Chris Hargreaves
Encyclopedia
Christian "Chris" Hargreaves (born 12 May 1972) is a former English
footballer who played as a forward and a midfielder
from 1989 until 2010.
, North East Lincolnshire
, and went to school at Lindsey School in Cleethorpes. He began his football career as a trainee with Grimsby Town
in June 1988, turning professional in December 1989. He had a loan spell with Scarborough
in March 1993, before leaving Grimsby to join Hull City
in July 1993 for a fee of £50,000.
He moved to West Bromwich Albion
on a free transfer in July 1995, but made just two first team appearances for the Baggies (both as a substitute). He joined Hereford United
on loan in February 1996 until the end of the season when he moved to Hereford on a free transfer. His next move was in July 1998 when he joined Plymouth Argyle
on a free transfer. He was a regular in the Argyle side, leaving to join Northampton Town
on a free transfer in June 2000. He was Northampton's player of the year in the 2001-02 season, signing a new two-year contract in July 2002.
Hargreaves made over 150 league appearances for Northampton, leaving to join Brentford
in June 2004. Hargreaves joined Oxford United
on free transfer in July 2005, remaining with Oxford after their relegation to the Conference in 2006. He was released by Oxford in May 2007, signing for newly relegated Torquay United
the following month. On 17 May 2009, he scored Torquay's first goal as he captained them in a 2–0 victory over Cambridge United
in the Conference National
play-off final at Wembley. The victory earned them promotion to The Football League
.
In January 2010 Hargreaves completed a return to Oxford United, where he won promotion out of the Conference for the second successive season.
, Devon
, called, "Chris Hargreaves Sports Republic". He has also written a biography, "Where's your Caravan?" published in August 2011.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
footballer who played as a forward and a midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
from 1989 until 2010.
Career
Hargreaves was born in CleethorpesCleethorpes
Cleethorpes is a town and unparished area in North East Lincolnshire, England, situated on the estuary of the Humber. It has a population of 31,853 and is a seaside resort.- History :...
, North East Lincolnshire
North East Lincolnshire
North East Lincolnshire is a unitary authority in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, bordering the unitary authority of North Lincolnshire and the administrative county of Lincolnshire...
, and went to school at Lindsey School in Cleethorpes. He began his football career as a trainee with Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
in June 1988, turning professional in December 1989. He had a loan spell with Scarborough
Scarborough F.C.
Scarborough Football Club was an English football club based in the seaside resort of Scarborough, North Yorkshire. They were one of the oldest football clubs in England, formed in 1879, before they were wound up on 20 June 2007, with debts of £2.5 million.In the 2006–07 season...
in March 1993, before leaving Grimsby to join Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
in July 1993 for a fee of £50,000.
He moved to West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
on a free transfer in July 1995, but made just two first team appearances for the Baggies (both as a substitute). He joined Hereford United
Hereford United F.C.
Hereford United Football Club is an English professional football club based in the city of Hereford. Founded in 1924, they are competing in Football League Two in the 2011–12 season. Hereford have played at Edgar Street for their entire history and are nicknamed 'The Whites' or 'The Lilywhites',...
on loan in February 1996 until the end of the season when he moved to Hereford on a free transfer. His next move was in July 1998 when he joined Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
on a free transfer. He was a regular in the Argyle side, leaving to join Northampton Town
Northampton Town F.C.
Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season...
on a free transfer in June 2000. He was Northampton's player of the year in the 2001-02 season, signing a new two-year contract in July 2002.
Hargreaves made over 150 league appearances for Northampton, leaving to join Brentford
Brentford F.C.
Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One....
in June 2004. Hargreaves joined Oxford United
Oxford United F.C.
Oxford United Football Club is an English association football club based in Oxford, Oxfordshire. The club play in League Two, following promotion from the Conference National in May 2010. The club had been a non-League side since their relegation from the Football League in the 2005–06 season. The...
on free transfer in July 2005, remaining with Oxford after their relegation to the Conference in 2006. He was released by Oxford in May 2007, signing for newly relegated Torquay United
Torquay United F.C.
Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...
the following month. On 17 May 2009, he scored Torquay's first goal as he captained them in a 2–0 victory over Cambridge United
Cambridge United F.C.
Cambridge United Football Club is a professional football club from Cambridge, England. They are currently playing the 2011-2012 season in the Conference National, the fifth tier of the English league system, where they have competed since 2005 following their relegation from the Football League...
in the Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
play-off final at Wembley. The victory earned them promotion to The Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
.
In January 2010 Hargreaves completed a return to Oxford United, where he won promotion out of the Conference for the second successive season.
After football
In 2011, Hargreaves opened a sports shop in SidmouthSidmouth
Sidmouth is a small town on the English Channel coast in Devon, South West England. The town lies at the mouth of the River Sid in the East Devon district, south east of Exeter. It has a population of about 15,000, of whom 40% are over 65....
, Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, called, "Chris Hargreaves Sports Republic". He has also written a biography, "Where's your Caravan?" published in August 2011.