Anthony Daniel Wordsworth (born 3 January 1989) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Maldon & Tiptree.
He started his career at Colchester United where he graduated from the youth system to the first team, making nearly 200 appearances in an eight-year spell with the club.
Born in Camden, London, Wordsworth is a product of the Colchester United youth system, and was handed a professional contract at the end of the 2006âÂÂ07 season. He made his senior debut when appearing as a substitute in a League Cup defeat at Shrewsbury Town on 14 August 2007. His league debut came seven months later as a late substitute in a 1âÂÂ1 home draw against Cardiff City. He made his first senior start three days later in a home defeat to Hull City.
Wordsworth signed a three-year contract extension in August 2008 after finishing as top-scorer during pre-season and a recent run in the first team. Wordsworth scored his first goal for the club in a 4âÂÂ3 away defeat to Cheltenham Town on 11 October 2008, and his second goal doubled United's lead to make the score 2âÂÂ0. He scored his third goal of the season in a 3âÂÂ3 away draw against local rivals Southend United on 1 November 2008. Colchester manager Paul Lambert praised Wordsworth's goal saying it was a "terrific header, terrific cross in the first place".
A free kick specialist, Wordsworth put Colchester ahead in a 2âÂÂ1 defeat away to Millwall on 31 October 2009 when he scored from a free kick. He scored a header against Brighton & Hove Albion in a 2âÂÂ1 win on 11 December 2009 to take Colchester third in League One. Wordsworth again scored against Essex rivals Southend in a 2âÂÂ1 away win, scoring the winner when he curled in a 20-yard free kick on 26 December 2009, before scoring again three days later at home to Southampton in a 2âÂÂ1 win. He scored a double against Southend United on 8 February 2010 in a 2âÂÂ0 home victory to ensure he had scored in the last three meetings between the two sides and he scored four days later in a 2âÂÂ2 away draw with Stockport County. He scored in a 3âÂÂ3 home draw with Brentford on 23 March 2010. Wordsworth scored another double in a comprehensive 3âÂÂ0 win over Swindon Town on 10 April 2010. He scored a goal from 18-yards in a 1âÂÂ1 draw against Tranmere Rovers on 24 April 2010. Wordsworth finished with 11 league goals for the 2009âÂÂ10 season, even with Colchester winning just once in the final 13 games of the season.
Wordsworth opened his 2010âÂÂ11 season with two goals in a 2âÂÂ2 opening day away draw with Exeter City, with goals in the 10th and 11th minute, the second a free kick. He then scored in a 3âÂÂ1 home win over Tranmere on 25 September 2010. He scored on New Years Day 2011 in a 3âÂÂ3 home draw against Charlton Athletic. This was to be his last goal of the season. Wordsworth signed a new two-and-a-half-year deal with the club, having scored five goals in 18 appearances in the 2010âÂÂ11 season and reaching double goalscoring figures in the previous season.
Wordsworth scored the first goal of the 2011âÂÂ12 League One season with a goal from inside the six-yard box in the 11th minute of a 4âÂÂ2 away win over Preston on the opening day of the season. He scored twice as Colchester trounced Oldham 4âÂÂ1 for their first home win of the season on 27 August 2011. Wordsworth scored from close range in a 1âÂÂ1 home draw with Leyton Orient on 10 September 2011. Three days later, Wordsworth scored an injury-time free-kick against Brentford for ten-man Colchester in another 1âÂÂ1 draw. He then scored a winning penalty against Walsall in a 1âÂÂ0 victory on 24 September 2011. He scored another free-kick against Notts County in a 4âÂÂ2 win on 29 October 2011. He again scored the only goal in an away win over Hartlepool United on 17 December 2011 and then scored a goal in Colchester's 2âÂÂ0 win over Exeter on 31 December. He scored a late header to rescue one point against Oldham in a 1âÂÂ1 away draw on 28 February 2012 and scored a 5th minute curling effort against table-topping Charlton in a 2âÂÂ0 win one week later. He fired in a long range shot in a 3âÂÂ1 away defeat to Walsall on 27 March 2012. In the final game of the 2011âÂÂ12 season, Wordsworth scored a 90th minute consolation goal from 18-yards to bring his goal tally for the season to 13 against Notts County in a 4âÂÂ1 loss.
Wordsworth scored his first goal of the 2012âÂÂ13 campaign with an 87th minute equalising penalty against Crawley Town on 18 September to lift Colchester from the bottom of the League One table. Captaining the team, he scored his second goal of the campaign in a 2âÂÂ0 away defeat of Leyton Orient on 23 October, drilling home a Gavin Massey pass. His third came as the opening goal in a 2âÂÂ0 victory against Bury on 17 November 2012.
Wordsworth joined Ipswich Town on 30 January 2013 for ã100,000 on a two-and-a-half-year deal, with the option of an additional year. On his full debut for the club, Wordsworth cracked three vertebrae in a collision with Blackpool goalkeeper Matt Gilks and was forced to spend the weekend in hospital. He scored his first goal for the club in the defeat to Hull City on 13 April 2013, his first game back after that injury. He was released by the club at the end of the 2014âÂÂ15 season.
On 22 August 2014, Wordsworth completed a half-season loan move to Rotherham United. He scored once for Rotherham in a 3âÂÂ2 defeat to Bolton Wanderers.
On 15 January 2015, Wordsworth joined Crawley Town on a three-month loan.
In July 2015 Wordsworth signed a two-year contract at Southend United. At the end of the 2017âÂÂ18 season he was released by the club.
On 12 July 2018, Wordsworth signed for AFC Wimbledon. He was released at the end of the 2019âÂÂ20 season following the end of his contract.
On 13 November 2020, Wordsworth signed for Barnet on a contract until the end of the season. After 19 appearances he left the club following the expiry of his contract.
Following his release from Barnet, Wordsworth joined League of Ireland Premier Division side Waterford on 9 July 2021. On 5 November 2021, Wordsworth was struck by a firework in a game against Shamrock Rovers, resulting in treatment, before the game continued after a stoppage. He made a total of 17 appearances in all competitions over the season, scoring 5 goals as they were relegated to the League of Ireland First Division. On 17 January 2022, he signed a new contract with the club for the 2022 season.
Wordsworth signed for National League South side Cheshunt ahead of the 2022âÂÂ23 season. On 24 September 2022, he made his league debut in a 4âÂÂ3 home defeat to Tonbridge Angels, in which he started the game. Wordsworth was replaced at half-time by Reece Beckles-Richards, who went on to score Cheshunt's third goal of the game. A mixture of lack of fitness and the club's wage bill saw Wordsworth released from the club within a week of his debut.
Wordsworth signed for Isthmian League Premier Division side Enfield Town on 5 November 2022.
On 23 May 2023, Wordsworth stepped back up to the National League South, signing for Chelmsford City. On 8 May 2024, Chelmsford announced Wordsworth had left the club.
On 13 June 2024, Maldon & Tiptree announced Wordsworth had signed for the club in a player-coach capacity.
He graduated in 2022 from Staffordshire University with a First class degree in Professional Sports Writing and Broadcasting.