Chris Weale

Chris Weale

Personal information
Full name	Christopher Weale[1]
Date of birth	9 February 1982 (1982-02-09) (age 29)
Place of birth	Yeovil, England
Height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Playing position	Goalkeeper
Club information
Current club	Leicester City
Number	21
Youth career
	Gillingham Town
1999–2001	Yeovil Town
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2000–2006	Yeovil Town	162	(0)
2006–2009	Bristol City	9	(0)
2007	→ Hereford United (loan)	1	(0)
2008	→ Hereford United (loan)	1	(0)
2009	→ Yeovil Town (loan)	10	(1)
2009–	Leicester City	77	(0)
National team‡
2003	England National XI	4	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 16:14, 22 August 2011 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 06:43, 12 July 2009 (UTC)

Christopher "Chris" Weale (born 9 February 1982 in Yeovil, Somerset ^[2]) is an English footballer who plays for Leicester City as a goalkeeper.

Career

Yeovil Town

Weale was a prodigy of Yeovil Town's 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.

Weale playing against Oxford United in a pre-season friendly, 24 July 2010

Bristol City

Weale joined Bristol City under the Bosman ruling. 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.

Loans to Hereford United

On 8 August 2007 Weale joined Hereford United 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.^[3] 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 Yeovil 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.^[4] 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.^[5]

Leicester City

Weale playing for Leicester City

On 29 May 2009, Weale signed a pre-contractual agreement with Leicester City before joining on 1 July when his contract with Bristol City expired.^[6] 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.^[7] 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.^[8] 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.^[9]

References

1. ^ Hugman, Barry J. (2005). The PFA Premier & Football League Players' Records 1946–2005. Queen Anne Press. p. 645. ISBN 1852916656. 
2. ^ "Chris Weale Profile". Ciderspace. http://www.ciderspace.co.uk/ASP/statistics/player_profile.asp?PlayerName=Chris%20Weale&SummaryFlag=True. 
3. ^ "Weale answers Bulls' call". Sky Sports. 2008-11-27. http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11726_4557744,00.html. Retrieved 2008-11-30. 
4. ^ "Loan Goalkeeper in for a month". Yeovil Town F.C.. 2009-03-16. http://www.ytfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10673~1592647,00.html. Retrieved 2009-03-16. 
5. ^ "Wealey wins it!!". Yeovil Town F.C.. 2009-04-24. http://www.ytfc.net/page/NewsDetail/0,,10673~1638671,00.html. Retrieved 2009-04-25. 
6. ^ "Leicester swoop for 'keeper Weale". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 2009-05-29. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/leicester_city/8073357.stm. Retrieved 2009-05-29. 
7. ^ "Flowers: Weale Has Done Fantastic". LCFC.com. 2010-02-03. http://www.lcfc.com/page/LatestNews/0,,10274~1954211,00.html. Retrieved 2010-02-05. 
8. ^ "Derby 1–0 Leicester". BBC Sport. 2010-03-27. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/8585194.stm. Retrieved 2010-05-02. 
9. ^ "Nott'm Forest 3 - 2 Leiceste". BBC.co.uk. 22 April 2011. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13090443.stm. Retrieved 22 April 2011. 

External links

• Chris Weale profile at bcfc.co.uk
• Chris Weale profile at ytfc.co.uk
• Chris Weale career stats at Soccerbase

Persondata
Name	Weale, Christopher
Alternative names	Weale, Chris
Short description	Professional footballer
Date of birth	9 February 1982
Place of birth	Yeovil, England
Date of death
Place of death