Joel Byrom

 ( 1986 Births ) 

Following his release from Accrington, Byrom joined Northern Premier League First Division club Clitheroe on a short-term contract in January 2007. He finished the 2006–07 season as the club's top goalscorer with 11 league goals, including a hat-trick against Kidsgrove Athletic on 12 March 2007. After his contract expired, he signed with Conference North club Southport on non-contract terms for the 2007–08 season, scoring twice in two appearances. Although offered a contract by Southport, Byrom returned to Clitheroe in August 2007 on a two-year deal. He credited the club with revitalising his career, while Clitheroe chairman Carl Garner stated: "It is one of the biggest signings the club has made. He's a special player and a special talent". In the first half of the 2007–08 season, Byrom scored six goals in all competitions, attracting transfer interest from Conference Premier team Northwich Victoria. He made his final appearance for Clitheroe in a 3–3 draw with local rivals Rossendale United, captaining the team for the first time.

Following a 4–1 defeat to Eastbourne Borough in December 2008, Byrom underwent a hernia operation that kept him out of the first team for ten weeks. He returned in February 2009 and played regularly for the remainder of the season, recording his second career hat-trick in a 4–2 victory against Rushden & Diamonds on 28 March 2009. Despite winning their final six matches, Northwich were relegated from the Conference Premier in April 2009. During his time at Northwich, he made 52 appearances and scored nine goals.

Byrom started in Stevenage's first Football League match, a 2–2 home draw against Macclesfield Town on 7 August 2010. After playing the entirety of a 1–0 defeat to Cheltenham Town on 11 September 2010, he suffered a series of injuries that kept him out of the first team for five months. He returned on 8 February 2011, coming on as an 89th-minute substitute in a 3–0 defeat at Bury. Byrom scored his first goal of the season in Stevenage's 2–0 home victory against former club Accrington in the League Two play-off semi-final first leg, reaching the ball ahead of goalkeeper Alex Cisak to double the lead. He started in the final, a 1–0 victory against Torquay United at Old Trafford, securing back-to-back promotions to League One. Byrom made 12 appearances during the season, scoring once.

Byrom scored his first goal of the 2011–12 season in Stevenage's 6–1 away victory against Colchester United on 26 December 2011. He scored in the club's fifth round FA Cup tie away at Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur on 8 March 2012, converting a penalty to give Stevenage the lead in an eventual 3–1 defeat. He added two further goals late in the season: in a 2–2 draw at Sheffield United and in a 3–0 victory over Bury on the final day of the regular season, helping Stevenage secure sixth place and a place in the play-offs. He played in both semi-final legs, which Stevenage lost 1–0 on aggregate to Sheffield United. He made 40 appearances during the season, scoring five goals. Despite playing regularly under new manager Gary Smith, Byrom declined the offer of a contract extension and left the club on 25 May 2012. During his three-year spell at Stevenage, he made 98 appearances in all competitions, scoring 11 goals.

Byrom remained at Preston for the start of the 2013–14 season, making his first appearance as an 82nd-minute substitute and scoring five minutes later in a 4–4 draw away at Coventry City on 25 August 2013. He signed a one-year contract extension on 7 December 2013, keeping him contracted to the club until summer 2015. Despite the extension, Byrom did not play again for Preston and joined fellow League One club Oldham Athletic on an emergency loan on 14 March 2014 until the end of the season. He made his debut the following day, playing the full match in a 1–1 draw at Crewe Alexandra. His loan spell was disrupted by injury, limiting him to four appearances during the two-month spell before returning to Preston in May 2014.