Derek Statham

Derek Statham

Personal information
Full name	Derek James Statham
Date of birth	24 March 1959 (1959-03-24) (age 52)
Place of birth	Wolverhampton, England
Playing position	Full Back
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1977–1987	West Bromwich Albion	299	(8)
1987–1989	Southampton	64	(2)
1989–1991	Stoke City	41	(1)
1991–1993	Walsall	50	(0)
1993–1994	Telford United	34	(0)
Total		488	(11)
National team
1977–1982	England U21	6	(0)
1983	England	3	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Derek James Statham (born 24 March 1959 in Wolverhampton) is a former English footballer who played at defensive left-back. He played for West Bromwich Albion, Southampton, Walsall and Stoke City.

Statham won three international caps for England in 1983 under the management of Bobby Robson.

Regarded as a solid, classy defender with excellent passing ability, Statham's professional career spanned 16 years, making almost 500 professional league appearances and scoring 11 goals. He made over 330 league and cup appearances for WBA, playing for several years alongside Bryan Robson and the 'Three Degrees' of Cyrille Regis, Laurie Cunningham and Brendon Batson in an impressive side assembled by Ron Atkinson.

Statham left WBA for Southampton in 1987, playing alongside a young Alan Shearer (in his first professional season) and Matthew Le Tissier, and was an immediate success. He was the club's Player of the Season for 1987-1988.

His last team were semi-professional side Telford United in the English Football Conference, where he was a mainstay for the 1993-1994 season.

In 2004 he was named as one of West Bromwich Albion's 16 greatest ever players, in a poll organised as part of the club's 125th anniversary celebrations.^[1]

He currently lives in Spain.

References

1. ^ "The wraps come off 125th anniversary mural". West Bromwich Albion F.C.. 2004-08-04. http://www.wba.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/0,,10366~547701,00.html. Retrieved 2008-05-10. 

External links

• Superstars in Stripes - Derek Statham West Bromwich Albion F.C. Official Site
• Derek Statham England profile at Englandstats

Awards
Preceded by Glenn Cockerill	Southampton F.C. player of the season 1987-88	Succeeded by Jimmy Case

Persondata
Name	Statham, Derek
Alternative names
Short description	English footballer
Date of birth	1959-03-24
Place of birth	Wolverhampton, England
Date of death
Place of death