Dale Tonge

Dale Tonge
Personal information
Date of birth (1985-05-07) 7 May 1985 (age 41)
Place of birth Barnsley, England
Positions
Team information
Current team
 Huddersfield Town (assistant head coach)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2003–2007 Barnsley 45 (0)
2007 → Gillingham (loan) 3 (0)
2007–2013 Rotherham United 163 (1)
2013–2015 Torquay United 53 (0)
2015 Chester 3 (0)
2015–2016 Stockport County 10 (0)
2016–2017 FC United of Manchester 40 (0)
Total 317 (1)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Dale Tonge (born 7 May 1985) is an English former professional footballer who played as a full-back or midfielder.

Career

Tonge came through the youth ranks with Barnsley and made his debut on 17 April 2004 against Brentford.

On 20 March 2007, it was announced that he had joined Gillingham on loan. He made his Gillingham debut in the 5–0 away defeat to Carlisle United on 24 March, and returned to Barnsley one month later.

He was released by Barnsley at the end of the 2006–07 season, On 25 May 2007, he signed for Rotherham United, on a two-year deal.[citation needed]

On 25 October 2008, he scored his first career goal in a 2–1 win versus Macclesfield Town.

On 2 May 2009, Tonge was shown his first ever red card for professional foul in a 1–0 defeat to Exeter on the final day of the season, making almost 50 appearances in the 2008–09 season.

Tonge's following season was plagued with injury. He broke a foot in late 2009 while only managing 24 appearances and also missing the chance to play at Wembley in the league two playoff final against Dagenham & Redbridge.

He agreed a new two-year contract with the club in June 2011.

On 2 May 2013, Tonge was released by Rotherham. He then signed for Torquay United on 2 July 2013, signed by ex-Rotherham manager Alan Knill. On 24 April 2015, Tonge was released by Torquay.

Tonge was on trial at Chester, before signing for them permanently. In 2016, he joined FC United of Manchester. He left the club in 2017.

Coaching career

Tonge began his coaching career with Barnsley as Assistant Youth Development Phase Coach, before then becoming the Lead. In February 2019, he was promoted to first-team assistant manager, though he left the club in November 2019. In July 2021, he was appointed Professional Development Phase Coach at Scunthorpe United.

In March 2022, Tonge was appointed to the role of first-team coach at Peterborough United.

In June 2025, Tonge returned to former club Rotherham United as assistant manager after the club had agreed a compensation fee with Peterborough United. He departed the club in March 2026.

On 29 June 2026, he was added to the Huddersfield Town coaching staff, sharing the role of assistant head coach with Jon Stead.

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Barnsley 2003–04 Second Division 1000000010
2004–05 League One 140100000150
2005–06 League One 240402010310
2006–07 Championship 6000200080
Total 450504010550
Gillingham (loan) 2006–07 League One 3000—0030
Rotherham United 2007–08 League Two 370201020420
2008–09 League Two 391202051482
2009–10 League Two 210102010250
2010–11 League Two 230000000230
2011–12 League Two 320201010360
2012–13 League Two 110000000110
Total 16317060911852
Torquay United 2013–14 League Two 360101010390
2014–15 Conference Premier 17000—00170
Total 530101010560
Chester 2015–16 National League 3000—0030
Stockport County 2015–16 National League North 10000—00100
FC United of Manchester 2015–16 National League North 10000—00100
2016–17 National League North 30030—20350
Total 40030—20450
Career total 31711601101313572
  1. ↑ Appearance(s) in League One play-offs
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy
  3. ↑ One appearance in FA Trophy, one appearance in Manchester Premier Cup

Honours

Barnsley

Rotherham United

References

  1. ↑ "Barnsley's Tonge joins Gillingham". BBC Sport. 20 March 2007.
  2. ↑ "Barnsley begin summer clear-out". BBC Sport. 10 May 2007. Retrieved 26 April 2026.
  3. ↑ "Millers sign Harrison and Tonge". BBC Sport. 25 May 2007. Retrieved 26 April 2026.
  4. ↑ "Full-back Dale Tonge pens new Rotherham United contract". BBC Sport. 4 June 2011. Retrieved 26 April 2026.
  5. ↑ "Torquay United sign Elliot Benyon and Dale Tonge". BBC Sport. 2 July 2013. Retrieved 2 July 2013.
  6. ↑ "FC United of Manchester - Margy adds new face to the squad as Dale Tonge signs on for FC".
  7. ↑ "PLAYER UPDATE for 2017/18 Season".
  8. ↑ "Dale Tonge Appointed Assistant Coach". www.barnsleyfc.co.uk. 7 February 2019. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  9. ↑ Rayner, Stuart (28 November 2019). "Dale Tonge leaves Barnsley and Adam Murray is promoted as Gerhard Struber completes his backroom". Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 26 April 2026.
  10. ↑ "Iron appoint new Professional Development Phase Coach". www.scunthorpe-united.co.uk. 2 July 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  11. ↑ "Tonge Appointed As First Team Coach". www.theposh.com. 15 March 2022. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  12. ↑ "Dale Tonge returns as new assistant manager". www.themillers.co.uk. 13 June 2025. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  13. ↑ "Tonge departs the Millers". www.themillers.co.uk. 24 March 2026. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  14. ↑ "ADDITIONS TO FIRST TEAM COACHING STAFF". www.htafc.com. 29 June 2026. Retrieved 29 June 2026.
  15. ↑ "Games played by Dale Tonge in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  16. ↑ "Games played by Dale Tonge in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  17. ↑ "Games played by Dale Tonge in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  18. 1 2 "Games played by Dale Tonge in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  19. ↑ "Games played by Dale Tonge in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  20. ↑ "Games played by Dale Tonge in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  21. ↑ "Games played by Dale Tonge in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  22. ↑ "Games played by Dale Tonge in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  23. ↑ "Games played by Dale Tonge in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  24. ↑ "Games played by Dale Tonge in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  25. ↑ "Games played by Dale Tonge in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  26. ↑ "Games played by Dale Tonge in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  27. ↑ "Games played by Dale Tonge in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  28. ↑ "England - D. Tonge - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway".
  29. 1 2 "Dale Tonge".
  30. ↑ "Swansea 2–2 Barnsley (aet)". BBC Sport. 27 May 2006. Retrieved 22 May 2026.

Sources