Drewe Broughton

Southend, Rushden and Chester At Southend, he proved a success in their run in the 2003–04 Football League Trophy. With Broughton scoring once against Luton Town and twice against QPR in earlier rounds, Southend faced Essex rivals Colchester United in the Area Final. In the first leg, he scored but was later sent off as the Shrimpers won 3–2. In the second leg, Broughton scored the winning aggregate goal, his fifth of the competition that season, to put Southend United in to the first National Final of their then 98-year history. Broughton played the full 90 minutes as they lost the overall final to Blackpool. However overall he did not feature regularly in the first team at Southend and joined Rushden & Diamonds on loan in October 2004, where he scored five goals in ten appearances, before joining Rushden & Diamonds permanently in February 2005, where he made 51 appearances in all competitions in two seasons. Broughton joined Chester City on a two-year contract in June 2006. He made only 14 league appearances for Chester, where he scored eight goals in 25 league appearances, but was unable to prevent Boston from being relegated from the Football League.

Milton Keynes Dons Broughton was released by Chester upon his return, and joined Milton Keynes Dons in July 2007 after impressing during a one-week trial at the club. He scored his first and what turned out to be only goal for the club against Sheffield United in the League Cup. After starting just six times for MK Dons, he joined Wrexham on a one-month loan in January 2008. When his loan spell ended, he played in their Football League Trophy semi final win over Swansea City in February 2008 and scored the final penalty in a 5–4 penalty shootout that sent them to Wembley for the final, which his teammates went on to win in his absence. He then returned to Wrexham for a second loan spell, He was also released by MK Dons at the end of the 2007–08 season. Broughton joined Rotherham United on a short-term contract in August 2008. This was then extended to a one-year contract. He got his first Rotherham United goal in the 3–1 victory over Championship side Southampton.

Lincoln City After a loan spell during the 09/10 season with Lincoln City, Broughton joined permanently in June 2010. On 18 February 2011 Broughton signed on loan for Conference National club AFC Wimbledon, causing some controversy due to his time spent with Milton Keynes Dons. On 19 February, Broughton scored on his debut after coming on as a substitute in a 5–2 away victory against Tamworth. His second goal for the club came a week later in a 4–1 home victory over Altrincham. He was recalled by Lincoln on 1 April due to injuries to strikers Delroy Facey and Ashley Grimes

In May 2011, he was not offered a new contract after a mass clear out of players following the club's relegation from the Football League. After being released, Broughton went on trial at Luton Town scoring two goals in a 4–2 victory over Hitchin Town in a pre-season friendly.

Return to non-League On 8 September 2011, he joined Alfreton Town as a free agent, having been without a club since being released by Lincoln City. He had shaken off a minor hamstring injury which saw him have to be substituted during two run-outs in pre-season friendlies with Alfreton (against Sheffield United and Matlock Town). He debuted for the club in their 3–1 Conference defeat at his former club Kidderminster Harriers on 17 September 2011, scoring a 31st-minute penalty before attracting attention for an alleged elbow on Luke Jones. The incident was missed by the match referee but not by the referee's assessor who later requested a copy of the matchday DVD from Alfreton Town and, upon reviewing the incident, reported Broughton to the Football Association who took immediate action and banned him for three games. He returned from suspension to appear in the 5–2 defeat at Grimsby Town on 1 October 2011 but was sent-off for elbowing Gary Silk in the 86th minute. After being handed a four match ban for the offence, Broughton was sacked by the club on 5 October 2011, with Alfreton chairman Wayne Bradley commenting that "the actions of Drewe Broughton on Saturday were wholly unacceptable and the club has made a decision to sever relationships with the player. He was a non-contract player and, while we understand his disappointment with himself and his pleas that it was completely out of character for him, we have made our decision and he has kicked his last ball for Alfreton Town".

On 21 October 2011, it was announced that he had signed for Thurrock.

He moved on to Arlesey Town of the Southern League Premier Division, making his debut on 28 January 2012. Broughton scored his first goal for Arlesey in a home match against St Albans City on 18 February 2012, giving Arlesey an 18th-minute lead in a 1–1 draw.

Moving on in March 2012, Broughton signed for Conference National club Darlington and made his league debut for the financially troubled side, who were battling relegation after receiving a 10-point deduction having entered administration mid-season, at home to Stockport County on 3 March 2012. He scored his first goal for the club on his sixth appearance, a 3–3 away draw at AFC Telford United on 31 March 2012.

Career statistics + Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals

1996–97 First Division

1997–98 First Division

9!!1!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!9!!1 Wigan Athletic (loan) 1997–98 Third Division

1998–99 Third Division

36!!8!!0!!0!!2!!0!!2!!1!!40!!9 Nuneaton Borough (loan) 1999–2000 Conference National

Stevenage Borough (loan) 2000–01 League Two

2002–03 League Two

94!!19!!2!!2!!2!!0!!5!!2!!103!!23

2003–04 League Two

2004–05 League Two

44!!2!!2!!0!!2!!1!!8!!5!!56!!8 Rushden & Diamonds (loan) 2004–05 League Two

49!!12!!1!!0!!0!!0!!1!!0!!51!!12 Chester City 2006–07 League Two

Boston United (loan) 2006–07 League Two

Wrexham (loan) 2007–08 League Two

2009–10 League Two

57!!9!!4!!1!!3!!1!!5!!2!!69!!13 Lincoln City (loan) 2009–10 League Two

AFC Wimbledon (loan) 2010–11 Conference National

Thurrock 2011–12 Conference South

Arlesey Town 2011–12 Southern Football League Premier Division

Darlington 2011–12