contract. His stay with Bradford City lasted just a solitary season before he joined newly promoted Chester City. He endured a turbulent spell with the League Two club, where he was taken off the transfer list in July 2006 after appearing to patch up his differences with manager Mark Wright. After failing to regain his place in the team, he left the club in October 2006. In 2010, Branch was set to start playing for Burscough F.C. in the Northern Premier League Personal life On 10 July 2012, Branch was arrested by officers of the Serious Organised Crime Agency. At a later trial at Chester Crown Court, Branch admitted charges of possession with intent to supply class A and class B drugs. One charge related to the handover of just under of amphetamine to another man in a Liverpool car park in March 2012; a second charge related to the seizure of of cocaine from his home address in Otterspool, Liverpool in July 2012. On 8 November 2012, Branch was jailed for seven years. His appeal against sentence was dismissed, on 14 February 2013, by three judges at the Court of Appeal. He was eventually released after three years, and in September 2016 was training to become an accountant. References External links 1978 births Living people English footballers England under-21 international footballers Association football forwards Premier League players English Football League players National League (English football) players Everton F.C. players Manchester City F.C. players Birmingham City F.C. players Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. players Reading F.C. players Hull City A.F.C. players Bradford City A.F.C. players Chester City F.C. players Halifax Town A.F.C. players Burscough F.C. players Footballers from Liverpool Prisoners and detainees of England and Wales English drug traffickers English prisoners and detainees English people convicted of drug offences