoring six goals in five consecutive matches.[7]
He appeared for Rushden in the2008 Conference League Cup Final against Aldershot at theRecreation Ground on 3 April 2008.[33] The match finished a 3–3 draw after extra time, but Aldershot won 4–3 in a penalty shoot-out.[33] Challinor made 57 appearances and scored 10 goals for Rushden in2007–08,[33] only missing out on ever-present status after missing the last match of the season against Grays Athletic through injury.[7]
He joined Conference Premier rivalsCambridge United on a two-year contract for a £15,000 fee on 6 August 2008.[7][34] His debut came in a 1–0 win away toNorthwich Victoria on 9 August 2008, and scored his first goal with a stoppage time winner in a 1–0 home win overLewes on 7 October 2008.[35] Soon after he was told by managerGary Brabin to provide more support for the team's strikers, with Challinor agreeing, saying "It will put the added responsibility on me to start shooting and take some pressure off the forwards. If the midfield can get some goals as well, then that will help the team".[36] He immediately followed this up with the winning goal againstWeymouth in a 1–0 home win on 11 October 2008,[35] coming from a low right-footed shot into the corner from 25 yards.[37]
Challinor's first sending off for Cambridge came after receiving a secondyellow card during a 5–0 home defeat toCrawley Town in theFA Trophysecond round on 14 January 2009.[35][38] He made his return from suspension in a 1–1 home draw withOxford United on 29 January 2009.[35][39] Challinor came on as a 79th-minutesubstitute forPaul Carden in the2009 Conference Premier play-off final at Wembley Stadium, in whichTorquay United won 2–0.[40] Having struggled to make an impact for Cambridge in2008–09,[41] which he finished with two goals in 39 appearances,[35] he wastransfer listed.[42]
He was sent out on loan for the start of 2009–10 to Cambridge's divisional rivalsForest Green Rovers for one month on 7 August 2009.[43] Challinor made his debut the following day in a 2–1 home defeat againstKettering Town, going on to make seven appearances at Forest Green.[44] Forest Green had been interested in taking Challinor on another loan, until appointing a new manager.[45] He left Cambridge on loan again after joining Conference Premier rivalsMansfield Town on a two-month loan on 20 November 2009.[46] Challinor made a scoring debut for Mansfield with the equalising goal from close range in a 1–1 draw at home toEastbourne Borough on 21 November 2009.[47][48] After making six appearances and scoring one goal in his loan spell,[47] Challinor signed permanently for Mansfield for the rest of the season on 6 January 2010.[49][50] He was released by Mansfield at the end of 2009–10,[51] having made 15 appearances and scored two goals after signing permanently.[47]
Challinor signed with Southern League Premier Division clubBrackley Town in July 2010, after he had been set to sign forCorby Town of theConference North, with whom he had been on trial.[52][53] He then signed for Conference Premier clubNewport County on a short-term contract on 30 October 2010,[54] making his debut later that day as a 28th-minute substitute forMartin John in a 2–1 home defeat to Kettering Town, but was himself substituted in the 73rd minute for Robbie Matthews.[55][56] Challinor scored on his next appearance for Newport, with the winning goal after nettingSam Deering's cross in the 29th minute of extra time in a 1–0 victory away toWealdstone in an FA Trophyfirst round replay on 13 December 2010.[55][57] He was released by Newport on 30 December 2010,[58] having made four appearances and scored one goal for the club.[55]
He joined Conference Premier club Kettering Town on a contract until the end of2010–11 on 18 January 2011.[59] Kettering were fighting againstrelegation, and Challinor was quoted as saying "We have to stay positive. We know it's a transitional period for the club and there is a lot going on".[60] He made his debut later that day as a half-time substitute forCallum Wilson in Kettering's 2–1 loss away toGrimsby Town.[61] His first goal for Kettering came in stoppage time againstSouthport in a 3–1 home victory on 30 April 2011, having entered the match in the 89th minute.[56] Challinor finished the season with 14 appearances and one goal for Kettering.[56] He agreed to stay at Kettering ahead of2011–12 on non-contract terms, in the belief that a permanent contract would later be agreed, and started the season playing as adefensive midfielder.[7][62]
On 25 August 2011, Challinor signed for Kettering's Conference Premier rivalsYork City on a contract until January 2012, having impressed managerGary Mills when playing against York for Kettering two days earlier.[63][64] He made his debut a day later, coming on as a 56th-minute substitute forPaddy McLaughlin in a 0–0 draw away toFleetwood Town.[65][66] Challinor was soon converted into aright back at York, a position in which he displayed composure and an ability to start attacking moves.[67] His first goal for York came in a 4–2 win away toHayes & Yeading United on 22 October 2011 with a drilled shot into the bottom right corner of the goal from the edge of thepenalty area.[65][68]
He signed a new contract with York until the end of the season in January 2012.[69] He featured in the York team that won 2–0 in the2012 FA Trophy Final at Wembley Stadium against his former club Newport on 12 May 2012.[70] Eight days later he again played at Wembley Stadium to win promotion toLeague Two through the2012 Conference Premier play-off final with a 2–1 victory overLuton Town.[71] Thus, Challinor was successful in achieving promotion to the Football League in his fourth appearance in a Conference Premier play-off final.[64][71] Having made 51 appearances and scored three goals for York in2011–12,[65] he signed a new one-year contract with the club in July 2012.[72]
Ahead of Challinor's first season as a Football League player, he was quoted as saying "It's been a long time coming so I'm going to embrace it and enjoy every minute. I think almost every team I have played for has gone on to reach the League so to finally achieve it is a dream come true but it doesn't end there".[73] He made his first appearance as a League player in aLeague Cupfirst round match away toDoncaster Rovers on 11 August 2012 as an 87th-minute substitute for McLaughlin.[74] York lost 4–2 in a penalty shoot-out after a 1–1 extra time draw, although Challinor was successful in converting his penalty.[74] He finished2012–13 with 22 appearances[75] before being released by York on 30 April 2013.[76]
Challinor re-signed for Stamford in August 2013,[77] after playing for theNorthern Premier League Premier Division club during pre-season.[78] After impressive performances throughout December 2013, which culminated in him being named Stamford's Player of the Month, Challinor signed a dual registration deal with Conference Premier teamFC Halifax Town on 7 January 2014.[79] He made his debut in a 0–0 draw away toWrexham on 11 January 2014.[80] Challinor made five appearances for Halifax before resuming playing for Stamford in February 2014.[80][81] He played in the final of theLincolnshire Senior Cup as Stamford beatBrigg Town 5–4 in a penalty shoot-out following a 3–3 draw after extra time on 29 April 2014.[81] Challinor took over ascaretaker manager of Stamford on 5 November 2015, following the sacking of Andrew Wilson.[82] He remained in charge until the appointment of Graham Drury as manager on 12 November 2015.[83] He had made 30 appearances and scored two goals in all competitions[84] by the time the 2019–20 season was abandoned and results expunged because of theCOVID-19 pandemic in England.[85]
Challinor wascapped twice by theEngland National Game XI, the team that represents England at non-League level, making his debut against Belgium on 4 November 2003 before making his second appearance againstItaly on 11 February 2004.[86]
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Rushden & Diamonds | 1998–99[7] | Football Conference | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1[a] | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 1999–2000[7] | Football Conference | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||
| Cambridge City | 2000–01[9] | Southern League Premier Division | 11 | 2 | — | — | — | 11 | 2 | |||
| 2001–02[10] | Southern League Premier Division | 33 | 2 | 5 | 0 | — | 8[b] | 1 | 46 | 3 | ||
| Total | 44 | 4 | 5 | 0 | — | 8 | 1 | 57 | 5 | |||
| St Albans City | 2002–03[12] | Isthmian League Premier Division | 45 | 4 | 4 | 0 | — | 8[c] | 2 | 57 | 6 | |
| Kalamazoo Kingdom | 2003[13] | USL Premier Development League | 17 | 2 | — | — | — | 17 | 2 | |||
| Aldershot Town | 2003–04[16] | Football Conference | 36 | 12 | 3 | 0 | — | 9[d] | 1 | 48 | 13 | |
| 2004–05[21] | Conference National | 37 | 9 | 3 | 0 | — | 4[e] | 0 | 44 | 9 | ||
| Total | 73 | 21 | 6 | 0 | — | 13 | 1 | 92 | 22 | |||
| Exeter City | 2005–06[24] | Conference National | 42 | 12 | 0 | 0 | — | 6[f] | 1 | 48 | 13 | |
| 2006–07[30] | Conference National | 42 | 9 | 2 | 1 | — | 4[g] | 0 | 48 | 10 | ||
| Total | 84 | 21 | 2 | 1 | — | 10 | 1 | 96 | 23 | |||
| Rushden & Diamonds | 2007–08[33] | Conference Premier | 45 | 5 | 3 | 1 | — | 9[h] | 4 | 57 | 10 | |
| Cambridge United | 2008–09[35] | Conference Premier | 33 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | 4[i] | 0 | 39 | 2 | |
| 2009–10[87] | Conference Premier | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 0 | |||
| Total | 35 | 2 | 3 | 0 | — | 4 | 0 | 42 | 2 | |||
| Forest Green Rovers (loan) | 2009–10[44] | Conference Premier | 7 | 0 | — | — | — | 7 | 0 | |||
| Mansfield Town | 2009–10[47] | Conference Premier | 20 | 3 | — | — | 1[f] | 0 | 21 | 3 | ||
| Newport County | 2010–11[55] | Conference Premier | 3 | 0 | — | — | 1[f] | 1 | 4 | 1 | ||
| Kettering Town | 2010–11[56] | Conference Premier | 14 | 1 | — | — | — | 14 | 1 | |||
| 2011–12[80] | Conference Premier | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | 4 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 18 | 1 | — | — | — | 18 | 1 | |||||
| York City | 2011–12[65] | Conference Premier | 39 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | 11[j] | 1 | 51 | 3 | |
| 2012–13[75] | League Two | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[k] | 0 | 22 | 0 | |
| Total | 58 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 1 | 73 | 3 | ||
| Stamford | 2013–14[81] | Northern Premier League Premier Division | 35 | 4 | 4 | 1 | — | 4[l] | 0 | 43 | 5 | |
| 2014–15[88] | Northern Premier League Premier Division | 46 | 3 | 2 | 0 | — | 5[m] | 0 | 53 | 3 | ||
| 2015–16[89] | Northern Premier League Premier Division | 37 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 5[n] | 1 | 45 | 1 | ||
| 2016–17[90] | Northern Premier League Division One South | 27 | 2 | 3 | 0 | — | 4[o] | 0 | 34 | 2 | ||
| 2017–18[91] | Northern Premier League Division One South | 33 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | 6[p] | 0 | 39 | 2 | ||
| 2018–19[92] | Northern Premier League Division One East | 36 | 5 | 2 | 0 | — | 12[q] | 2 | 50 | 7 | ||
| 2019–20[93] | Northern Premier League Division One East | 37 | 2 | - | - | — | - | - | 37 | 2 | ||
| 2020–21[94] | Northern Premier League Division One East | 16 | 5 | - | - | — | - | - | 16 | 5 | ||
| 2021–22[95] | Northern Premier League Division One East | 18 | 2 | - | - | — | - | - | 18 | 2 | ||
| 2022–23[96] | Northern Premier League Division One East | 27 | 5 | - | - | — | - | - | 27 | 5 | ||
| 2023–24[97] | Southern League Premier Division Central | 23 | 1 | - | - | — | - | - | 23 | 1 | ||
| 2024–25[98] | Southern League Premier Division Central | 35 | 2 | - | - | — | - | - | 35 | 2 | ||
| 2025–26[99] | Southern League Premier Division Central | 9 | 0 | 2 | 1 | — | 1 | 0 | 12 | 1 | ||
| FC Halifax Town | 2013–14[80] | Conference Premier | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | 5 | 0 | |||
| Career total | 833 | 98 | 40 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 105 | 14 | 979 | 115 | ||
| Team | From | To | Record | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | Win % | |||
| Stamford (caretaker) | 5 November 2015 | 12 November 2015 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 050.0 |
| Total | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 050.0 | ||
York City
Stamford
