Dave Challinor

Playing career

The central defender, who has played for Tranmere Rovers and Stockport County, previously held the world record for the longest throw in football. This was 152 feet (46.34 meters) in a special challenge set-up at Prenton Park in 1998, beating the previous record held by Cardiff City's Andy Legg. When at Tranmere, he played in the 2000 Football League Cup Final.

He was transferred to Stockport County for a fee of £120,000 in January 2002. Whilst playing for Stockport County against Grimsby Town, Challinor's tackle on striker Martin Pringle broke the leg of Pringle in two places, and effectively ended his career. Though Challinor only received a yellow card, Carlton Palmer, Stockport's player-manager, fined Challinor two weeks' wages and called the tackle "horrendous".

Challinor joined Bury on loan for three months in January 2004 and the move was made permanent during the summer. After spending four seasons at Bury as captain, he was forced to retire from professional football in May 2008 due to a knee injury.

In October 2008, Challinor joined Colwyn Bay in the Northern Premier League Division One North, he captained the side to the play-offs in his first season where they lost out to Newcastle Blue Star on penalties. The following season the team, again captained by Challinor reached the play-offs and this time were promoted thanks to a 1–0 victory at Lancaster City in the final.

Managerial career

Challinor was appointed as player-manager at Northern Premier League Premier Division club Colwyn Bay on 28 May 2010.

He was assisted by former teammate Colin Woodthorpe. During their first season in management, they led Colwyn Bay to runners-up in the Northern Premier League Premier Division and a place in the play-offs. Victories over North Ferriby United and FC United of Manchester secured the club promotion to the Conference North. The club also won the North Wales Coast Cup, with victory over Flint Town United in the final on penalties. The club won the Fair Play Award for least amount of disciplinary points through the season and Challinor was named manager of the month for March, April and May 2011.

On 2 November 2011 it was announced that Challinor had been appointed the new manager of AFC Fylde, in the Northern Premier League Division One North. He guided AFC Fylde to the NPL First Division North championship in the season of his arrival and as a consequence was named Evo-Stik NPL Manager of the Year 2011–12.

In 2012–13 AFC Fylde once again qualified for the Evo-Stik NPL Premier Division play offs but were defeated on penalties by Hednesford Town who took their place in the Conference North. AFC Fylde did qualify for the FA Cup First Round proper, eventually being defeated by Accrington Stanley and also were victorious in the Lancashire FA Challenge Trophy at The Reebok Stadium, Bolton.

2013–14 has seen a remarkable season for AFC Fylde with them not only gaining promotion to the Conference North after defeating Ashton United in the Evo-Stik NPL Premier Division play offs but also retained their Lancashire FA Challenge Trophy with a thumping 4–1 victory over rivals Chorley. They also won the Doodson Sport League Cup with victory at Edgeley Park over Skelmersdale United. Not only were they successful but their immaculate disciplinary record meant they won the Fair Play Award for the Premier Division and their overall record throughout the three leagues came out on top which saw them claim the Presidents Cup. Finally this year, AFC Fylde once again had the best technical area marks for the Evo-Stik league to match last years statistic. An unbelievable year which has seen AFC Fylde move to their highest rung of the pyramid and personally a fourth promotion in five years for Challinor.

Personal life

He studied at Salford University training to be a physiotherapist and in July 2012 graduated with a First Class Honours degree.

Managerial statistics