Chris Powell

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For other persons named Chris Powell, see Chris Powell (disambiguation).

Personal information
Chris Powell
Full name	Christopher George Robin Powell
Date of birth	September 8, 1969 (1969-09-08) (age 38)
Place of birth	Lambeth, England
Height	5'10
Playing position	Left Back
Club information
Current club	Charlton Athletic
Number	15
Senior clubs¹
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
1987–1990 1990 1990–1996 1996–1998 1998–2004 2004 2004–2005 2005–2006 2006–2007 2007–	Crystal Palace → Aldershot (loan) Southend United Derby County Charlton Athletic → West Ham United (loan) West Ham United Charlton Athletic Watford Charlton Athletic	003 (0) 011 (0) 248 (3) 091 (2) 200 (1) 013 (0) 023 (0) 027 (0) 015 (0) 017 (1)
National team²
2001–2002	England	005 (0)
¹ Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 21:38, 4 May 2008 (UTC). ² National team caps and goals correct as of 30/8/2006. * Appearances (Goals)

Christopher George Robin "Chris" Powell (born 8 September 1969 in Lambeth, London), is an English footballer, who has had a long career as a left back, crowned by five caps for the English national team. Since November 2005 he has been chairman of the Professional Footballers Association.

[edit] Football career

Powell started his career at Crystal Palace F.C., for whom he played from December 1987 until he was transferred to Southend United F.C. in August 1990 after a spell on loan at Aldershot.

In six years at the Essex club Powell made 288 first team appearances. In November 2004 a BBC poll of Southend United supporters voted Powell their all-time cult hero. One fan described him as "A very skilled, left-footed defender, who could quite possibly be considered one of the nicest men in football, a true gent."^[1]

In January 1996 Powell moved to Derby County F.C. for a fee of £750,000. He made 99 first team appearances before being transferred to Charlton Athletic F.C. in June 1998 for a fee of £825,000.

While at Charlton, he made 206 first team appearances, and evidently caught the eye of Sven-Göran Eriksson, who picked him for the England team in 2001, at the unusually late age of 31. At Charlton he delighted the crowds after each home victory with his exuberant leaps of celebration.

Shortly after the start of the 2004-05 season, Powell was allowed to move to West Ham United F.C., where he played a major part in their successful promotion campaign. However, during the summer of 2005 he and West Ham were unable to agree terms for a further contract and he returned to Charlton on a one year contract, with a suggestion that he would develop his coaching skills.

However he began the 2005-06 season back in his old position of left back in the Charlton first team following the transfer of previous regular incumbent Paul Konchesky to, ironically, West Ham.

Typically consistent performance belying his years throughout 2005-06 saw Powell regain his place as Charlton's first choice left back, rotated with loanee Jonathan Spector, due to Hermann Hreidarsson's move to the centre of defence.

On 1 July 2006 he signed a one year contract with Premiership newcomers Watford as Aidy Boothroyd looked to add some experience to his youthful squad. He was released by the club after one year.^[2] In July 2007, Powell returned to Charlton for a third spell, primarily as a coach although manager Alan Pardew admitted he could play if Ben Thatcher is unable to do so.^[3]

In November 2007, an online petition was created to ask Prime Minister Gordon Brown to award Powell with a knighthood for his "work and support of his local communities".^[4]

Powell made what is expected to be his last appearance for Charlton on 4 May 2008, coming on as substitute for the last five minutes in the final game of the season, against Coventry City F. C., and scoring only his third goal for the club to seal a 4-1 victory.^[5]