Karl Matthew Broadhurst (born 18 March 1980) is an English former footballer who played as a central defender. He played in the Football League with AFC Bournemouth and Hereford United, and in non-League with Crawley Town, AFC Telford United and Solihull Moors.
The 2003–04 season saw Broadhurst make 44 appearances as captain of the first team, and the first half of the following season was also trouble-free. In February 2005 he was sidelined with a recurring back problem which meant he missed an entire year of first team football, not playing for the first team again until February 2006. After making 30 appearances during the 2006–07 season, his contract was not renewed and he left Bournemouth on 8 May 2007, after a fourteen-year association with the club.
On 4 July 2007, he signed for Hereford United. Three New Players And Beckwith Re-signs Hereford United official site, 4 July 2007. He was also made captain for the 2007–08 season.
After a good start to the 2007–08 season at the heart of the Hereford defence, Broadhurst suffered an ankle injury in the FA Cup against Leeds United. He returned for the run-in as Hereford gained promotion to Football League One. Despite missing the opening matches of the following season with a dislocated shoulder, he re-established himself as first choice centre back. At the end of the season he was released by Hereford after two seasons at the club.
After a trial at his former club Bournemouth, he joined Crawley Town at the start of the 2009–10 season. He was released by Crawley at the end of the season as his contract was not renewed.
In the 2010 close season, Karl signed for Conference North side AFC Telford United but left without making any senior appearances in August due to work commitments.
In July 2011, Broadhurst signed for Solihull Moors. In July 2013, he retired from playing but continued in his role as assistant manager. He left Solihull by mutual consent at the end of the 2013–14 season.
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | |||
AFC Bournemouth | Second Division | 1999–00 | 0 |
Second Division | 2000–01 | 0 | |
Second Division | 2001–02 | 0 | |
Third Division | 2002–03 | 2 | |
Second Division | 2003–04 | 1 | |
League One | 2004–05 | 2 | |
League One | 2005–06 | 0 | |
League One | 2006–07 | 0 | |
Hereford United | League Two | 2007–08 | 0 |
League One | 2008–09 | 1 | |
Crawley Town | Conference National | 2009–10 | 0 |
Solihull Moors | Conference North | 2011–12 | 0 |
Conference North | 2012–13 | 0 | |
|
|