Dan Preston

Birmingham City

Preston joined Birmingham City's youth academy in 2002. He played in the club's under-18 team which reached the semi-final of the 2008–09 FA Youth Cup, in which they lost 6–1 on aggregate to their Liverpool counterparts.

Included in the squads for first-team pre-season friendlies, Preston injured a medial knee ligament playing for a reserve XI against Tamworth. Following an injury crisis, Preston, still in the second year of his academy scholarship, was given a squad number and made his first-team debut on 22 September 2009 as a second-half substitute in the League Cup third-round match at Sunderland, replacing the injured Stuart Parnaby in the 79th minute; he received a yellow card in stoppage time.

Hereford United (loan)

To gain first-team experience, Preston joined League Two club Hereford United on a one-month loan on 26 February 2010. He went straight into the starting eleven for the following day's visit to Notts County, which ended in a 5–0 defeat as goalkeeper Chris Adamson and defender Paul Downing were sent off and Preston himself was booked. After three more League Two appearances, the loan was extended for a second month. Preston returned to Birmingham at the end of his second month without making any more first-team appearances for Hereford.

He rejoined Hereford on a Football League youth loan – an arrangement which allows the player to train with and play non-first-team matches for his parent club when not required by the loaning club – in January 2011 until the end of the 2010–11 season. He failed to make a first-team appearance and the loan was ended on 12 April. He was released when his contract expired at the end of the 2010–11 season.

AFC Telford United

Preston joined Conference Premier club AFC Telford United on 20 July 2011. After a successful first season with the club he was given a new one-year deal. It was announced on 3 May 2013 at the club's end of season awards that Preston would extend his contract with AFC Telford, despite the club being relegated to the Conference North.

Preston joined Conference North rivals Barrow on a one-month loan on 18 October 2013, with whom he made five appearances. He was soon loaned out again, joining Stourbridge of the Southern League Premier Division on 28 November. Preston made his debut for Stourbridge two days later in a 7–0 home victory over Weymouth. On 26 April 2014, he won promotion back to the Conference Premier with AFC Telford United at the first time of asking, after they clinched the Conference North title on the final day of the 2013–14 season, beating Gainsborough Trinity 3–0 at the New Bucks Head. Following their promotion AFC Telford released Preston after three seasons with the club.

Tamworth

Preston signed for newly relegated Conference North team Tamworth on a one-year contract on 9 June 2014.

AFC Telford return

Preston returned to Telford in May 2016.

Personal life

Preston was born in Birmingham, West Midlands, and brought up in the Kings Norton district of the city where he attended St Thomas Aquinas School. In his final year he helped the school football team to victory in the final of the 2008 Birmingham City Cup. His stepbrothers James and Mitchell McPike both turned professional with Birmingham City – Mitchell also played for England at under-17 level – but neither played for the first team.

Career statistics

Honours

AFC Telford United