Zema Abbey
Encyclopedia
Zema Abbey is an English
professional footballer, who plays as a striker
and is also currently player/manager at Arlesey Town
. He has a degree in Sports Science and Leisure Management from the University of Bedfordshire
. His younger brother, Nathan
, is also a professional footballer. He also owns a Luton based company that sell footwear.
, Abbey began his career with Arlesey Town, before spending a season each at both Baldock Town and Hitchin Town
, before joining Cambridge United
in February 2000. He soon established himself in the Cambridge side, earning a £
350,000 move to Norwich City
in December 2000. However his time at Carrow Road
was marred by two career threatening knee injuries, causing him to miss most of the 2003–04
promotion season, though he was given a championship medal at the end of the season. He was given a three month contract to prove his fitness at the start of the following season. He spent September 2004 on loan at Boston United
, moving to Wycombe Wanderers
on a free transfer the following month. In November 2004 he moved to Bradford City
on a short-term deal. He made his debut for Bradford on 20 November against Brentford
when he scored after just two minutes but received the first red card of his career for violent conduct after a clash with Deon Burton
. His second game did not come for nearly a month because of suspension and he played a total of only six games before he was released by manager Colin Todd
. Abbey joined Stoke City
on a month trial in January 2005 playing in the clubs reserve side. Despite scoring against Sheffield United Reserves
Abbey was not offered a contract. In March 2005 he moved to Torquay United
, but was released at the end of the 2004–05
season.
He joined Forest Green Rovers
in August 2005, playing 26 times before being released in April 2006.
He joined Kettering Town
in August 2006 in time for the start of the 2006–07
Conference North
season, but was released in November 2006.
In January 2007 he signed for Barton Rovers
He signed for Halesowen Town
in November 2007. He was linked with a move to Corby Town
in December 2008, but remained with Halesowen. At the start of the 2009–10 season, he returned to Arlesey Town
where he was appointed player/assistant manager.
In June 2011, Abbey was appointed as the first team manager at Arlesey.
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 footballer, who plays as a striker
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
and is also currently player/manager at Arlesey Town
Arlesey Town F.C.
Arlesey Town Football Club is an English association football club from Arlesey, Bedfordshire, England. They currently play in the Southern Football League Premier Division.The club is affiliated to the Bedfordshire County Football Association.-History:...
. He has a degree in Sports Science and Leisure Management from the University of Bedfordshire
University of Bedfordshire
The University of Bedfordshire is based in Luton and Bedford, the two largest towns in the English county of Bedfordshire. The university was created by the merger of the University of Luton and the Bedford campus of De Montfort University on 1 August 2006 following approval by the Privy Council...
. His younger brother, Nathan
Nathan Abbey
Nathanael "Nathan" Abbey is a journeyman English professional football goalkeeper currently without a team.-Career:Abbey was born in Islington, London and began his football career as a trainee with Luton Town, turning professional in August 1995...
, is also a professional footballer. He also owns a Luton based company that sell footwear.
Playing career
Born in LutonLuton
Luton is a large town and unitary authority of Bedfordshire, England, 30 miles north of London. Luton and its near neighbours, Dunstable and Houghton Regis, form the Luton/Dunstable Urban Area with a population of about 250,000....
, Abbey began his career with Arlesey Town, before spending a season each at both Baldock Town and Hitchin Town
Hitchin Town F.C.
Hitchin Town Football Club are an English semi-professional football club based in Hitchin, Hertfordshire. They will compete in the Southern Football League's Premier Division for the 2011–12 season...
, before joining 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 February 2000. He soon established himself in the Cambridge side, earning a £
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
350,000 move to Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
in December 2000. However his time at Carrow Road
Carrow Road
Carrow Road is a football stadium in Norwich, England, and is the home of Norwich City Football Club. The stadium is located toward the easterly end of the city, not far from Norwich railway station and the River Wensum....
was marred by two career threatening knee injuries, causing him to miss most of the 2003–04
2003-04 in English football
The 2003-04 season was the 124th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Arsenal completed the entire campaign without losing a single league game....
promotion season, though he was given a championship medal at the end of the season. He was given a three month contract to prove his fitness at the start of the following season. He spent September 2004 on loan at Boston United
Boston United F.C.
Boston United Football Club are an association football club based in Boston, Lincolnshire, England. They currently play in the Conference North. The club is known as 'the Pilgrims' in reference to the Pilgrim Fathers, who fled from Boston to the USA and founded Boston, Massachusetts. The club's...
, moving to Wycombe Wanderers
Wycombe Wanderers F.C.
Wycombe Wanderers Football Club is an English professional football team from High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, which has been promoted to Football League One after finishing third in Football League Two in the season 2010–11. The club's nicknames are "The Chairboys" and "The Blues", and they play...
on a free transfer the following month. In November 2004 he moved to Bradford City
Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
on a short-term deal. He made his debut for Bradford on 20 November against 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....
when he scored after just two minutes but received the first red card of his career for violent conduct after a clash with Deon Burton
Deon Burton
Deon John Burton is a Jamaican-British football striker who currently plays for Gabala.-Early career:...
. His second game did not come for nearly a month because of suspension and he played a total of only six games before he was released by manager Colin Todd
Colin Todd
Colin Todd is an English football manager and former player. As a player, he made more than 600 appearances in the Football League, playing for Sunderland, Derby County, Everton, Birmingham City, Nottingham Forest, Oxford United and Luton Town, and also played in the North American Soccer League...
. Abbey joined Stoke City
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
on a month trial in January 2005 playing in the clubs reserve side. Despite scoring against Sheffield United Reserves
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
Abbey was not offered a contract. In March 2005 he moved to 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...
, but was released at the end of the 2004–05
2004-05 in English football
The 2004–05 season was the 125th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:*2004–05 was the first season to feature the rebranded Football League. The First Division, Second Division and Third Division were renamed the Football League Championship, Football League One and Football League...
season.
He joined Forest Green Rovers
Forest Green Rovers F.C.
Forest Green Rovers Football Club is an English football club based in Nailsworth, Gloucestershire, currently the longest-serving members of the Conference National. The club is affiliated to the Gloucestershire County FA.-Early years:...
in August 2005, playing 26 times before being released in April 2006.
He joined Kettering Town
Kettering Town F.C.
Kettering Town Football Club are a football club originating in Kettering, Northamptonshire but currently based in the nearby village of Irthlingborough. The club play in the Conference National after winning the Conference North in 2007–08...
in August 2006 in time for the start of 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...
Conference North
Conference North
The Conference North also known as Blue Square Bet North for sponsorship reasons, is a division of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National. Along with Conference South it is at Step 2 of the National League System and the sixth overall tier of...
season, but was released in November 2006.
In January 2007 he signed for Barton Rovers
Barton Rovers F.C.
Barton Rovers F.C. are a semi-professional association football club located in the village of Barton-le-Clay, near Luton in Bedfordshire, England. They currently play in the Southern Football League Division One Central and play their home games at Sharpenhoe Road.The club is affiliated to the...
He signed for Halesowen Town
Halesowen Town F.C.
Halesowen Town is an English association football club formed in 1873, since 2011 playing in the Southern League Division One South & West]]. The team is nicknamed "The Yeltz".-History:...
in November 2007. He was linked with a move to Corby Town
Corby Town F.C.
Corby Town F.C. is an English football club based in Corby, Northamptonshire. They will be members of the Conference North for the 2011–12 season. The Steelmen play their home games at the newly built Steel Park, adjacent to their previous ground, Rockingham Triangle Sports Stadium, which is...
in December 2008, but remained with Halesowen. At the start of the 2009–10 season, he returned to Arlesey Town
Arlesey Town F.C.
Arlesey Town Football Club is an English association football club from Arlesey, Bedfordshire, England. They currently play in the Southern Football League Premier Division.The club is affiliated to the Bedfordshire County Football Association.-History:...
where he was appointed player/assistant manager.
In June 2011, Abbey was appointed as the first team manager at Arlesey.
Honours
- Norwich CityNorwich City F.C.Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
– First DivisionFootball League First DivisionThe First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
Championship
External links
- Player profile at Flown From The Nest