{{short description|English footballer}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Josh Dolling | image = | caption = | fullname = Joshua Jordan Dolling<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.efl.com/news/2016/june/efl-club-retained-and-released-lists-published/|title=EFL: Club retained and released lists published|website=www.efl.com}}</ref> | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1997|12|29|df=y}} | birth_place = Hillingdon, England | height = 6 ft 2 in | position = Forward | currentclub = Havant & Waterlooville | clubnumber = 7 | youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–2012 | youthclubs1 = Blackburn Rovers | youthyears2 = 2012–2013 | youthclubs2 = Manchester United | youthyears3 = 2013–2016 | youthclubs3 = Burnley | collegeyears1 = 2017–2021 | college1 = Missouri State Bears | collegecaps1 = 82 | collegegoals1 = 40 | years1 = 2015–2016 | clubs1 = Burnley | caps1 = 0 | goals1 = 0 | years2 = 2015 | clubs2 = → Trafford (loan) | caps2 = | goals2 = | years3 = 2016–2017 | clubs3 = Prescot Cables | caps3 = 10 | goals3 = 6 | years4 = 2022 | clubs4 = St. Louis City 2 | caps4 = 21 | goals4 = 9 | years5 = 2023 | clubs5 = New Mexico United | caps5 = 14 | goals5 = 4 | years6 = 2023 | clubs6 = → Las Vegas Lights (loan) | caps6 = 13 | goals6 = 0 | years7 = 2024 | clubs7 = Spokane Velocity | caps7 = 22 | goals7 = 5 | years8 = 2025–2026 | clubs8 = AFC Totton | caps8 = 4 | goals8 = 0 | years9 = 2025 | clubs9 = → Basingstoke Town (loan) | caps9 = 6 | goals9 = 0 | years10 = 2026– | clubs10 = Havant & Waterlooville | caps10 = 1 | goals10 = 0 | club-update = 10:06, 25 February 2026 (UTC) }}
'''Joshua Jordan Dolling''' (born 29 December 1997) is a footballer who plays as a forward for Havant & Waterlooville.
==Career== ===Youth=== Dolling began playing with the Blackburn Rovers academy, before getting scouted by Manchester United's under-14 team, where he played before getting released in 2013.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.stltoday.com/print/sports-section/city2s-dolling-hopes-mls-is-at-the-end-of-his-long-journey-from-england/article_9b54f660-ac98-5107-bcc3-dbaabef8d406.html|title=City2's Dolling hopes MLS is at the end of his long journey from England|first=Tom|last=Timmermann|website=STLtoday.com}}</ref> Dolling subsequently joined Burnley, where he played with the academy team, scoring 24 goals for the Clarets at youth level.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.clarets-mad.co.uk/news/tmnw/the_new_lads_at_turf_moor_835695/index.shtml|title=The new lads at Turf Moor|first=Digital Sports Group|last=LTDX|website=Clarets Mad}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/14133660.youth-coach-left-stunned-burnley-lose-shootout-met-police/|title=Youth coach left stunned as Burnley lose shootout to Met Police|website=Lancashire Telegraph}}</ref> In 2015, he joined Trafford on a short-term loan deal.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenpl.co.uk/saturdays-transfer-list-26385|title=Saturday's Transfer List - The Pitching In Northern Premier League|website=www.thenpl.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.clarets-mad.co.uk/news/tmnw/dolling_scores_first_trafford_goal_871014/index.shtml|title=Dolling scores first Trafford goal|first=Digital Sports Group|last=LTDX|website=Clarets Mad}}</ref>
In 2016, Dolling signed with Northern Premier League Division One North side Prescot Cables, scoring six goals in ten appearances.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://missouristatebears.com/sports/mens-soccer/roster/josh-dolling/6349|title=Josh Dolling - Men's Soccer|website=Missouri State}}</ref> Dolling had previously spent time on loan with Prescot Cables whilst with Burnley.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.uptheclarets.com/three-former-youth-players-join-non-league-clubs|title=Three former youth players join non-league clubs|first=Tony|last=Scholes|date=September 25, 2016}}</ref>
===College=== In 2017, Dolling moved to the United States to play college soccer at Missouri State University. In four full seasons with the Bears and a truncated 2020–21 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Dolling scored 40 goals and tallied 14 assists in 82 appearances. He earned All-MVC honours in all four seasons with Missouri State, MVC All-Tournament Team in 2019 and 2021, United Soccer Coaches All-American on three occasions, United Soccer Coaches All-Region on four occasions and was on the MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List in his senior year.<ref name="auto1"/>
Following college, Dolling was available in the 2021 MLS SuperDraft, but went unselected.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/2021-mls-superdraft-list-of-players-eligible-for-selection-429687|title=2021 MLS SuperDraft: List of players eligible for selection | MLSSoccer.com|website=mlssoccer}}</ref>
===Professional=== In early 2022, Dolling signed with MLS Next Pro side St. Louis City SC 2 ahead of their inaugural season.<ref name="auto"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://missouristatebears.com/news/2022/2/7/mens-soccer-bears-soccer-standouts-to-play-for-st-louis-city-soccer-club.aspx|title=Bears Soccer Standouts to Play for St. Louis City Soccer Club|website=Missouri State}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlsnextpro.com/players/josh-dolling/|title=Josh Dolling | MLSsoccer.com|website=mlsnextpro}}</ref> His contract option was declined by St. Louis following the 2022 season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.stlcitysc.com/news/st-louis-city2-announces-end-of-year-roster-decisions|title=St Louis CITY2 Announces End of Year Roster Decisions | St. Louis SC|first=St Louis CITY|last=SC|website=St. Louis CITY SC}}</ref>
On 23 December 2022, it was announced that Dolling would join USL Championship side New Mexico United for their 2023 season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newmexicoutd.com/news/2022/12/23/new-mexico-united-announces-the-signing-of-english-forward-josh-dolling/|title=NEW MEXICO UNITED ANNOUNCES THE SIGNING OF ENGLISH FORWARD JOSH DOLLING}}</ref> On 20 July 2023, Dolling was loaned to USL Championship side Las Vegas Lights for the remainder of the 2023 season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.uslchampionship.com/news_article/show/1279622-lights-fc-acquires-joshua-dolling-on-loan-from-new-mexico|title=Lights FC acquires Joshua Dolling on loan from New Mexico|author=USLChampionship com Staff|date=July 20, 2023|website=USL Championship}}</ref>
Dolling joined Spokane Velocity on 5 January 2024, ahead of the club's inaugural USL League One season.<ref>{{cite web |title=Spokane Velocity FC Signs Five Players |url=https://www.spokanevelocityfc.com/news/2024/01/05/spokane-velocity-fc-signs-five-players/ |website=SpokaneVelocity.com |publisher=Spokane Velocity |access-date=5 January 2024}}</ref> Spokane opted not to renew his contract following their 2024 season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.uslspokane.com/news/2024/11/27/spokane-velocity-to-return-13-members-from-its-league-one-final-team/|title=Spokane Velocity to Return 13 Members From Its League One Final Team}}</ref>
Dolling joined National League South side AFC Totton in August 2025 for The Stags' first ever season at Step 6 of the English football pyramid. <ref>{{cite web |title=Josh Dolling Becomes The Newest Stag|url=https://www.afctotton.com/news/josh-dolling-becomes-newest-stag |website=afctotton.com}}</ref> On 7 November 2025, Dolling joined Southern League side Basingstoke Town on loan.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://btfc.co.uk/updates/josh-dolling-signs-on-loan/|title=Josh Dolling Signs On Loan|publisher=Basingstoke Town F.C.|date=7 November 2025|accessdate=25 February 2026}}</ref> On 20 February 2026, he joined Havant & Waterlooville on a free transfer.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://havantandwaterloovillefc.co.uk/josh-dolling-signs/|title=Josh Dolling Signs for the Hawks|publisher=Havant & Waterlooville F.C.|date=20 February 2026|accessdate=25 February 2026}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[https://missouristatebears.com/sports/mens-soccer/roster/josh-dolling/6349 Missouri State bio] *[https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/josh-dolling/ MLS bio] *{{soccerway|new_id=dolling-josh/MR80axPI}} *[https://www.aylesburyunitedarchive.com/player/josh-dolling/46628 Non-league stats] at Aylesbury United
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dolling, Josh}} Category:1997 births Category:Men's association football forwards Category:Blackburn Rovers F.C. players Category:Burnley F.C. players Category:English expatriate men's footballers Category:English expatriate sportspeople in the United States Category:English men's footballers Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in the United States Category:Footballers from Liverpool Category:Living people Category:Manchester United F.C. players Category:Prescot Cables F.C. players Category:Trafford F.C. players Category:St. Louis City 2 players Category:New Mexico United players Category:Las Vegas Lights FC players Category:MLS Next Pro players Category:USL Championship players Category:Missouri State Bears soccer players Category:Spokane Velocity players Category:USL League One players Category:21st-century English sportsmen Category:A.F.C. Totton players Category:National League (English football) players Category:Basingstoke Town F.C. players Category:Havant & Waterlooville F.C. players Category:Southern Football League players