Born in Derby, Derbyshire,[1] Hanson had extensive reserve team experience and made his debut for the reserve team whilst a schoolboy. Hanson's first taste of the first-team at Derby was appearing as an unused substitute in the 5–0 defeat away to Reading in April 2006.[2] Hanson, who graduated through the academy, signed his first professional contract with Derby in June 2007.[3] After struggling to break into Paul Jewell's first-team, Hanson joined League One strugglers Port Vale on a season-long loan, despite struggling with a calf injury.[4] He returned to Derby in April 2008, without making a first-team appearance for the "Valiants".[5]
He made his first-team debut for Derby as an 89th-minute substitute in a 4–1 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion on 4 November 2008.[6] and joined Notts County on a months loan in November 2008.[7] He returned to Derby County on New Years Day 2009, after having appeared in five league games for the "Magpies"[8] He signed a new two-year deal with the "Rams" in January 2009.[9]
Early in the 2009–10 season, Hanson sustained a dislocatedkneecap which ruled him out of contention for a year, eventually resuming full training in late September 2010.[10] He returned to action with a 60-minute appearance in the reserves 3–1 defeat at Rotherham United the following month.[11] After failing to break into the first-team picture, Hanson's Derby contract was cancelled by mutual consent five months early in January 2011.[12] He played for Oxford United reserves on trial in February 2011.[13][14][15] Two months later he signed a contract until the end of the season;[16][17] he made two substitute appearances for the club and was not offered a new contract in the summer.[18]
He signed with Gresley of Northern Premier League Division One South in September 2013.[21] He helped the "Moatmen" to a ninth-place finish in 2013–14. He became Gresley's first choice penalty taker in the 2014–15 season and successfully converted the first five penalties of the season. Gresley reached the play-off semi-finals in 2015, losing to Leek Town.[22] He retired in September 2015 due to injury.
International career
Hanson has played for England at under-18 level, showing his versatility by adapting to a holding midfielder role rather than his preferred position in defence.
Career statistics
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition