Michael John Twiss (born 26 December 1977) is an English former footballer who played as a midfielder. He scored 95 goals in 458 competitive matches in a 15-year career.
Beginning his career with Manchester United, he enjoyed a loan spell with Sheffield United, without ever making a league appearance for the "Red Devils". He signed with Port Vale in July 2000, moving on to non-League Leigh RMI a year later. In 2002, he transferred to Chester City, joining Morecambe two years later. He won promotion into the English Football League with both clubs, helping Chester to the Conference title in 2003–04 and playing for the "Shrimps" in their play-off final success in 2007. After six years with Morecambe, he moved on to Altrincham via Stalybridge Celtic in 2010.
Career
Manchester United
Born in Salford, Greater Manchester, Twiss was signed as a trainee at Manchester United in July 1994, but despite turning professional two years later and being a regular in the reserve team from 1997 to 2000, he failed to make the grade at Old Trafford. On 25 February 1998, he made his debut for the first team, coming on as a 79th-minute substitute in the 3–2 defeat to Barnsley in the FA Cup fifth round replay at Oakwell. He won the Denzil Haroun Reserve Team Player of the Year award for the 1997–98 season. Twiss made his first start for United on 13 October 1999, playing 73 minutes in the 3–0 defeat at Aston Villa in the League Cup third round, before being replaced by Richie Wellens. This turned out to be his last appearance for the club and ,he was released at the end of the 1999–2000 season. He had a trial at Norwich City in February 2000 after being recommended by Philip Mulryne, but was not offered a contract by manager Bruce Rioch despite scoring in his second reserve team trial game. He later had trials at Preston North End and Tranmere Rovers.
Sheffield United (loan) He spent most of the 1998–99 season on loan with Sheffield United in the First Division. His first senior goal came on 28 December, scoring a late winner over Huddersfield Town in a 2–1 victory at Bramall Lane. He returned to Manchester United in March 1999, having only started four games for the Blades, coming on as a substitute 13 times.
Port Vale
In July 2000 he signed a one-month deal with Brian Horton's Port Vale, after impressing on trial. A regular at the start of the 2000–01 season, he fell out of favour in October. He played in Vale's FA Cup exit to Canvey Island of the Isthmian League on 28 November, before being put up for sale the next month. With no takers, he was a semi-regular at Vale Park for the rest of the season. He was on the bench for the Football League Trophy final at Millennium Stadium, as the "Valiants" recorded a 2–1 win over Brentford.
Leigh RMI
He joined Football Conference club Leigh RMI in time for the start of the 2001–02 season. There, Twiss found himself at a more comfortable level and had a successful season at the club, scoring 15 goals in 34 games, becoming the club's top scorer.
Chester City
He joined Conference rivals Chester City for the 2001–02 season. He had a quiet season in 2002–03, but did make 36 appearances in all competitions. He did not play in either leg of the play-off semi-final defeat to Doncaster Rovers. The 2003–04 season saw Chester promoted as champions, Twiss scoring six goals in 31 games despite being absent in manager Mark Wright's first-team plans from October to January. In January 2004 Morecambe offered Chester £5,000 for his services, but the deal did not go through.