Jordan Slew

Having started his career as a youngster with the Sheffield United academy,[5] Slew made his first-team debut at the start of October 2010, coming on as an 86th-minute substitute in a 1–0 home defeat to Watford.[6] He then signed his first senior professional contract with Sheffield United at the start of November, a deal designed to tie him to the club until the summer of 2012.[3] After two further late-substitute appearances,[7][8] he made his first start for Sheffield United in April 2011, playing the whole game and scoring in a 3–1 defeat to Preston North End at Deepdale.[9] He made eight appearances in total for the club during the 2010–11 campaign, scoring twice.[10] As well as his breakthrough into the first-team, Slew also played an instrumental part in Sheffield United's run in the 2010–11 FA Youth Cup, where they reached the final before losing to Manchester United's Academy side over two legs.[11] Slew scored three goals during the cup run,[12][13] including a goal in the first leg of the final.[14]

By May 2011, a number of Premier League and Championship teams had enquired about acquiring Slew's services, with United turning down a £500,000 offer from Fulham.[15] Shortly after, Slew agreed an improved two-year deal to keep him at Bramall Lane until 2014.[16][17] He began the 2011–12 season as a first team regular, playing in all of United's games during that August, scoring once.[18]

Despite having only recently signed an extended deal with Sheffield United, Slew signed for Premier League side Blackburn Rovers on August transfer deadline day 2011.[5] Blackburn paid a fee of £1.1 million for the player,[5][19] with Slew signing a four-year contract.[5] Arriving as a squad player, Slew had to wait until December 2011 to make his debut for Blackburn, coming on as an 89th-minute substitute against Manchester United at Old Trafford.[20] Unable to achieve a regular place in the Blackburn first team, Slew joined League One side Stevenage on loan in March 2012,[21] agreeing a deal to run until the end of the 2011–12 season.[22][23] He made his debut for Stevenage a day after joining the club, playing in a 1–1 away draw against Exeter City.[24] During his fifth appearance for Stevenage, Slew received a straight red card for "inexplicably raising his arms" to Colchester United midfielder Anthony Wordsworth.[25] Slew returned to Ewood Park having played nine games for Stevenage, but failed to score a goal.[18]

With Blackburn now in the Championship, Slew was still unable to make the break into the first team and was instead loaned to League One side Oldham Athletic for six months in August 2012.[26] Slew scored on his Oldham debut, netting in a 2–4 League Cup loss to Sheffield Wednesday a week after signing.[27] After only four appearances for his temporary club, Slew suffered a stress fracture to his back and was sidelined for over three months, returning to Blackburn Rovers for treatment, and effectively ending his loan spell.[28] Having recovered from his injury, Slew signed a six-week loan deal with League Two side Rotherham United at the end of January 2013.[29] Slew's first appearance for Rotherham came just two days later, in a 3–1 win against promotion rivals Northampton Town,[30] and he played regularly for the duration of his loan spell, making seven appearances in total.[31] Despite Rotherham hoping to retain Slew's services until the end of the season,[32] they were unable to agree a deal with Blackburn Rovers, and Slew returned to Ewood Park once more.[33]

The following season, Slew failed to make a first team appearance for Blackburn and on 1 January 2014 he joined Scottish Premiership side Ross County on loan until the end of the season.[34] He made his debut that same day in the Highland derby with Inverness Caledonian Thistle at Caledonian Stadium, helping Derek Adams's "Staggies" to a 2–1 win.[34] He went on to make 20 appearances during his time at Victoria Park, and scored one goal in his final appearance, a 3–2 win over Partick Thistle on 10 May.[35]

After being transfer-listed at Blackburn, Slew agreed a loan move to Port Vale in summer 2014, though manager Micky Adams stated it was "a frustrating chase" as Rovers manager Gary Bowyer refused to sanction the loan agreement until he was sure that a permanent offer would not be made for the player.[36] A loan deal lasting until January 2015 was eventually agreed on 29 August,[37] and Slew scored his first goal for the Valiants on 6 September, netting a late consolation goal in a 3–1 defeat at Peterborough United.[38] On 4 October he was sent off in a 1–0 defeat at Fleetwood Town after striking an opposition player.[39] He failed to win back his first team spot after returning from suspension, and his loan deal was not extended by manager Rob Page. He had his contract with Blackburn terminated by mutual consent in January 2015.[40]

In February 2015, Slew signed an 18-month contract with League Two side Cambridge United.[41] He scored one goal in 13 games in the second half of the 2014–15 season, and was transfer listed in May by manager Richard Money after Slew admitted he was playing "nowhere near his best".[42] He failed to score in 12 appearances during the 2015–16 season and his contract with the club was cancelled by mutual consent on 1 February.[43]

Slew joined League One side Chesterfield on a short-term deal in February 2016, after manager Danny Wilson needed cover for injured strikers Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and Lee Novak.[44][45] He was released at the end of the 2015–16 season having made just seven substitute appearances for the club.[46]

In July 2016, Slew signed a one-year contract with League Two club Plymouth Argyle.[47] He scored his first goal for Plymouth in a 4–1 win over Newport County in an EFL Trophy match on 30 August 2016.[48] He went on to score six goals in 40 appearances across the 2016–17 campaign as the "Pilgrims" secured promotion with a second-place finish; despite this however, he was released in May 2017.[49]

On 12 September 2017, Slew joined League One club Rochdale on a short-term deal after spending what he called "a rough couple of months" without a club.[50][51] He made his debut later the same day as a second-half substitute in a 2–1 victory over Doncaster Rovers at Spotland Stadium.[52] Slew left Rochdale in January 2018 when his contract expired.

Slew joined Northern Premier League Division One North club Radcliffe in January 2018.[53] He made his "Boro" debut in a 1–1 draw with Atherton Collieries on 5 February.[54] Radcliffe finished the 2017–18 season in 20th-place under the stewardship of Jon Macken. On 12 October 2018, Slew joined Boston United of the National League North, making his début for the club in a 4–0 win over Blyth Spartans at York Street the following day.[55][56] He scored two goals in 13 league appearances during the 2018–19 season. On 1 October 2019, he joined Ashton United of the Northern Premier League Premier Division.[57]

On 2 January 2020, Slew secured a return to the English Football League after signing for League Two side Morecambe; he was one of Derek Adams's first signings as "Shrimps" manager.[58] He featured 11 times before the 2019–20 season was curtailed early due to the COVID-19 pandemic in England.[59] He went on to agree to a new deal to keep him at the Globe Arena for another year.[60]