Mel Capleton
Encyclopedia
Melvyn David "Mel" Capleton (born 24 October 1973 in Hackney
) is an English
professional football
goalkeeper
.
Capleton began his career with Tottenham Hotspur
in the early 1990s. Unable to break into the first team, however, he joined Southend United
in 1992. Again at a seemingly dead-end, he joined Billy Ayre
's Blackpool
the following year on a free transfer. Due to his role as back-up to the Seasiders' first-choice goalkeeper Lee Martin, Capleton only made eleven league appearances in his three years at Bloomfield Road
. He was released in May 1996.
After two years with Billericay Town
, Leyton Orient
offered Capleton a return to the professional game. After only a month with the Londoners, his first club, Southend, signed him for just one game in October 1998. He returned to the club on a permanent basis, however, in March the following year.
Capleton went on to make 56 appearances for Southend in two years. His third season at Roots Hall
was spent on loan to Grays Athletic
. He made the move permanent in 2002.
He signed for St Albans
in the summer of 2004 but was released at the end of the season. He then joined his former club Billericay Town for a season.
In 2007 he joined Canvey Island
as goalkeeping coach.
He currently works as a personal fitness trainer and coaches young children in the South West London area
London Borough of Hackney
The London Borough of Hackney is a London borough of North/North East London, and forms part of inner London. The local authority is Hackney London Borough Council....
) 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...
professional football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
goalkeeper
Goalkeeper (football)
In association football, the goalkeeper occupies a position that represents the last line of defence between the opponent's offence and his own team's goal. The primary role of the goalkeeper is to defend his team's goal and prevent the opposition from scoring a goal...
.
Capleton began his career with 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....
in the early 1990s. Unable to break into the first team, however, he joined Southend United
Southend United F.C.
Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had...
in 1992. Again at a seemingly dead-end, he joined Billy Ayre
Billy Ayre
William "Billy" Ayre was an English footballer who played for three different clubs in a sixteen-year professional career, making over three hundred League appearances in the process. After retiring from the playing side of the game, he became a manager, and took the helm at five different clubs...
's Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
the following year on a free transfer. Due to his role as back-up to the Seasiders' first-choice goalkeeper Lee Martin, Capleton only made eleven league appearances in his three years at Bloomfield Road
Bloomfield Road
Bloomfield Road is an all-seater football stadium in the English town of Blackpool, Lancashire. It has been the permanent home of Blackpool F.C. since 1901 and is named after the road on which the stadium's main entrance used to stand. The stadium has been in a process of redevelopment since 2000...
. He was released in May 1996.
After two years with Billericay Town
Billericay Town F.C.
Billericay Town Football Club are an English football club based in Billericay, Essex, who currently play in the Isthmian League Premier Division....
, Leyton Orient
Leyton Orient F.C.
Leyton Orient F.C. are an English professional football club in East London. They currently play in Football League One and are known to their fans as the O's.Leyton Orient have spent one season in the top flight of English football, in 1962–63...
offered Capleton a return to the professional game. After only a month with the Londoners, his first club, Southend, signed him for just one game in October 1998. He returned to the club on a permanent basis, however, in March the following year.
Capleton went on to make 56 appearances for Southend in two years. His third season at Roots Hall
Roots Hall
Roots Hall is a multi-use sports stadium in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, England, primarily used for football games and is the home of the Football League Two club Southend United. With a capacity of 12,392 Roots Hall is the largest football stadium in Essex, and is the current venue for the final of...
was spent on loan to Grays Athletic
Grays Athletic F.C.
Grays Athletic Football Club is an English football club currently based in Corringham, Essex after leaving the New Recreation Ground in Grays at the end of the 2009–10 season...
. He made the move permanent in 2002.
He signed for St Albans
St Albans City F.C.
St Albans City Football Club is a football club based in St Albans, Hertfordshire, England. It was founded in 1908 and plays its home matches at Clarence Park, about 800 yards from the city centre. The club is in the Premier Division of the Southern League...
in the summer of 2004 but was released at the end of the season. He then joined his former club Billericay Town for a season.
In 2007 he joined Canvey Island
Canvey Island F.C.
Canvey Island F.C, known as the Gulls or Yellow Army, are an English football club founded in 1926 that play in the Isthmian League Premier Division....
as goalkeeping coach.
He currently works as a personal fitness trainer and coaches young children in the South West London area