{{short description|English footballer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2016}} {{Use British English|date=April 2016}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Mason Springthorpe | image = | image_size = | caption = | fullname = Mason Thomas Springthorpe | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1994|11|1|df=y}} | birth_place = Shrewsbury, England | height = | position = Goalkeeper | currentclub = Wem Town | clubnumber = | youthyears1 = −2011 | youthclubs1 = Shrewsbury Town | years1 = 2011–2014 | clubs1 = Everton | caps1 = 0 | goals1 = 0 | years2 = 2014 | clubs2 = → Woking (loan) | caps2 = 2 | goals2 = 0 | years3 = 2014 | clubs3 = Ellesmere Rangers | caps3 = 27 | goals3 = 0 | years4 = 2015 | clubs4 = Fleetwood Town | caps4 = 0 | goals4 = 0 | years5 = 2015 | clubs5 = A.F.C. Telford United | caps5 = 4 | goals5 = 0 | years6 = 2015–2016 | clubs6 = → Northwich Victoria (loan) | caps6 = | goals6 = | years7 = 2015–2016 | clubs7 = Northwich Victoria | caps7 = | goals7 = | years8 = 2016–2017 | clubs8 = Southport | caps8 = 1 | goals8 = 0 | years9 = 2017 | clubs9 = Alfreton Town | caps9 = 7| goals9 = 0 | years10 = 2017 | clubs10 = → Sutton Coldfield Town (loan) | caps10 = 15| goals10 = 0 | years11 = 2018 | clubs11 = A.F.C. Wulfrunians | caps11 = | goals11 = | years12 = 2018–2019 | clubs12 = Market Drayton Town | caps12 = | goals12 = | years13 = 2019–2020 | clubs13 = F.C. Oswestry Town | caps13 = | goals13 = | years14 = 2020–2021 |clubs14 = Shrewsbury Up & Comers | caps14 = |goals14 = | years15 = 2021 |clubs15 = Whitchurch Alport | caps15 = |goals15 = | years16 = 2021– |clubs16 = Wem Town | caps16 = |goals16 = | medaltemplates = | club-update = 12 August 2023 (UTC) | nationalteam-update = }} '''Mason Thomas Springthorpe''' (born 1 November 1994) is an English footballer who plays for {{English football updater|WemTown}} club Wem Town as a goalkeeper.
He joined Everton for £125,000 from Shrewsbury Town in February 2011 but never played a competitive match, spending a month on loan at Woking in January 2014. After being released that May, he had a brief stint at Ellesmere Rangers before returning to the professional game by signing for Fleetwood Town in January 2015, being released at the end of the season. He went on to play for a series of non-league clubs.
==Early life== Born in Shrewsbury, Springthorpe played as a forward as a child, but at the age of nine his father converted him to be a goalkeeper.<ref name=bbc/> He attended Meole Brace School.<ref>{{cite news|title=Shrews' Springthorpe in 'dream' Everton move|url=http://www.shropshirestar.com/sport/shrewsbury-town-fc/2011/02/15/shrews-spirngthorpe-in-dream-everton-move/|accessdate=9 April 2015|work=Shropshire Star|date=15 February 2011}}</ref>
As a youth, Springthorpe studied the style of play of Joe Hart, another goalkeeper from Shrewsbury who left his local team when he was signed by a top-flight club, in Hart's case Manchester City.<ref name=bbc/>
==Career== ===Everton=== On 14 February 2011, when still in Shrewsbury Town's youth team, he was signed by Premier League club Everton for £125,000. He told BBC Radio Shropshire "The price tag means nothing to me. The regime at Everton will be something else, but if that's what it takes to get to the next level then I'll grab it with both hands". He believed that Everton would progress his career, due to the contracts they had given to young players Jose Baxter and Jack Rodwell.<ref name=bbc>{{cite news|title=Everton sign young Shrewsbury keeper Mason Springthorpe|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/s/shrewsbury/9397031.stm|access-date=9 April 2015|work=BBC Sport|date=16 February 2011}}</ref>
He was first included in an Everton matchday squad on 2 March 2013, remaining an unused substitute as they defeated reigning Reading 2–1 at Goodison Park. Tim Howard was injured,<ref name=woking/> so Springthorpe deputised for Ján Mucha.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Johnston|first1=Neil|title=Everton 2–1 Reading|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/21556702|access-date=9 April 2015|work=BBC Sport|date=2 March 2013}}</ref> A week later he was again on the bench as they lost 0–3 at home to Wigan Athletic in the sixth round of the FA Cup.<ref>{{cite news|last1=McNulty|first1=Phil|title=Everton 0–3 Wigan|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/21639357|access-date=9 April 2015|work=BBC Sport|date=9 March 2013}}</ref> On 16 March, his last call-up of the season, he was an unused substitute in a 2–0 home win over reigning league champions Manchester City.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Phillips|first1=Owen|title=Everton 2–0 Man City|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/21724274|access-date=9 April 2015|work=BBC Sport|date=16 March 2015}}</ref>
After his first season, Springthorpe toured the United States with Everton.<ref name=woking>{{cite news|title=Transfer window: Woking sign Everton's Mason Springthorpe|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/25818574|access-date=9 April 2015|work=BBC Sport|date=20 January 2014}}</ref> He was only in one matchday squad in the following season, a 2–1 home win over Southampton on 29 December.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Hassan|first1=Nabil|title=Everton 2–1 Southampton|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/25482673|access-date=9 April 2015|work=BBC Sport|date=29 December 2013}}</ref>
On 20 January 2014, he was loaned to Conference National team Woking for a month.<ref name=woking/> He made his competitive debut the following day, in a 0–1 defeat to Chester.<ref>{{cite news|title=Woking 0–1 Chester|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/25275845|access-date=9 April 2015|work=BBC Sport|date=21 January 2014}}</ref> On 25 January he played the only other game of his loan, a 2–2 draw with Lincoln City at Sincil Bank.<ref>{{cite news|title=Lincoln City 2–2 Woking|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/25790418|access-date=9 April 2015|work=BBC Sport|date=25 January 2015}}</ref> In May 2014, Springthorpe, who had been a regular for Everton's Under-21 team, was released by manager Roberto Martínez.
===Ellesmere and Fleetwood=== On 6 August, Springthorpe returned to his native Shropshire, signing for West Midlands League club Ellesmere Rangers on the day before the start of their season.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ex-Everton keeper Mason Springthorpe signs for Ellesmere Rangers|url=http://www.shropshirestar.com/sport/football/2014/08/06/ex-everton-keeper-mason-springthorpe-signs-for-ellesmere-rangers/|accessdate=9 April 2015|work=Shropshire Star|date=6 August 2014}}</ref>
He returned to the professional game on 3 January 2015, when he was signed for League One club Fleetwood Town by manager Graham Alexander. On the same day, he was an unused substitute for their 2–2 draw against Swindon Town at Highbury Stadium.<ref>{{cite news|title=Fleetwood 2–2 Swindon|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/30608783|access-date=9 April 2015|work=BBC Sport|date=3 January 2015}}</ref> On 7 May, having not made an appearance, Springthorpe was one of 14 players released by the Lancashire club.<ref>{{cite news|title=Fleetwood Town release 14 and offer six players new deals|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/32625385|access-date=13 May 2015|work=BBC Sport|date=7 May 2015}}</ref>
===Return to non-league=== Springthorpe then returned again to his home county, signing a one-year deal at Conference North club A.F.C. Telford United on.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bucks make three new signings|url=http://www.telfordunited.com/News.aspx?ID=531|publisher=A.F.C. Telford United|accessdate=22 May 2015}}{{Dead link|date=January 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> He moved to Northwich Victoria of the Northern Premier League Division One North on loan in September 2015, having not yet featured for his parent club that season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.telfordunited.com/(X(1)S(agmgt2tdbrr4mx0cqzrlhl3e))/News.aspx?ID=639|title=Player movements at the Bucks Head|publisher=AFC Telford United|accessdate=6 September 2015}}</ref> He transferred to them on a permanent basis the following month.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.evostikleague.co.uk/saturdays-transfer-list-26784|title=Confirmed player movements registered with the EVO-STIK Northern Premier League from Sunday 4 October to 11am on Saturday 10 October 2015.|publisher=Evo-Stik League|accessdate=11 October 2015}}</ref> On 5 December, he featured for them in the second round of the FA Cup away to League Two Northampton Town, conceding three goals in the final seven minutes of a 3–2 loss.<ref>{{cite news|title=Northampton 3–2 Northwich Victoria|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/34952309|access-date=13 December 2015|publisher=BBC Sport|date=5 December 2015}}</ref>
In November 2016 he joined Southport on dual registration terms,<ref>{{cite web|title=THE NATIONAL LEAGUE Southport Sign Keeper Cover|url=http://nonleague.pitchero.com/uncategorized/southport-sign-keeper-cover-51397/|publisher=Non-League Pitchero|accessdate=13 September 2017|date=25 November 2016}}</ref> and having made two first-team appearances he was released by the club in March 2017.<ref>{{cite web|title=THE NATIONAL LEAGUE Southport Sign Keeper Cover|url=http://nonleague.pitchero.com/uncategorized/preece-borrows-young-goalkeeper-53867/|publisher=Non-League Pitchero|accessdate=13 September 2017|date=25 November 2016}}</ref>
In June 2017 he joined Alfreton Town on a one-year contract.<ref>{{cite web|title=Three More Reds Signings|url=http://nonleague.pitchero.com/transfers/three-reds-signings/|publisher=Non-League Pitchero|accessdate=13 September 2017|date=16 June 2017}}</ref> In August, he signed for Sutton Coldfield Town on loan, which was extended for a second month in September.<ref>{{cite web|title=Preece Borrows Young Goalkeeper|url=http://nonleague.pitchero.com/headlines/defender-joins-reds-team-mate-sutton-coldfield/|publisher=Non-League Pitchero|accessdate=13 September 2017|date=3 March 2017}}</ref> He was released by mutual consent by Alfreton in October 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://nonleague.pitchero.com/headlines/alfreton-release-keeper-springthorpe/|title = Alfreton Release Keeper Springthorpe|date = 24 October 2017}}</ref>
After spells at A.F.C. Wulfrunians and Market Drayton Town, on 27 February 2019, Springthorpe joined North West Counties League Division One South club F.C. Oswestry Town.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Elwell |first1=Nick |title=Oswestry can draw comfort |url=https://www.shropshirestar.com/sport/grassroots/2019/03/04/oswestry-can-draw-comfort/ |accessdate=2 August 2019 |work=Shropshire Star |date=4 March 2019}}</ref>
After the club went out of business, Springthorpe signed for Shropshire County League side Shrewsbury Up & Comers, whom Springthorpe spent his youth career as a child with.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.facebook.com/Mensteamshrewsburyupandcomersfc/photos/a.169751867744105/342821920437098/?type=3 |title=Welcome Mason Springthorpe! |work=Shrewsbury Up & Comers FC via Facebook |date=24 August 2020}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20150416035045/http://www.fleetwoodtownfc.com/team/player-profile/mason-springthorpe/38 Profile] at Fleetwood Town *{{Soccerway|mason-springthorpe/116664}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Springthorpe, Mason}} Category:1994 births Category:Living people Category:Footballers from Shrewsbury Category:English men's footballers Category:Men's association football goalkeepers Category:Everton F.C. players Category:Woking F.C. players Category:Ellesmere Rangers F.C. players Category:Fleetwood Town F.C. players Category:AFC Telford United players Category:Northwich Victoria F.C. players Category:National League (English football) players Category:Northern Premier League players Category:Southport F.C. players Category:Alfreton Town F.C. players Category:Sutton Coldfield Town F.C. players Category:A.F.C. Wolverhampton City players Category:Market Drayton Town F.C. players Category:F.C. Oswestry Town players Category:21st-century English sportsmen