*Indicates unconfirmed information. Figures in brackets after English team names indicate all appearances made and goals scored in competitive matches for Football League clubs from 1888 onwards. For Scottish League clubs the figures show details of all competitive appearances and goals scored from 1946/47 onwards.
Aleks Krunic
Appearances: 1+1 Goals: 0
Clean Sheets: 0
Date / Year of birth: 9th April 1992
Position: Goalkeeper
Season of first appearance: 2007/08
Season of last appearance: 2010/11
Also played for: Chelsea (0) and Ramsgate
Berkshire-born keeper who moved to Thanet as an infant and progressed through Margate's youth ranks. Aleks played in the Under-14's during the 2006/07 season and during 2007/08 he was a regular in Margate's Under-16's. His father Nick was their manager at the time and Aleks was coached by former Everton and Wales legend Neville Southall.
On 15.3.08 Aleks made a surprise first team debut when he replaced Scott Chalmers-Stevens after 75 minutes of an Isthmian League Premier Division game at AFC Hornchurch. Margate's player-manager Robin Trott decided to replace Chalmers-Stevens after he'd made two errors to give the home side a 2-0 lead and brought Aleks on despite him only being 15 at the time. Trott told the Thanet Times "I've seen keepers subbed when they're having a shocker. Not many times but what's the point of having a keeper on the bench ? They're there to play and he couldn't have done any worse. It was a massive step for a 15 year-old but Alex came on and showed what a man he is. He didn't put a foot wrong. He didn't have much to do but everything he did was right."
Aleks' appearance made him probably the youngest goalkeeper ever to play for Margate's first team and he was 15 years, 11 months and seven days old at the time. In addition only two outfield players were known to have been younger - Dennis Park and Dave Carr.
A few days after the Hornchurch game Robin Trott spoke to the Isle of Thanet Gazette about Aleks and said "He's got good temperament, he's very professional and in my eyes he's older than 15."
In April 2008 Aleks had a trial at Chelsea and did well enough to earn a place in the Blues' squad that travelled to Italy in May to compete in an international club tournament against the likes of Inter Milan, Bayern Munich, Manchester United and Arsenal. His coach Neville Southall, told the Gazette "Aleks is a great prospect and he deserves his chance due to his fantastic work ethic."
He stayed with Margate for the 2008/09 season and played for the reserves before suffering a serious knee injury shortly after having a trial with Crystal Palace. Aleks then had further problems with his knee during 2009/10 and had to have an operation. He'd had a trial at Burnley during the early part of the campaign.
Aleks started the 2010/11 season in Margate's reserves but towards the end of September 2010 he was signed by Ramsgate.
The Rams' manager Jimmy Ward told the Isle of Thanet Gazette "He's young but you have to cut your cloth accordingly and go where your budget takes you. He's had trials all over the place and is one I've looked at for years."
Aleks made his debut for Ramsgate on 25.9.10 as they lost 2-0 at home to Sittingbourne in the Isthmian League Division 1 South but it was his only first team outing for the club and a couple of weeks later he rejoined Margate.
On 2.11.10 Aleks made his first senior appearance for over two-and-a-half years when he featured in Margate's 2-0 home defeat against Bromley in the Kent Senior Cup and the Isle of Thanet Gazette praised two "excellent saves" he made in the first half. Manager Iain O'Connell told the paper that Aleks "did very well".
He spent the next few months either playing for the reserves or acting as a substitute for the first team but before the end of the 2010/11 campaign Aleks left Margate and gave up playing football altogether.
As a youngster he was a talented swimmer and Aleks represented Canterbury Swimming Club in the Kent Championships, winning a gold medal in the 200m Backstroke at the 2008 event.
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
FAC |
FAT |
ILC |
KSC |
| |
|
2007/08 (MFC) |
0 (53) |
1 |
0 |
ISTHMIAN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION (9TH OF 22) |
3QR |
2QR |
2R |
SF |
|
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
FAC |
FAT |
ILC |
KSC |
| |
|
2010/11 (MFC) |
1 (49) |
0 |
0 |
ISTHMIAN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION (16TH OF 22) |
2QR |
2QR |
2R |
1R |
|