| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Zema Abbey | ||
| Date of birth | 17 April 1977 | ||
| Place of birth | Luton, England | ||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||
| Playing position | Forward | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Arlesey Town | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1998–2000 | Hitchin Town | ||
| 2000 | Cambridge United | 22 | (5) |
| 2000 | → Hitchin Town (loan) | ||
| 2000–2004 | Norwich City | 59 | (7) |
| 2004 | → Boston United (loan) | 5 | (1) |
| 2004 | Wycombe Wanderers | 5 | (0) |
| 2004–2005 | Bradford City | 6 | (1) |
| 2005 | Torquay United | 6 | (1) |
| 2005–2006 | Forest Green Rovers | 26 | (2) |
| 2006 | Kettering Town | ||
| 2007 | Barton Rovers | ||
| 2007–2009 | Halesowen Town | 42 | (8) |
| 2009– | Arlesey Town | ||
| Teams managed | |||
| 2011- | Arlesey Town | ||
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22:09, 29 January 2009 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). |
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Zema Abbey (born 17 April 1977) is an English professional footballer, who plays as a striker and is also currently player/manager at Arlesey Town. He has a degree in Sports Science and Leisure Management from the University of Bedfordshire.[1] His younger brother, Nathan, is also a professional footballer. He also owns a Luton based company that sell footwear.
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Born in Luton, Abbey began his career with Arlesey Town, before spending a season each at both Baldock Town and Hitchin Town, before joining Cambridge United in February 2000. He soon established himself in the Cambridge side, earning a £350,000 move to Norwich City in December 2000.[2] However his time at Carrow Road was marred by two career threatening knee injuries, causing him to miss most of the 2003–04 promotion season, though he was given a championship medal at the end of the season. He was given a three month contract to prove his fitness at the start of the following season.[3] He spent September 2004 on loan at Boston United, moving to Wycombe Wanderers on a free transfer the following month. In November 2004 he moved to Bradford City on a short-term deal.[4] He made his debut for Bradford on 20 November against Brentford when he scored after just two minutes but received the first red card of his career for violent conduct after a clash with Deon Burton.[5][6] His second game did not come for nearly a month because of suspension and he played a total of only six games before he was released by manager Colin Todd.[7] Abbey joined Stoke City on a month trial in January 2005 playing in the clubs reserve side. Despite scoring against Sheffield United Reserves Abbey was not offered a contract.[8] In March 2005 he moved to Torquay United, but was released at the end of the 2004–05 season.
He joined Forest Green Rovers in August 2005, playing 26 times before being released in April 2006.[9]
He joined Kettering Town in August 2006 in time for the start of the 2006–07 Conference North season,[10] but was released in November 2006.
In January 2007 he signed for Barton Rovers[11] He signed for Halesowen Town in November 2007.[12][13] He was linked with a move to Corby Town in December 2008,[14] but remained with Halesowen.[15] At the start of the 2009–10 season, he returned to Arlesey Town where he was appointed player/assistant manager.
In June 2011, Abbey was appointed as the first team manager at Arlesey.[16]