David Artell

Rotherham United

Artell began his career with hometown club Rotherham United, making his debut as a substitute in a 2–0 defeat by Swansea City at Vetch Field on 12 October 1999 – this was his only appearance as the "Millers" won promotion as runners-up in the Third Division. He scored his first senior goal on 23 September 2000, in a 1–1 draw with Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium. Artell went on to make 40 appearances in 2000–01, as the club claimed second place in the Second Division to win a second successive promotion. He never featured at Millmoor in the First Division under manager Ronnie Moore.

Artell spent September onwards of the 2002–03 season on loan at Kevin Ratcliffe's Shrewsbury Town. He helped the "Shrews" to knock Premier League giants Everton out of the FA Cup, but could not prevent the club from suffering relegation out of the Football League after finishing in last place. Upon his return from the Gay Meadow, he discovered that he was to be released by Rotherham in May 2003.

Mansfield Town

Artell joined Third Division side Mansfield Town on a short-term contract at the start of the 2003–04 season. He made 32 appearances over the course of the campaign, and was an unused substitute in the play-off final defeat to Huddersfield Town at the Millennium Stadium. He played 23 games of the 2004–05 season, but was frozen out of the first team picture after manager Keith Curle was replaced by Carlton Palmer in November.

Chester City

Artell followed Curle out of Field Mill and onto Chester City in July 2005; the move was surrounded by accusations of an 'illegal approach' by the "Seals". He featured 41 times in 2005–06, retaining his first team spot at the Deva Stadium under new boss Mark Wright. Artell went on to post 50 appearances during the 2006–07 campaign. However, he was released by new manager Bobby Williamson in May 2007, after a period of time unsuccessfully negotiating a new contract.

Morecambe

In July 2007, he signed with Football League newcomers Morecambe. In only his second competitive game for the club, he achieved hero status by scoring a late winner in a shock League Cup 2–1 success over Preston North End at Deepdale. He went on to form a strong defensive partnership with Jim Bentley, making a total of 44 appearances in 2007–08. After losing his first team place, manager Sammy McIlroy told Artell he could leave the club on loan in November 2008. He instead chose to stay, and managed to win back his first team spot to play 43 games in 2008–09. He then scored eight goals in 42 games in 2009–10, to help the "Shrimps" to win a place in the League Two play-offs with a fourth-place finish. In the play-off semi-final second leg against Dagenham & Redbridge he scored the final goal ever at Christie Park, in what was a 2–1 win; however Morecambe lost the tie 7–2 on aggregate.

Crewe Alexandra

In June 2010, Artell signed a two-year contract with Crewe Alexandra after joining on a free transfer. He said that the chance to work closely with manager Dario Gradi excited him, and that Gradi's status as a renowned coach convinced him to join the club. Artell was immediately appointed as co-captain, alongside Lee Bell and Ashley Westwood. In March 2011, he had a minor bust-up with Gradi after he was substituted during a home win over Chesterfield.

He missed two months of the start of the 2011–12 season with a hamstring injury. In December 2011, new manager Steve Davis reinstalled him as the club's captain. However the next month he was sent off for a "dangerous tackle" on Barnet's Izale McLeod. In February, he had an on-the-pitch row with goalkeeper Steve Phillips; Phillips was booked for the row – it was the second time in the campaign that the goalkeeper had on-the-pitch row with a teammate. Artell was nominated for the League Two Player of the Month award in March 2012, but lost out to Torquay United's Lee Mansell. Artell captained the "Railwaymen" to victory over Cheltenham Town in the play-off final at Wembley. Despite this he was released from the club just five days later.

"The young lads come with all sorts of problems about Facebook and Twitter that I haven't got a clue about. But, on football matters, I'm happy to talk to them until the cows come home."

Port Vale to Northampton Town

Artell joined Port Vale on a one-year deal on 6 July 2012. Upon signing with the League Two club he stated that "...geography had a big part to play in my decision. Promotion possibilities, money, length of contract, they all come into it and Port Vale ticked all those boxes." However, he departed the club on 11 August, days before the start of the 2012–13 campaign. He had refused to sign a revised contract as the club failed to exit administration as expected. Two days later he signed a two-year deal with Northampton Town; manager Aidy Boothroyd said that "he's the coagulant that will connect the other bits and pieces." He got off to the perfect start to his "Cobblers" career, scoring the equalizing goal in a 2–1 League Cup win over Championship side Cardiff City. However, he picked up an Achilles injury in October, which required three months of rest to heal. Upon his recovery he found himself out of the first team picture at Northampton.

Wrexham

On 26 February 2013, Artell joined Wrexham of the Conference Premier on loan for the remainder of the 2012–13 season. He was sent off on the last day of the season in a 1–0 defeat to Mansfield Town at Field Mill, and was expected to miss the play-offs with suspension, before a Football Association of Wales disciplinary panel lifted his three-match suspension. He went on to score in the semi-final first leg 2–1 victory over Kidderminster Harriers at the Racecourse Ground. Wrexham reached the play-off final at Wembley, but were beaten 2–0 by Newport County. Northampton also lost the League Two play-off final to Bradford City, though Artell did not feature in the match.

Artell signed a 12-month contract with Wrexham in September 2013. Artell made his debut as a permanent Wrexham player in a 2–0 win against Luton Town on 13 September. His first league goal for the "Dragons" came in a 5–2 win over Hyde at Ewen Fields on 28 December. He made a total of 30 appearances in the 2013–14 campaign, helping the club to a 17th-place finish, six points above the relegation zone. He was released at the end of the campaign.

Later career

In summer 2014 he signed for Welsh Premier League club Bala Town. The "Lakesiders" finished second in the 2014–15 campaign, 18 points behind The New Saints. In January 2016, Artell left Bala for rival Welsh Premier League side Port Talbot Town. The "Steelmen" were relegated at the end of the 2015–16 season after being rejected a licence by the Football Association of Wales Club Licensing Appeals Body; this was despite the club finishing one place and 12 points above the relegation zone. He signed with Northern Premier League club Kidsgrove Athletic in June 2016, and scored two goals in cup competitions for the "Grove". He moved onto Northern Premier League First Division side Droylsden in November 2016.

International career

Artell was called up to the Gibraltar national football team in February 2014. He made his debut on 1 March 2014 in Gibraltar's second ever official match, a 4–1 friendly defeat to the Faroe Islands at the Victoria Stadium.

Style of play

The Football League Paper described Artell as "an archetypal lower-league stopper", and former manager Jim Bentley said that "he was committed, he was aggressive, he was brave".

Managerial career

In July 2014 he became Academy operations manager at former club Crewe Alexandra whilst still playing for Bala Town. On 8 January 2017, Artell was appointed as Crewe Alexandra's first team manager, replacing Steve Davis. One of his first moves was to appoint another ex-Crewe player and former Bala teammate Kenny Lunt as assistant manager. With his side facing the possibility of relegation out of EFL League Two after a 4–0 defeat at Hartlepool United on 28 February, Artell warned his players that "relegation means oblivion... they'll end up in the Conference North on £200 a week with a job as a milkman." He managed to get the reaction he was looking for as Crewe won four of their next five games in March to move towards mid-table safety, a team performance that helped earn Artell a nomination for EFL League Two Manager of the Month. The "Railwaymen" ended the 2016–17 campaign in 17th-place, and Artell released six players in the summer. He warned the remaining out-of-contract players to sign their new contracts quickly before he withdrew their offers, but said "we all had a say. It's not a dictatorship. I'm not Idi Amin or Pol Pot... it's evolution, not revolution, but we won't be happy with 17th in the table again next season".

Personal life

In summer 2010, he graduated from the University of Chester with a degree in forensic biology, with the intention of going on to achieve a master's degree. He had previously studied a forensic and analytical science degree course at Sheffield Hallam University.

Managerial statistics

Honours

Rotherham United

Crewe Alexandra

Bala Town