Here are those players that have worn the number 34 shirt in competitive games since squad numbers were brought into the Football League in the 1999/2000 season.
Chris Lumsdon (Sep 00 – Dec 00)
Midfielder Lumsdon joined the club on loan from Sunderland, making 16 appearances for the club. He would also play for Barnsley, Carlisle United and Darlington before retiring from playing in 2010 due to injury. He has since become a media pundit covering Carlisle, both in print journalism and in local radio.
Paul Edwards (Jul 01 – Jun 02)
We looked at Edwards’ career in the number 21 column, he wore this number in his first season with the first-team squad.
Craig Hignett (Feb 04 – May 04)
Striker turned midfielder Hignett rejoined the club on loan from Leicester City, making 15 appearances in this 3-month spell (to go with the 150 appearances he made for the club between 1988 and 1992). He would also play for Leeds United, Darlington, Apollon Limassol in Cyprus, Spennymoor United, Hartlepool United and Billingham Synthonia before retiring from playing in 2009. He moved into coaching in April 2008 as a youth coach for Middlesbrough before moving to Hartlepool as assistant manager initially before having 3 spells as their manager between 2016 and 2019.
Jon Otsemobor (Sep 04 – Jan 05)
We looked at Otsemobor’s career in the number 2 column, he wore this number during his loan spell with the club.
Ritchie Sutton (Jul 05 – Jun 06)
Defender Sutton came through the Academy without making a first-team appearance, spending time on loan at both Leek Town and Stafford Rangers before joining the latter on a permanent deal. He would also play for Northwich Victoria, Halifax Town, Nantwich Town, Port Vale, Mansfield Town, Tranmere Rovers, Barrow and Morecambe and is currently a free agent following being released by the Shrimps earlier this summer.
Cavell Coo (Jul 06 – Jun 07)
Full-back Coo came through the Academy, making one appearance for the first-team while spending time on loan at Woodley Sports. He would join Altrincham after his release from the Alex and would also play for Witton Albion, Halifax Town, Curzon Ashton, Mossley AFC, FC United of Manchester, Salford City, Ashton United and Glossop North End before spending time at Cheadle Town for most of last season. He is currently a free agent.
David Gray (Nov 07 – Dec 07)
Midfielder turned full-back Gray was the next player to wear the number as he arrived on loan from Manchester United, making a single appearance for the club. He would also play for Plymouth Argyle, Preston North End, Stevenage and Burton Albion before joining current club Hibernian in the summer of 2014, where he has been club captain for the last 4 years.
Kenny Lunt (Feb 08 – May 08)
We looked at Lunt’s career in the number 4 column, he wore this number during his first loan spell with the club.
Danny Shelley (Jul 08 – Jun 09)
We looked at Shelley’s career in the number 12 column, he wore this number during the second year of his scholarship.
Dan Gardner (Jan 10 – Jun 10)
Midfielder Gardner joined the club on a short-term deal, making 2 appearances for the club. He would also play for Droylsden, Halifax Town, Chesterfield, Tranmere Rovers, Bury and Oldham Athletic but has been without a club since last summer.
Billy Bodin (Mar 12 – May 12)
Winger Bodin joined the club on from Swindon Town, making 9 appearances for the club. He would also play for Torquay United, Northampton Town and Bristol Rovers before joining current club Preston North End in January 2018.
Kevin Stewart (Mar 13 – May 13)
Midfielder Stewart joined the club on loan from Tottenham Hotspur, making 4 appearances for the club. He would also play for Liverpool, Cheltenham Town, Burton Albion, Swindon Town and Hull City and is currently a free agent after leaving the Tigers earlier this summer.
Uche Ikpeazu (Jul 13 – Jun 14)
We looked at Ikpeazu’s career in the number 30 column, he wore this number in his second and third loan spells with the club.
Joe Kearns (Jul 15 – Jun 16)
Defender Kearns was another player who didn’t make a first-team appearance for the club after coming through the Academy system. Since leaving the Alex in the summer of 2016, he has also played for Southport, AFC Telford United and Leek Town.
