| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 1 February 1977 | ||
| Place of birth | Newcastle, England | ||
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Playing position | Midfielder | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Maidstone United (Assistant Manager) |
||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1995–1996 | Oxford United | 0 | (0) |
| 1996–1999 | York City | 90 | (7) |
| 1999 | → Grimsby Town (loan) | 4 | (0) |
| 1999-2004 | Grimsby Town | 116 | (12) |
| 2004-2007 | Gillingham | 62 | (3) |
| 2004 | → Hartlepool United (loan) | 5 | (0) |
| 2007-2009 | Dover Athletic | 46 | (7) |
| 2009 | Maidstone United | 4 | (0) |
| 2009-2010 | Sutton United | 31 | (4) |
| Total | 358 | (33) | |
| Teams managed | |||
| 2011- | Maidstone United (assistant) | ||
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals). |
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Alan Pouton (born 1 February 1977 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England) is an English former professional footballer who has subsequently moved into coaching. He is currently assistant manager at Maidstone United. Pouton is perhaps best known for his spell at Grimsby Town for whom he made over 100 appearances between 1999 and 2004. He also played league football for York City, Gillingham and Hartlepool United and also played semi-professionally for Dover Athletic, Maidstone United and Sutton United.
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Pouton came through the youth ranks at Newcastle United, his hometown club, but was not retained, and tried his luck at Oxford United. Again, he was never presented with an opportunity to play during his time there and was released at the end of the 1995-1996 season.
Pouton was snapped up on a free transfer by York City in time for the 1996/97 season. His debut came early on in the season as a substitute in the 2-1 home defeat against Bournemouth. He produced some good performances in the reserves and was eventually rewarded with his first start in the 3-0 home win against Hartlepool. Pouton went on to make 25 appearances that season, three of which were in the FA Cup. His first career goal was an 80th minute consolation goal in the 4-2 home defeat to Brentford. The following season saw Pouton firmly establish himself as a tough tackling midfielder, although his over-exuberance led to six bookings that season (to add to the six he had received the previous season). The highlight of the 1997/98 season for Pouton undoubtedly came at Roots Hall in a 4-4 draw with Southend in which he scored twice. Pouton only scored once the following season, but he managed to pick up nine bookings as he started to pick up a reputation as a tough tackler.
At the beginning of the 1999/2000 season, Grimsby made an approach to take Pouton on loan. Despite not starting a game during his month long loan spell, Pouton impressed sufficiently in his six substitute appearances to prompt Grimsby to pay £150,000 to secure him on a permanent basis. Upon signing, Pouton became a first team regular and went on to play in the majority of Grimsby's games that season. Surprisingly, in hindsight, Pouton only picked up two bookings that season in 41 games. His first goal for Grimsby (and only goal of the season) was an equaliser at Blundell Park in a 1-1 draw with Manchester City. Over the next three seasons, Pouton was booked 18 times and sent off twice. Despite his occasional lapses in discipline, Pouton was generally a success at Grimsby, and although he was not noted for his goals, he still managed eleven goals including a hat-trick in the 6-2 home win against Wimbledon (although two of those goals were penalties). He became a cult hero for his Never Say Die attitude, and his repeat step-overs, although he suffered increasing disciplinary problems, missing many games through a combination of injury and suspension. In the 2002/03 season, Grimsby were relegated to League One after finishing bottom of the Championship. Injury prevented Pouton from playing until December in League One and he only then played five times before leaving the club to free up finances.
Gillingham paid £30,000 to bring him back into the Championship. Pouton did reasonably well in a season in which Gillingham survived relegation by the skin of their teeth - staying up by one goal whilst Walsall were relegated instead. The next season was poor by Pouton's standards. He started the season on loan to Hartlepool for whom he played six times and scored in the 3-3 draw with Hull in the Football League Trophy (Hartlepool won 4-1 on penalties). He returned to Gillingham, but only played a handful of games (twelve) as Gillingham were finally relegated. The 2005/06 season was better for Pouton as he re-established himself in midfield. He played in the opening day victory over Colchester and were it not for a succession of injuries perhaps would have played in more than the 24 games in which he appeared. Injuries continued to bedevil him in the following season, and on 31 January 2007 it was announced that he had opted to retire.[1]
Pouton came out of retirement in June 2007 to sign on a semi-professional basis for Dover Athletic, however injuries again restricted him in claiming a regular first team place. During his spell at Dover Athletic, Pouton gained two promotions to the Isthmian League Premier Division and then the Conference South. Over his two seasons at Crabble Stadium, Pouton became a firm fans favourite with his exquisite passing and ability to change a game. Pouton won Dover's goal of the season prize in the 2008–09 season.
At the end of the 2008-09 season Pouton decided against signing a new contract with Dover due to work commitments and further travelling.[2] He subsequently signed for fellow Kent side Maidstone United where he was soon appointed vice captain.
In late August 2009 Pouton left Maidstone after just four appearances to join Isthmian League Premier Division rivals Sutton United. Pouton made his debut for Sutton on 5 September 2009 against Boreham Wood and played for the rest of the 2009-10 campaign at the Gander Green Lane club before retiring from playing at the end of the season.
On 18 March 2011 Pouton was named caretaker assistant manager at Maidstone United, who at the time were 8 points adrift at the bottom of the Isthmian League Premier Division.[3] Pouton joined up with former Maidstone team mate Jay Saunders who had just been given the role of player-caretaker manager at the club. Saunders and Pouton led Maidstone to 5 wins from nine games, and although it was not enough to save Maidstone from relegation, Saunders and Pouton were both awarded their respective roles on a permanent basis on May 2, 2011.[4]