Biography

Anthony Starkey was born on the 28th of November 1974. Known as Tot to his friends and Tony to his best friend and wife Claire.

He got his first taste of club football when he joined Shirebrook Rangers at age 9, where then manager Martin Fretwell saw the potential of Tot’s versatility. Although his preferred position was striker, Martin played him anywhere there was a gap that needed filling, even putting him in goal on occasion. Later on it became the norm to play him in front of the back four when they were kicking up hill and as a striker when they were kicking down hill. Tot laughed as he suggested this was because he couldn’t run up hill. At age fourteen whilst still with Shirebrook Rangers he had an eighteen month spell playing with Grimsby Town.

In 1990 whilst still plying his trade with Shirebrook and still a utility player, Tot met Claire on Shirebrook Market and in his own words “Won her affections with a chip supper on their first date.”

In 1993 he transferred to Worksop Town under then manager Tommy Spencer, playing first at wingback and then centre half.

In 1997 Tommy Spencer was dismissed by Worksop Town and took on the roll of manager at Matlock Town, taking Tot with him. However the intense training at Matlock didn’t suit Tot and he signed for John Ramshaw’s Hucknall Town. Having spent most of the season on the bench Tot decided he had had enough of football and hung up his boots.

It wasn’t long before Tot was back in red and black when, finding themselves short for an away clash with Hucknall Rolls Royce, Shirebrook Town came knocking on his door. His unexpected return was a success with Town winning 3-0 with goals from the man himself Starkey and Shane Turner.

In 1998 Tot married Claire and in 1999 their son Blake was born. Blake is a chip off the old block and who knows, in 20 years time I could well be adding the next chapter to this tale.

Twenty four years after his first taste of club football with Shirebrook Rangers, Tot is still a regular in Shirebrook’s back four. He is convinced that his broken leg is only a minor set back and I for one hope that he is right. He has earned legendary status amongst the clubs followers, a distinction earned through his years of commitment and sense of fair play.