Football
Globetrotting striker Adam Le Fondre is the epitome of Planet Football
Veteran striker Adam Le Fondre joins non-league FC United of Manchester after a two-decade globe-trotting career, reflecting on his journey and future ambitions in football.
Image Credits: Steve Christo/Corbis via Getty Images
‘Alf’ has plied his trade for two decades, on three continents and in five countries.
But now the former Premier League player is back in Blighty with step three, non-league outfit FC United of Manchester.
At 37, he’s two years older than another ex-top flight marksman, Charlie Austin, now with Southern League AFC Totton, the same age as one-time Reading team mate, Adrian Mariappa (Wealdstone) but nearly six years the junior of ‘peter pan’ Gareth Barry currently lacing up his boots for 11th tier, Hurstpierpoint FC.
When the Manchester United fan netted on FC debut at Morpeth Town for a club, formed by disillusioned supporters of the team he grew up following, it was his first competitive goal in England for more than six years.
There should be plenty more for Le Fondre, excited by the new challenge in a career that began at home town Stockport, took him to Rochdale, Rotherham, Reading, Cardiff, Wolves, Wigan, Bolton, Sydney City, Mumbai and last season to Hibernian.
Indeed, it is 20 years since he made his debut for Stockport against Bury in 2004. And thanks to longtime pal and former Hatters’ midfielder, Charlie Ennis, Alf rejected offers to return to the EFL for the Mancunian suburb of Moston.
A reunion with Ennis at a wedding kicked-off the possibility of Le Fondre signing for the Northern Premier League premier division side.
“The manager was there as well and we had a brief conversation,” the dad of three, told SportsBoom.
“It was light hearted, over a few drinks but it was something I had thought about since I left Hibernian.
“What would be the next step for my journey in football; a journey that would probably lead me out of football? I had to think about what the next venture would be; the second part of my life, if you will.
“Going into non-league would give me a good opportunity to give myself a little more time and more respite for the body.
“Plus, this gives me chance to play with one of my best friends who I have grown up with for the last 15-16 years.”
Return to the football league?
Le Fondre confirmed he received full-time offers to return to the Football League. Reading between the lines, a fairytale return to Stockport may have been a possibility.
“But for me, it didn’t sit where I wanted to be,” added Le Fondre of becoming a full-time pro again.
“The commitment of full-time football, travelling to games, being away from the family-I have done that for 21 years.
“My daughters are 14, 10 and eight so this is a pivotal time to be around them. Signing for FC gives me as much time to do that and focus on what is next for me.”
Image Credits: Steve Christo/Corbis via Getty Images
“I know I am in the twilight of my career, but I didn’t want to not play and for it to fizzle out.
“Wherever I went I felt I wanted to make an impact. I still felt good enough after the season I had at Hibernian, I could contribute.
“If you ask most Hibs fans about last season, I am sure they would agree from what they wanted from me and from what they got from me; I think I exceeded expectation.
“I still think I have got a lot of good football left in me. What better way than being 10 miles from my doorstep, playing with one of my best mates,” added the Cheshire based goal machine.
I will continue to play now and hopefully play at a good level to keep scoring goals and making appearances.
Adam Le Fondre
What the future holds
Le Fondre is already planning for the future. He has passed his UEFA B coaching licence but says: “Management is such a short-lived career. You get a job to get sacked.
“For me, the next step is recruitment. I like the idea of being a Head of Recruitment.
“There is a lot of work before you can get to that level, but I have a good eye for football
“I am a very adaptable person. Networking is key and I’d like to think I would do very well at that.”
A Journeyman's career
Le Fondre admits he’d need superhero style vision to keep an eye on his former clubs.
But he’s proud of the associations and relationships he forged on his nomadic journey.
“I have great memories of quite a few of my old clubs,” he said. I have a great rapport and relationship with Rotherham, Rochdale and Stockport fans.
“The same with Reading. It’s terrible what has happened to them over the last couple of years.
“Bolton, I have a magnificent relationship with, Sydney, amazing. Out of all the clubs I have had, only a couple probably wouldn’t speak too fondly of me.
“Maybe that’s testament to how I endeared myself to the fans. They have seen the honesty and hard work: the goals too helped to bring a bit of joy in bleak times.
“But it has been reciprocated. I love the interaction with fans. When I started out at 16 or 17, there were doubts if a short player could make it in the game
You make mistakes, you miss chances. But I have had a great time, scored lots of goals and done lots of important things.
Adam Le Fondre
“I have been around the world and experienced things people can only dream of.”
So, can he pick out a couple of highlights? The goals (for Reading) in the Premier League are not things I look back on and think ‘wow,’” he says perhaps surprisingly.
“I scored a double for Reading at Southampton (2012) my dad won’t stop watching. And there was a goal for Bolton in their win against Forest (2018).
“Those two games brought different circumstances: one to get in the Premier League with Reading, one to stay up in the Championship.
“That Forest game, I managed to share it with my whole family. To make an impact like I did and for Bolton to stay up and to share it with 25,000 people was incredible and will live with me for ever.”
The surroundings now may be a little humbler. But Le Fondre says: “The set up is first class.
“The key pillars are all here to have the successful foundation of a club which grows with the area.
“It is a great catchment area, everyone is football mad round here, there is a lot of potential at this club.”
Neil has been a journalist for longer than he'd care to remember, having written for national newspapers and respected publications for over 25 years. For the last three years he has worked freelance for BBC Sport, working on the production desk as a sub-editor and also as a writer, covering a whole range of sports.