With Boro’ up against it with injuries and international call-ups, Mackye Townsend-West took his first step up from the U18s in November 2019. The young defender got a spot on the bench for our FA Cup First Round replay at Peterborough United. While he didn’t see any action in that game, the fact he was there shows that gaffer (at the time) Mark Sampson saw something in him. And that something meant he deserved to be there. Time was still very much on his side too; the path to the first team still open as he continued to develop. And we are keen to see how that goes; looking forward to the lad’s next chance to shine.

In the early stages of the 2022-3 campaign, Townsend-West got a chance to gain first team action on a more regular basis when he joined St Albans City on loan. As the player gained experience, however, Boro’ were on the path to League One. And with promotion at the end of the campaign, boss Steve Evans made the decision  that Townsend-West’s future lay away from the Lamex; the defender one of four young pros let go in summer 2023 to build his career elsewhere.