Chris Weale
Encyclopedia
Christopher "Chris" Weale (born 9 February 1982 in Yeovil
, Somerset
) is an English
footballer who plays for Leicester City
as a goalkeeper.
youth system after joining Yeovil in August 1999 from local side Gillingham Town
. Weale was first choice keeper for the Youth Team that won the South-West Counties Under 18s League title in 2000 and during the same season he broke into the Reserve side.
Weale made his first team debut in July 2000 having come on as a substitute against Southampton
in Tony Pennock
's testimonial game before making his first full competitive debut against Wellington in the Somerset Premier Cup
in October of that year. Weale began to gain more experience in the first team in the 2001/02 season, during which he played 38 matches for the first team while establishing himself as a firm favorite amongst the fans. The following year he not only played an indispensable role in helping Yeovil achieve promotion to the Football League but his consistency was rewarded with a call-up to the England National XI several times during the season.
It was only a matter of time before a top club such as West Ham United
inquired about Weale. Alan Pardew
invited the highly rated keeper to train with West Ham for a couple of days a week in March 2004 before playing in a Reserve game for the club. Throughout his career at Huish Park he has been heavily praised, not just from the home fans, but also from opposition managers such as ex-England coach Peter Taylor. Taylor acknowledged after the 0–0 draw at the KC Stadium ‘The saves were worthy of the Premiership’. Yeovil boss Gary Johnson
describes ‘They were world class saves. We see that every day in training. He's a super goalkeeper.’ His performance was acknowledged his fellow peers and was chosen for the Football League Team of the Year for League Two on two consecutive seasons.
During his final season with the club, Wealey had to face strong competition for the number one jersey from Steve Collis
. Collis showed great promise when he was given the chance in goal during his performance in the latter part of both the 2003/04 and the 2004/05 season and the two keepers split first team responsibilities during the 2005/06 season.
That was in part due to a knee injury sustained by Weale during March 2006 at Chesterfield
, which he aggravated a few weeks later. It was later diagnosed as a cruciate ligament injury which meant that his final appearance for the club was against Scunthorpe United
on Good Friday in April 2006.
Despite facing a lengthy layoff that was expected to keep him out until at least November 2006, the club still offered Weale a new deal, but he chose instead to sign for Bristol City
on a one year deal on 28 June 2006, teaming up with Gary Johnson – the manager who had introduced him to regular first team football.
. He was joined by former team mates Phil Jevons
, Liam Fontaine
and Lee Johnson
and former manager Gary Johnson
. He made his debut on 10 February 2007 against Huddersfield Town
after Adriano Basso
was sent off, and played in the FA Cup
replay between City and Middlesbrough
and saved a penalty from Yakubu
, but City lost the penalty shootout 5–4.
on a month's loan
, but was recalled from his loan spell five days later, after an injury to city's first choice goalkeeper, Adriano Basso
. Weale rejoined Hereford on loan on November 27, 2008 on a one month loan. He managed to make only one appearance before suffering an injury that was expected to keep him out for six weeks.
after their number one got sent off in a game at Brighton. The loan spell was a month and thought to be a favour by former manager Gary Johnson
. It was revealed however that the move was funded by a supporters club. Weale headed in a late equaliser to earn Yeovil a 2–2 draw at home to his former side, Hereford on 21 April 2009. The goal won Sky Sports goal of the week beating the likes of Arshavin and Robinho
.
before joining on 1 July when his contract with Bristol City expired. Tim Flowers
, who was previously coach at the club, felt Weale's ever-present form as of February 2010 is a big part of the team's resurgence in the 2009–10 season. However, in a 1–0 defeat to Derby County
at Pride Park
on 27 March 2010, Weale erred badly to concede the goal from a back-pass.
On 22 April 2011 Weale mishandled Paul McKenna's shot and spilled it into his own net for the winning goal in a 3-2 against Nottingham Forest.
Yeovil
Yeovil is a town and civil parish in south Somerset, England. The parish had a population of 27,949 at the 2001 census, although the wider urban area had a population of 42,140...
, Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
) is an 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 who plays for Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
as a goalkeeper.
Yeovil Town
Weale was a prodigy of Yeovil Town'sYeovil Town F.C.
Yeovil Town F.C. are an English association football team based in Yeovil, Somerset. The club play in League One after having won the League Two championship in 2004–05...
youth system after joining Yeovil in August 1999 from local side Gillingham Town
Gillingham Town F.C.
Gillingham Town Football Club is a football club based in Gillingham, Dorset, England. Founded on 14 November 1879, the club is the oldest in Dorset, and joined the Dorset Combination in 1970. As of the 2011–12 season, they are members of the Western Football League Division One...
. Weale was first choice keeper for the Youth Team that won the South-West Counties Under 18s League title in 2000 and during the same season he broke into the Reserve side.
Weale made his first team debut in July 2000 having come on as a substitute against 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...
in Tony Pennock
Tony Pennock
Anthony Pennock is a Welsh non-league international goalkeeper.-Playing career:He started his professional career at Stockport County. Pennock made his senior debut playing for Wigan Athletic, in a 3rd round 1990–91 FA Cup tie against Coventry City...
's testimonial game before making his first full competitive debut against Wellington in the Somerset Premier Cup
Somerset Premier Cup
The Somerset Premier Cup is the senior local county football cup for teams based in Somerset, organised by the Somerset County Football Association.It was formerly known as the Somerset Professional Cup....
in October of that year. Weale began to gain more experience in the first team in the 2001/02 season, during which he played 38 matches for the first team while establishing himself as a firm favorite amongst the fans. The following year he not only played an indispensable role in helping Yeovil achieve promotion to the Football League but his consistency was rewarded with a call-up to the England National XI several times during the season.
It was only a matter of time before a top club such as West Ham United
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
inquired about Weale. Alan Pardew
Alan Pardew
Alan Scott Pardew is an English football manager and former player, currently the manager of Newcastle United....
invited the highly rated keeper to train with West Ham for a couple of days a week in March 2004 before playing in a Reserve game for the club. Throughout his career at Huish Park he has been heavily praised, not just from the home fans, but also from opposition managers such as ex-England coach Peter Taylor. Taylor acknowledged after the 0–0 draw at the KC Stadium ‘The saves were worthy of the Premiership’. Yeovil boss Gary Johnson
Gary Johnson (footballer)
Gary Johnson is an English football manager and former player. He was most recently the manager of Npower League Two's Northampton Town....
describes ‘They were world class saves. We see that every day in training. He's a super goalkeeper.’ His performance was acknowledged his fellow peers and was chosen for the Football League Team of the Year for League Two on two consecutive seasons.
During his final season with the club, Wealey had to face strong competition for the number one jersey from Steve Collis
Steve Collis
Stephen Philip "Steve" Collis is an English professional football goalkeeper who is currently playing for Macclesfield Town.Collis began his career at Barnet before signing for Nottingham Forest in 2000...
. Collis showed great promise when he was given the chance in goal during his performance in the latter part of both the 2003/04 and the 2004/05 season and the two keepers split first team responsibilities during the 2005/06 season.
That was in part due to a knee injury sustained by Weale during March 2006 at Chesterfield
Chesterfield F.C.
Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower...
, which he aggravated a few weeks later. It was later diagnosed as a cruciate ligament injury which meant that his final appearance for the club was against Scunthorpe United
Scunthorpe United F.C.
Scunthorpe United Football Club is an English association football team based in the town of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, who play in the Football League One....
on Good Friday in April 2006.
Despite facing a lengthy layoff that was expected to keep him out until at least November 2006, the club still offered Weale a new deal, but he chose instead to sign for 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 a one year deal on 28 June 2006, teaming up with Gary Johnson – the manager who had introduced him to regular first team football.
Bristol City
Weale joined Bristol City under the Bosman rulingBosman ruling
Union Royale Belge des Sociétés de Football Association ASBL v Jean-Marc Bosman is a 1995 European Court of Justice decision concerning freedom of movement for workers, freedom of association, and direct effect of article 39 of the EC Treaty...
. He was joined by former team mates Phil Jevons
Phil Jevons
Phillip "Phil" Jevons is an English football player who currently plays for Football League Two side Morecambe. He is notably remembered for scoring a last minute 45 yard extra time winning goal for Grimsby Town against his home town club Liverpool in the third round of the League Cup in 2001...
, Liam Fontaine
Liam Fontaine
Liam Vaughan Henry Fontaine is an English footballer who plays for Bristol City as a defender. He previously played in the Premier League for Fulham, in the Football League for Yeovil Town and in the Scottish Premier League for Kilmarnock....
and Lee Johnson
Lee Johnson (footballer)
Lee David Johnson is an English footballer who plays for Bristol City as a midfielder who is currently on loan at Chesterfield....
and former manager Gary Johnson
Gary Johnson (footballer)
Gary Johnson is an English football manager and former player. He was most recently the manager of Npower League Two's Northampton Town....
. He made his debut on 10 February 2007 against Huddersfield Town
Huddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
after Adriano Basso
Adriano Basso
Adriano Basso is a Brazilian footballer who plays for Hull City as a goalkeeper.Basso began his playing career in his native Brazil before entering English league football with Bristol City for whom he remained for five years...
was sent off, and played in the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
replay between City and Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
and saved a penalty from Yakubu
Yakubu Aiyegbeni
Yakubu Aiyegbeni , generally known simply as Yakubu, is a Nigerian footballer who plays as a striker for Blackburn Rovers and the Nigerian national football team. His nickname is "The Yak".-Early career:...
, but City lost the penalty shootout 5–4.
Loans to Hereford United
On 8 August 2007 Weale joined Hereford UnitedHereford 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 a month's loan
Loan (football)
In sports, a loan involves a particular player being allowed to temporarily play for a club other than the one he is currently contracted to. Loan deals may last from a few weeks to all season-long....
, but was recalled from his loan spell five days later, after an injury to city's first choice goalkeeper, Adriano Basso
Adriano Basso
Adriano Basso is a Brazilian footballer who plays for Hull City as a goalkeeper.Basso began his playing career in his native Brazil before entering English league football with Bristol City for whom he remained for five years...
. Weale rejoined Hereford on loan on November 27, 2008 on a one month loan. He managed to make only one appearance before suffering an injury that was expected to keep him out for six weeks.
Loan to Yeovil Town
He rejoined his home town club YeovilYeovil Town F.C.
Yeovil Town F.C. are an English association football team based in Yeovil, Somerset. The club play in League One after having won the League Two championship in 2004–05...
after their number one got sent off in a game at Brighton. The loan spell was a month and thought to be a favour by former manager Gary Johnson
Gary Johnson (footballer)
Gary Johnson is an English football manager and former player. He was most recently the manager of Npower League Two's Northampton Town....
. It was revealed however that the move was funded by a supporters club. Weale headed in a late equaliser to earn Yeovil a 2–2 draw at home to his former side, Hereford on 21 April 2009. The goal won Sky Sports goal of the week beating the likes of Arshavin and Robinho
Robinho
Robson de Souza , more commonly known as Robinho, is a Brazilian professional footballer who currently plays as second striker and winger for Serie A club AC Milan...
.
Leicester City
On 29 May 2009, Weale signed a pre-contractual agreement with Leicester CityLeicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
before joining on 1 July when his contract with Bristol City expired. Tim Flowers
Tim Flowers
Timothy David "Tim" Flowers is an English former football goalkeeper and the former manager of Conference North team Stafford Rangers.-Club career:...
, who was previously coach at the club, felt Weale's ever-present form as of February 2010 is a big part of the team's resurgence in the 2009–10 season. However, in a 1–0 defeat to 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...
at Pride Park
Pride Park Stadium
Pride Park Stadium is an all-seater football stadium located on the Pride Park business park on the outskirts of Derby, England. It is the current home of Football League Championship club Derby County, who moved to the stadium from the Baseball Ground upon its opening in 1997...
on 27 March 2010, Weale erred badly to concede the goal from a back-pass.
On 22 April 2011 Weale mishandled Paul McKenna's shot and spilled it into his own net for the winning goal in a 3-2 against Nottingham Forest.
External links
- Chris Weale profile at bcfc.co.uk
- Chris Weale profile at ytfc.co.uk