Chris Perry (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Christopher John "Chris" Perry (born 26 April 1973 in Carshalton
, Greater London
) is a former English
footballer. He was a defender
and retired from the game after having been released from Southampton
.
, the team he supported as a boy, and grew up within walking distance of the club's ground at Plough Lane
. He debuted in the early 1990s and went on to make over 200 appearances for the club. Such was his form, he was tipped by Manchester United
manager Alex Ferguson
and Crazy Gang
boss Joe Kinnear
to play for England
.
Perry moved from South to North London in July 1999, joining Tottenham Hotspur
for a fee of £4,000,000. When teammate Sol Campbell
moved to Arsenal
, Perry became a first choice member of the team from the 2001–02
season, until he lost his place in the team in January 2003, after incurring a slipped disk
. Three months later and upon his return he found himself amongst emerging youth players Ledley King
and Anthony Gardner
, and joined Charlton Athletic
on loan in September 2003.
Having impressed, his move was made permanent by Alan Curbishley
in November 2003, after a £100,000 fee was agreed. Charlton were sitting in fourth place in the league at the time. He subsequently featured frequently in the league in the following two seasons and became an important part of the squad. When Iain Dowie
replaced Curbishley as manager in May 2006, Perry was released from the club.
He moved to West Bromwich Albion
in July 2006, and made his debut a month later in a 2–0 win over Hull City
. He helped the club reach the play-off final in the 2006–07
season. Perry criticised Derby County
, who beat Albion in the final, predicting "they will come straight back down" from the Premier League. After being released by West Brom, having failed to make an agreed number of appearances to earn a new contract, Perry joined League One
team Luton Town
in July 2007.
Perry scored his first goal for Luton in a 2–1 home win over Nottingham Forest
on 27 October 2007. His performance in the match earned him a place in the League One Team of the Week.
On 27 March 2008 he joined Southampton
on loan for the rest of the season as a replacement for Andrew Davies
, who broke his cheekbone and was ruled out for the remainder of the season. He was expected to go straight into the squad and make his debut against Cardiff City
on 29 March. His performance in the 2–0 home win against Bristol City
on 5 April 2008 saw him named in the Championship Team of the Week. On 6 June 2008 he joined Southampton on a free transfer. He scored his first goal for the club in the 2–1 home defeat to Birmingham City
in August 2008.
On 15 May 2010, Perry was named in a list of 13 players to be released from Southampton before the start of the 2010–11 season.
Carshalton
Carshalton is a suburban area of the London Borough of Sutton, England. It is located 10 miles south-southwest of Charing Cross, situated in the valley of the River Wandle, one of the sources of which is Carshalton Ponds in the centre of the village. The combined population of the five wards...
, Greater London
Greater London
Greater London is the top-level administrative division of England covering London. It was created in 1965 and spans the City of London, including Middle Temple and Inner Temple, and the 32 London boroughs. This territory is coterminate with the London Government Office Region and the London...
) is a former English
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. He was a defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
and retired from the game after having been released from Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
.
Football career
Perry started his career with WimbledonWimbledon F.C.
Wimbledon Football Club was an English professional association football club from Wimbledon, south-west London. Founded in 1889 as Wimbledon Old Central Football Club, the club spent most of its history in amateur and semi-professional non-League football before being elected to the Football...
, the team he supported as a boy, and grew up within walking distance of the club's ground at Plough Lane
Plough Lane
Plough Lane was a football stadium in Wimbledon, south west London. It was the home ground of Wimbledon Football Club from September 1912 to May 1991, when the club moved their first team home matches to Selhurst Park as part of a groundshare agreement with Crystal Palace. Both clubs' reserve teams...
. He debuted in the early 1990s and went on to make over 200 appearances for the club. Such was his form, he was tipped by Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
manager Alex Ferguson
Alex Ferguson
Sir Alexander Chapman "Alex" Ferguson, CBE is a Scottish association football manager and former player, currently managing Manchester United, where he has been in charge since 1986...
and Crazy Gang
Crazy Gang
The Crazy Gang is a nickname used by the English media to describe Wimbledon F.C. during the 1980s and the 1990s.The name, originally that of a well known group of British comedy entertainers popular in the late 1930s, was used because of the often eccentric and boisterously macho behaviour of...
boss Joe Kinnear
Joe Kinnear
Joseph Patrick "Joe" Kinnear is an Irish football manager and former player. He was most recently the manager of Newcastle United....
to play for England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
.
Perry moved from South to North London in July 1999, joining Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
for a fee of £4,000,000. When teammate Sol Campbell
Sol Campbell
Sulzeer Jeremiah "Sol" Campbell is an English footballer who is currently a free agent. A central defender, Campbell has played for Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, Portsmouth, Notts County and Newcastle United, as well as the English national team.Born in East London to Jamaican parents, Campbell's...
moved to Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
, Perry became a first choice member of the team from the 2001–02
2001-02 in English football
The 2001-02 season was the 122nd season of competitive football in England.-Arsenal cruise to title glory:In what had earlier been one of the most closely fought Premiership title races for years, Arsenal won the championship by seven points. Their crown was won in the penultimate game of the...
season, until he lost his place in the team in January 2003, after incurring a slipped disk
Spinal disc herniation
A spinal disc herniation , informally and misleadingly called a "slipped disc", is a medical condition affecting the spine due to trauma, lifting injuries, or idiopathic, in which a tear in the outer, fibrous ring of an intervertebral disc allows the soft, central portion A spinal disc herniation...
. Three months later and upon his return he found himself amongst emerging youth players Ledley King
Ledley King
Ledley Brenton King is an English footballer who plays for Tottenham Hotspur. He is the longest serving player at the club and captained Spurs since 2005. He is currently contracted to Tottenham until 2012...
and Anthony Gardner
Anthony Gardner
Anthony Gardner is an England international football defender, who plays for Crystal Palace. A tall centre-back, he has represented England and been bought and sold for millions in the domestic transfer market...
, and joined Charlton Athletic
Charlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
on loan in September 2003.
Having impressed, his move was made permanent by Alan Curbishley
Alan Curbishley
Llewellyn Charles "Alan" Curbishley is an English football manager and former professional player....
in November 2003, after a £100,000 fee was agreed. Charlton were sitting in fourth place in the league at the time. He subsequently featured frequently in the league in the following two seasons and became an important part of the squad. When Iain Dowie
Iain Dowie
Iain Dowie is a former footballer and manager. He is currently without a club. He has previously managed Hull City and Queens Park Rangers and was assistant manager of Newcastle United...
replaced Curbishley as manager in May 2006, Perry was released from the club.
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...
in July 2006, and made his debut a month later in a 2–0 win over 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...
. He helped the club reach the play-off final in the 2006–07
2006-07 in English football
The 2006–07 season was the 127th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* The number of divisions at Level 8 of the English football league system increased from four to five...
season. Perry criticised Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
, who beat Albion in the final, predicting "they will come straight back down" from the Premier League. After being released by West Brom, having failed to make an agreed number of appearances to earn a new contract, Perry joined League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
team Luton Town
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
in July 2007.
Perry scored his first goal for Luton in a 2–1 home win over Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
on 27 October 2007. His performance in the match earned him a place in the League One Team of the Week.
On 27 March 2008 he joined Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
on loan for the rest of the season as a replacement for Andrew Davies
Andrew Davies (footballer)
Andrew John Davies is an English professional footballer who plays as a centre back for Bradford City, on loan from Stoke City. He has been capped for England at Under-21 level.-Middlesbrough:...
, who broke his cheekbone and was ruled out for the remainder of the season. He was expected to go straight into the squad and make his debut against Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
on 29 March. His performance in the 2–0 home win against Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
on 5 April 2008 saw him named in the Championship Team of the Week. On 6 June 2008 he joined Southampton on a free transfer. He scored his first goal for the club in the 2–1 home defeat to Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
in August 2008.
On 15 May 2010, Perry was named in a list of 13 players to be released from Southampton before the start of the 2010–11 season.
Honours
SouthamptonSouthampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
- Football League TrophyFootball League TrophyThe Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
: 20102010 Football League Trophy FinalThe 2010 Football League Trophy Final was the 27th final of the domestic football cup competition for teams from Football Leagues One and Two, the Football League Trophy. The final was played at Wembley Stadium in London on 28 March 2010. The match was contested between Carlisle United and...
External links
- Chris Perry player profile at saintsfc.co.uk
- Chris Perry player profile at lutontown.co.uk
- Chris Perry player profile at wba.co.uk