Russell Beardsmore

Russell Peter Beardsmore (born 28 September 1968) is an English former footballer.

Russell Beardsmore
Beardsmore in 2013
Personal information
Full name Russell Peter Beardsmore
Date of birth (1968-09-28) 28 September 1968
Place of birth Wigan, England
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
1984–1986 Manchester United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1986–1993 Manchester United 56 (4)
1991 → Blackburn Rovers (loan) 2 (0)
1993–1998 AFC Bournemouth 198 (7)
Total 256 (11)
National team
1989 England U21 5 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Playing career

Beardsmore began his career with Manchester United. He made his debut in September 1988 against West Ham United and was one of the first wave of 'Fergie's Fledglings'. In only his second league start on New Year's Day 1989, he inspired Manchester United to a 3–1 home win over Liverpool at Old Trafford in the league, setting up goals for Brian McClair and Mark Hughes before scoring the third himself.

He became a regular in the team for the rest of the 1988–89 season, with former midfield regular Gordon Strachan being sold to Leeds United in March. Beardsmore played a total of 30 times for United in that campaign, scoring twice.

Beardsmore faced fresh competition for midfield places in the 1989-90 season following the arrivals of Neil Webb, Mike Phelan, Paul Ince and Danny Wallace, but still managed 25 appearances in all competitions (15 as a substitute) and scored twice, his chances of first team football being helped by long-term injuries in midfield to Neil Webb and Bryan Robson. However, both Webb and Robson had returned to full fitness by the end of the campaign, and Beardsmore missed out on a place in United's triumph in the FA Cup.

He played 15 times in the 1990-91 season, and by the end of the season competition for places in midfield and on the wing had become fiercer still, with the signing of Andrei Kanchelskis and the breakthrough of Ryan Giggs. Beardsmore would play just three times for United in 1991-92 season.

He collected senior medals on 18 August 1990 as an unused substitute in the 1990 FA Charity Shield and on 19 November 1991, when he was selected as a non playing substitute in Manchester United's 1–0 European Super Cup win over Red Star Belgrade at Old Trafford. This was his last first team game for United. He had also previously been a member of United's victorious 1990-91 European Cup Winners' Cup campaign, although he did not make the squad for the Final. Beardsmore then played twice on loan in the Second Division for Blackburn Rovers.

He did not feature in a single competitive game when Manchester United won the first Premier League title in 1992–93 and at the end of the season signed for AFC Bournemouth on a free transfer. He remained at Dean Court until his retirement from playing in 1998 after five years at the club, where he found regular, first-team action, including captaining AFC Bournemouth in the 1998 Football League Trophy defeat to Grimsby Town at Wembley Stadium in a match that attracted the highest attendance in English football that day 1998 Football League Trophy Final.

Coaching

Beardsmore is currently employed at Manchester United Foundation as a BTEC coach, having previously been an Inclusion Officer AFC Bournemouth Community Sports Trust and the Assistant Community Officer at Bolton Wanderers during their early days in the Premier League.

Honours

Club
Manchester United

References
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