Chris Hope (footballer)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Chris Hope
Personal information
Full name Christopher Jonathan Hope
Date of birth November 14, 1972 (1972-11-14) (age 35)
Place of birth    Sheffield, England
Height 6'1 (185 cm)
Playing position Central Defender
Club information
Current club Rushden & Diamonds
Number 5
Senior clubs1
Years Club App (Gls)*
1989-1990
1990-1993
1993-2000
2000-2006
2006-
Darlington
Nottingham Forest
Scunthorpe United
Gillingham
Rushden & Diamonds
000 0(0)
000 0(0)
288 (19)
236 (13)
045 0(3)   

1 Senior club appearances and goals
counted for the domestic league only and
correct as of 20:41, 10 May 2007 (UTC).
* Appearances (Goals)

Christopher Jonathan Hope (born 14 November 1972 in Sheffield) is an English professional footballer who currently plays for Rushden & Diamonds. He is the brother of current Wrexham player Richard Hope.

Hope began his career as a trainee with Darlington. However, before he had even made a first team appearance, he joined Nottingham Forest at the beginning of the 1990/91 season and spent two seasons at the City Ground. Again, Hope did not make a first team for Nottingham Forest], and so a move away from the City Ground beckoned and he joined Scunthorpe United for £50,000 at the beginning of the 1993/94 season.

Hope was an integral part of the side at Glanford Park and notched up 333 appearances (288 in the league) in seven seasons. A steady influence at the back, Hope managed an impressive 177 successive appearances without missing a game. A move from Lincolnshire to Kent soon beckoned, however, and Hope swapped Scunthorpe for Gillingham who paid £250,000 for his services. Hope made his debut in the club's first ever game in the First Division (a 3-1 home defeat to Stockport County) and went on to play in more than 200 appearances for the Gills. Following on from his time at Scunthorpe, Hope managed to play in 176 successive games, before finally missing a game through suspension.

Following the departure of ex-club captain Paul Smith, Hope was appointed the club captain for the Gills for their first season back in League One in the 2005/06 season.

Hope signed an extension to his contract keeping him at Priestfield until the summer of 2006, however, he missed much of the 2005/2006 season due to injury and was released on 9 May 2006. On 7 July it was announced that he had signed a 2 year deal with Rushden & Diamonds[1].

Hope is predominantly a central defender, although he has operated on both the right and the left side of defence as well as in midfield during his career. Hope's height and strength mean he is a fomidable force at the back where he is rarely beaten in the air.

He is currently on the Management Committee of the Professional Footballers' Association.

[edit] Notes and references

[edit] External links