Tommy Fraser

Tommy Fraser

Fraser as Port Vale captain (September 2010).
Personal information
Full name Thomas Francis Peter Fraser[1]
Date of birth 5 December 1987 (1987-12-05) (age 24)
Place of birth Brighton, England
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Playing position Midfielder
Club information
Current club Whitehawk
Youth career
2004–2006 Brighton & Hove Albion
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
2006–2009 Brighton & Hove Albion 78 (2)
2009–2011 Port Vale 50 (2)
2011 Barnet 20 (0)
2011– Whitehawk 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 00:00, 25 December 2011 (UTC).
† Appearances (Goals).

Thomas Francis Peter "Tommy" Fraser (born 5 December 1987 in Brighton) is a professional footballer, who plays for Whitehawk of the Isthmian League. A central midfielder, he can also play on the right wing.[2]

Starting his career with hometown club Brighton & Hove Albion, he was a semi-regular in the first team for three seasons. In June 2009, he signed with Port Vale, where he was quickly made captain. He left the club in January 2011, and immediately joined Barnet. He remained with the club London club for ten months, before leaving and joining Whitehawk in December 2011.

Contents

Playing career

Fraser was born in Brighton and progressed through the youth ranks at League One side [Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.|Brighton & Hove Albion]], where he was awarded a professional contract in the summer of 2006. On 9 September 2006, Fraser made his debut for Brighton at The New Den, coming off the bench; later in the game Fraser cleared off the line as Millwall looked to have scored, but Fraser's actions saved the club's clean sheet as Brighton won the match 1–0.[3]

Fraser started life on the wing,[4] before later taking up a position in the centre of midfield, where the youngster was keen to transform himself into a goalscorer.[5] At times he was also used as a defender, a role in which he earned praise off his teammate Matt Richards in February 2008,[6] before he was offered a one year contract two months later.[7]

After 102 appearances and 3 goals for the "Seagulls", it was announced on 12 May 2009 that Fraser would be leaving Brighton after the expiration of his contract at the end of June 2009.[8][9] He found a new club before this fate however, leaving for Port Vale on a free transfer on 15 June 2009,[10] linking up with former manager Micky Adams for the 2009–10 season.[11][12] He was appointed as club captain, after impressing in the pre-season.[13][14] At twenty one years of age, and new to the club, his appointment came as a surprise to some, especially with more senior options in Sam Stockley, Marc Richards and Gareth Owen.[15] However, Adams had faith in the young midfielder's vocal abilities and general leadership qualities.[16] Putting in solid performances in Vale's unbeaten start to the season, he took to the field despite still suffering with an ankle injury.[17] His first goal for the club seemed to come in a 4–0 home win over Grimsby Town on 5 September.[18][19] However after the match Marc Richards claimed the last touch and therefore took the credit for the goal.[20] Fraser seemed to attract violence; on 25 August, Sheffield Wednesday's Francis Jeffers was sent off for head-butting Fraser,[21] two weeks later Fraser and Aldershot Town captain John Halls almost came to blows before the match had even begun.[22] He was transfer listed in late September, along with the entire Port Vale squad, after manager Micky Adams saw his team slip to a third consecutive defeat.[23] He remained club captain and a first team regular though, striking up a midfield pairing with Anthony Griffith, who he also shared a house with.[24] His performances as captain earned him public praise from assistant manager Geoff Horsfield,[25] though the fans were critical at times of his inconsistency.[26] He found himself the new focus of disgruntled supporters in early 2010, following Danny Glover's demotion to the reserves, and Marc Richards' rising goal tally. Fraser vowed to ignore the booing.[27] He also retained the captain's armband for the next season,[28] and vowed "to be more mature both on and off the pitch" in order to be a better captain.[29]

At the start of the 2010–11 season, Fraser set the club a goal of promotion, saying that "I won't be happy until I've achieved promotion with Port Vale".[30] The strong performances of Anthony Griffith and Gary Roberts left only an unfamiliar wide role for Fraser, and a minority of fans became dissatisfied with his performances on the wing and again began booing the young captain.[31] Micky Adams left the club in December 2010, and was replaced by Jim Gannon. Two weeks into Gannon's reign Fraser left the club by mutual consent so as to find first team football, preferring this option to a loan deal.[32] He then signed with Barnet on a deal lasting two and a half years.[33][34] Signed by caretaker manager Paul Fairclough, he played under Martin Allen and then another caretaker manager, Giuliano Grazioli, within the space of a few months. He played a total of fifteen games for the "Bees" in what remained of the 2010–11 campaign, as the club retained their Football League status with a final day 1–0 win over former club Port Vale at Underhill; Fraser was a stoppage time substitute in the game.[35]

New manager Lawrie Sanchez picked Fraser for just six games in 2011–12, the last of which was a 4–0 defeat to Swindon Town on 24 September. Two months later Fraser left the club by mutual consent.[36] He returned to Vale Park to train under Micky Adams, though was not expected to be offered a contract at Port Vale.[37] He instead joined Whitehawk of the Isthmian League, where he played alongside his younger brother James.[38]

Personal life

Fraser is the grandson of former Richardson Gang member "Mad" Frankie Fraser.[39] He has said: "I couldn't tell you anything he's done and I've never read a book about it. I'm not really interested – he's just my grandad as far as I'm concerned."[40] Tabloid paper The Sun reported that when asked by a local Brighton-based journalist if his granddad ever attended his games, Fraser replied: "No, but he reads your reports and he was unhappy you only gave me six out of 10 last week." It was said that Fraser was never rated less than 7/10 by the local paper again.[41]

Growing up in Brighton, he attended Varndean School and Varndean College. He is an Arsenal fan.[30]

Statistics

As of 29 November 2011.
Club performance League Cup League Cup Total
Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
England League FA Cup League Cup Total
2006–07[42] Brighton & Hove Albion League One 27 1 3 0 1 0 35 1
2007–08[43] Brighton & Hove Albion League One 24 0 4 0 1 0 32 0
2008–09[44] Brighton & Hove Albion League One 27 1 2 1 2 0 35 2
2009–10[45] Port Vale League Two 38 2 1 0 3 0 44 2
2010–11[46] Port Vale League Two 12 0 4 0 2 0 20 0
2010–11[46] Barnet League Two 15 0 0 0 0 0 15 0
2011–12[47] Barnet League Two 5 0 0 0 1 0 6 0
2011–12 Whitehawk Isthmian League 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Total England 149 4 14 1 10 0 188 5
Career total 149 4 14 1 10 0 188 5
Notes

References

  1. ^ "search births indexes 1837 - 2006". Findmypast.com. http://www.findmypast.co.uk/birth-indexes-search-start.action?redef=0. Retrieved 2009-05-02. 
  2. ^ "Tommy Fraser with new Port Vale role". BBC Sport. 7 September 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/port_vale/8974622.stm. Retrieved 7 September 2010. 
  3. ^ "Millwall 0-1 Brighton". Seagulls.co.uk. 9 September 2006. http://www.seagulls.premiumtv.co.uk/page/MatchReportOld/0,,10433~33019,00.html. Retrieved 25 May 2008. 
  4. ^ "Port Vale: Captain Tommy Fraser happy to wing it for Valiants". The Sentinel. 6 September 2010. http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/news/Port-Vale-Fraser-happy-wing-Valiants/article-2609079-detail/article.html. Retrieved 6 September 2010. 
  5. ^ "Fraser aiming for midfield goals". BBC Sport. 3 March 2008. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/brighton/7275455.stm. Retrieved 15 June 2009. 
  6. ^ "Richards praises Seagulls defence". BBC Sport. 27 February 2008. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/brighton/7265711.stm. Retrieved 15 June 2009. 
  7. ^ "Elphick and Fraser sign new deals". BBC Sport. 11 April 2008. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/brighton/7342837.stm. Retrieved 15 June 2009. 
  8. ^ "Fourteen let go in Brighton cull". BBC Sport. 12 May 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/brighton/8046243.stm. Retrieved 15 June 2009. 
  9. ^ "New Deals for Three". Seagulls World. 12 May 2009. http://www.seagulls.co.uk/page/Latest/0,,10433~1655646,00.html. Retrieved 12 May 2009. 
  10. ^ "Breaking News: Vale sign Tommy Fraser". The Sentinel. 15 June 2009. http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/portvale/Breaking-News-Vale-sign-Tommy-Fraser/article-1077218-detail/article.html. Retrieved 15 June 2009. 
  11. ^ "Midfielder Fraser joins Port Vale". BBC Sport. 15 June 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/port_vale/8101242.stm. Retrieved 15 June 2009. 
  12. ^ "New Signing". port-vale.co.uk. 15 June 2009. http://www.port-vale.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10381~1692970,00.html. Retrieved 15 June 2009. 
  13. ^ "Fraser named new Valiants captain". BBC Sport. 4 August 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/port_vale/8183380.stm. Retrieved 2009-08-04. 
  14. ^ "Port Vale: Fraser named new captain". The Sentinel. 4 August 2009. http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/portvale/Port-Vale-Fraser-named-new-captain/article-1223279-detail/article.html. Retrieved 2009-08-04. 
  15. ^ "Port Vale: Fraser delighted with captaincy honour". The Sentinel. 5 August 2009. http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/portvale/Port-Vale-Fraser-delighted-captaincy-honour/article-1224699-detail/article.html. Retrieved 2009-08-05. 
  16. ^ "Port Vale: Fraser confident of success". The Sentinel. 5 August 2009. http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/portvale/Port-Vale-Fraser-confident-success/article-1224704-detail/article.html. Retrieved 2009-08-05. 
  17. ^ "Vale captain playing through pain". BBC Sport. 18 August 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/port_vale/8205854.stm. Retrieved 2009-08-18. 
  18. ^ "Port Vale 4 - 0 Grimsby". BBC Sport. 5 September 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/8234041.stm. Retrieved 2009-09-05. 
  19. ^ "Port Vale 4, Grimsby Town 0". The Sentinel. 5 September 2009. http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/portvale/Port-Vale-4-Grimsby-Town-0/article-1313858-detail/article.html. Retrieved 2009-09-05. 
  20. ^ "Fraser: It's Richo's Goal". port-vale.co.uk. 5 September 2009. http://www.port-vale.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10381~1788916,00.html. Retrieved 2009-09-07. 
  21. ^ "Port Vale 2 - 0 Sheff Wed". BBC Sport. 25 August 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_cup/8205222.stm. Retrieved 2009-09-13. 
  22. ^ "Fraser Shows His Fighting Spirit". portvale.vitalfootball.co.uk. http://www.portvale.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=170098. Retrieved 2009-09-28. 
  23. ^ "Adams puts Vale squad up for sale". BBC Sport. 27 September 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/port_vale/8277136.stm. Retrieved 2009-09-27. 
  24. ^ Shaw, Steve (3 February 2010). "Port Vale: Griffith happy with midfield marriage". The Sentinel. http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/portvale/Port-Vale-Griffith-happy-midfield-marriage/article-1798759-detail/article.html. Retrieved 3 February 2010. 
  25. ^ "Geoff Horsfield praises Port Vale captain Tommy Fraser". BBC Sport. 16 February 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/port_vale/8516981.stm. Retrieved 16 February 2010. 
  26. ^ Shaw, Steve (23 February 2010). "Port Vale: Adams backs his underfire skipper". The Sentinel. http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/portvale/Port-Vale-Adams-underfire-skipper/article-1856970-detail/article.html. Retrieved 23 February 2010. 
  27. ^ "Port Vale: Critics don't bother Fraser". The Sentinel. 5 March 2010. http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/portvale/Port-Vale-Critics-don-t-bother-Fraser/article-1886216-detail/article.html#StartComments. Retrieved 5 March 2010. 
  28. ^ Shaw, Steve (24 May 2010). "Port Vale: Boss Adams keeps faith with captain Fraser". http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/sport/Port-Vale-Adams-keeps-faith-Fraser/article-2206471-detail/article.html. Retrieved 24 May 2010. 
  29. ^ Owen, Jon (5 July 2010). "Port Vale: Tommy Fraser he still has lots to learn as Vale skipper". The Sentinel. http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/sport/Port-Vale-Fraser-lots-learn-Vale-skipper/article-2379019-detail/article.html. Retrieved 5 July 2010. 
  30. ^ a b "Port Vale: No more failures, insists skipper Fraser". The Sentinel. 6 August 2010. http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/news/Port-Vale-failures-insists-skipper-Fraser/article-2482794-detail/article.html. Retrieved 6 August 2010. 
  31. ^ Shaw, Steve (19 October 2010). "Port Vale: Lay off Tommy Fraser, says assistant boss Geoff Horsfield". The Sentinel. http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/news/Port-Vale-Lay-Tommy-says-Horsfield/article-2771742-detail/article.html. Retrieved 19 October 2010. 
  32. ^ "Midfielder Tommy Fraser leaves Port Vale". BBC Sport. 19 January 2011. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/port_vale/9366695.stm. Retrieved 19 January 2011. 
  33. ^ "Midfielder on the Way Back to Vale Park". port-vale.co.uk. 20 January 2011. http://www.port-vale.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10381~2271481,00.html. Retrieved 20 January 2011. 
  34. ^ "Barnet snap up ex-Port Vale midfielder Tommy Fraser". BBC Sport. 20 January 2011. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/barnet/9366695.stm. Retrieved 20 January 2011. 
  35. ^ Fletcher, Paul (7 May 2011). "Barnet 1 - 0 Port Val". BBC Sport. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13247294.stm. Retrieved 29 November 2011. 
  36. ^ "Fraser Departs the Bees". barnetfc.com. 25 November 2011. http://www.barnetfc.com/page/LatestNews/0,,10431~2527323,00.html. Retrieved 29 November 2011. 
  37. ^ "Port Vale: Former skipper Fraser back at Vale Park". The Sentinel. 29 November 2011. http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/Port-Vale-skipper-Fraser-Vale-Park/story-13987394-detail/story.html. Retrieved 29 November 2011. 
  38. ^ "Team News". whitehawkfc.co.uk. http://www.whitehawkfc.co.uk/team%20news.htm. Retrieved 27 December 2011. 
  39. ^ Ashton, Neil (25 September 2008). "Brighton breezy by the sea as future looks less stormy now". Daily Mail. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1062330/Brighton-breezy-sea-future-looks-stormy-now.html. Retrieved 15 June 2009. 
  40. ^ "Port Vale: "Mad" Frankie? Yes, he's my grandad". The Sentinel. July 2, 2009. http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/portvale/Port-Vale-Mad-Frankie-Yes-s-grandad/article-1132578-detail/article.html. Retrieved 2009-07-02. 
  41. ^ Charles, Chris (4 September 2009). "Review of the week". BBC Sport. http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/chrischarles/2009/09/review_of_the_week_35.html. Retrieved 2009-09-06. 
  42. ^ "Games played by Tommy Fraser in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. http://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=43975&season_id=136. Retrieved 5 September 2011. 
  43. ^ "Games played by Tommy Fraser in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. http://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=43975&season_id=137. Retrieved 5 September 2011. 
  44. ^ "Games played by Tommy Fraser in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. http://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=43975&season_id=138. Retrieved 5 September 2011. 
  45. ^ "Games played by Tommy Fraser in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. http://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=43975&season_id=139. Retrieved 5 September 2011. 
  46. ^ a b "Games played by Tommy Fraser in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. http://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=43975&season_id=140. Retrieved 5 September 2011. 
  47. ^ "Games played by Tommy Fraser in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. http://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=43975&season_id=141. Retrieved 5 September 2011. 

External links