Former Football League and Scottish Premier League player Lionel Ainsworth has joined Aveley Football Club as a Player / Assistant Manager ahead of the upcoming 2023/24 season.

Lionel, 35, started his career at Derby County and made his debut in a 1-0 victory over Plymouth Argyle in the Sky Bet Championship. Lionel went on to play on loan at AFC Bournemouth, Halifax Town, where he scored his first senior goal against York City, and then Wycombe Wanderers in League Two.

In 2007/08, Ainsworth joined Hereford United permantely and scored his first senior hat-trick in the League Cup in a 4-1 victory over Yeovil Town. Lionel's last game for Hereford saw his score a winner against Leeds United in the FA Cup First Round.

Ainsworth got himself a move to Watford and then Hudderfield on a 2-and-a-half-year-deal, following his spell at The Terriers, Lionel joined Shrewsbury Town and scored 11 goals in 54 appearances helping The Shrews to wins over Derby County and Premier League side Swansea City in the League Cup.

Following this Ainsworth made the switch to Scottish Premier League side to Motherwell permantley after an initial loan deal. Lionel went on to score his first European goal in the Europa League away at Icelandic side Stjarnan. In 2015, he scored in both legs against Rangers seeing Motherwell beat the Scottish Giants 6-1 on aggregate to retain their place in the Scottish top flight.

From 2017 to 2019, Lionel played for Plymouth Argyle before joininig Weymouth, Dulwich Hamlet, Welling United, Braintree Town.

For Heybridge Swifts, Lionel ainsworth was The Swifts top goal scorer with 17 goals, with one of them coming against Aveley in a 2-2 draw at Parkside. Then last season Lionel joined AFC Sudbury and featured 29 times, helping AFC to promotion via the play-offs.

Lionel now joins The Millers ahead of our National South campaign as Player / Assistant Manager.

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