BORN in Middlesbrough and signed as a professional by his hometown team in 2000. He had a successful loan spell at Gateshead during the tail end of the 2001-02 season, followed by a brief period at Darlington on loan in 2002, after Mick Tait brought him in during a keeping crisis.

In August 2003, he was sent to Scunthorpe United on loan, where he stayed for three months and made 10 appearances. Finally leaving Middlesbrough in the summer of 2004, moving to Darlington on a permanent basis.

He was brought to Darlington by David Hodgson in August 2004. With the retirement of goalkeeping legend Andy Collett, the club only had two goalkeepers on their books in Michael Price and youth team player Jack Norton. Russell was a target for Hodgson after he heard that Middlesbrough were releasing the youngster.

Initially it was thought Russell would be number two to Price, but performances during pre-season meant that Russell got the nod. Assistant manager Mark Proctor said that both Price and Russell were of virtual equal quality but Russell's distribution was slightly better.

In the opening game of the 2004-05 season Russell made his mark with a superb performance which earned him the man of the match. His superb saves kept Darlington in the game and meant Darlington hung on to an opening day victory. An ever-present in the first team in the 2004-2005 season, and signed a new two-year contract in July 2005.

He seemed to have established himself as the number one until just before the start of the 2007-08 season, when they brought in keeper Andy Oakes. With David Stockdale also in the squad, Russell was unable to get a game and he left the club in June 2007 after three years in which he made 107 league appearances.

A month later he signed for Rochdale, making his first start for the club in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy 2nd round tie against Bury in October 2007. Following an injury to regular custodian James Spencer, Russell was next called upon in the FA Cup defeat at Southend United.

He retained his place in the side and in December 2007 signed a contract until the end of the season, having initially been on non-contract terms. A broken finger in a 2-1 defeat at Lincoln City in February 2008 kept him to be out of action until April.

In the 2008-09 season, Russell was handed the number one shirt for Rochdale, but in the February he was replaced by Blackburn loanee Frank Fielding after James Spencer was loaned out to Chester City.

After being released by Rochdale at the end of the season, Russell signed for the Reds after impressing on trial.