Chris Wilder

This article is about the footballer and manager. For the serial killer, see Christopher Wilder.
Chris Wilder
Chris Wilder
Personal information
Full nameChristopher John Wilder
Date of birth23 September 1967
Place of birthStocksbridge, Sheffield, England
Playing positionFull back
Club information
Current team
Northampton Town (manager)
Youth career
1982–1986Southampton
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
1986–1992Sheffield United93(1)
1989→ Walsall (loan)4(0)
1990→ Charlton Athletic (loan)1(0)
1991→ Charlton Athletic (loan)2(0)
1992→ Leyton Orient (loan)16(1)
1992–1996Rotherham United132(11)
1996–1997Notts County46(0)
1997–1998Bradford City42(0)
1998–1999Sheffield United12(0)
1998→ Northampton Town (loan)1(0)
1999→ Lincoln City (loan)3(0)
1999Brighton & Hove Albion11(0)
1999–2001Halifax Town51(1)
Total414(14)
Teams managed
2001–2002Alfreton Town
2002–2008Halifax Town
2008Bury (Assistant Manager)
2008–2014Oxford United
2014–Northampton Town
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).

Christopher John "Chris" Wilder (born 23 September 1967) is an English former footballer, and current manager of Northampton Town.

Playing career

He started his career as a trainee at Southampton and was released without making it into the first team.[1] He moved on to Sheffield United in August 1986 and during his career he played for 11 clubs, including a long spell at Rotherham United before joining Halifax Town in 1999.

Management career

Alfreton Town

Wilder began his career in management at Alfreton Town. He took over at the club in late October 2001 and in the 27 weeks he was in charge won four trophies: the Northern Counties (East) League Premier Division, the League Cup, the President's Cup and the Derbyshire Senior Cup.

Halifax Town

Wilder was lured back to Halifax Town as manager in July 2002.[2][3] He replaced caretaker manager Neil Redfearn, who had in turn replaced Alan Little (who left on 8 April after falling ill with appendicitis in March). Halifax had been relegated to the Conference at the end of the season.

Wilder was in charge at Halifax for more than 300 games until the club went into liquidation on 30 June 2008, and he decided to join former Halifax defender Alan Knill, as the assistant manager of Bury.[4]

Oxford United

After less than six months at Gigg Lane, Wilder was appointed as the manager of Conference National club Oxford United on 21 December 2008,[5] where he only just missed out on a play-off place in his first season. Wilder's first full season in charge of Oxford began successfully and by mid-season they were top of the Conference table by five points with a game in hand. However, Oxford were overtaken by Stevenage Borough, who would go on to win the title and take the automatic promotion place, consigning the Us to the playoffs with Luton Town, Rushden & Diamonds and York City. They defeated Rushden & Diamonds to reach the play-off final, and gained promotion to the Football League by beating York City 3–1.[6]

In their first season back in the Football League in four years, Wilder guided Oxford to mid-table safety. The team finished 12th, in the top half of the table, their highest finish in seven years.[7] The next season Oxford finished ninth, after poor form late in the season led to the team dropping out of the play-off position they had occupied for most of the year.[8] Oxford's chairman Kelvin Thomas gave Wilder his backing, meaning he would remain manager for the 2012–13 season.[9] Despite failing to achieve a play-off place again in Oxford's third season back in the League, and intense speculation about his future at the club, Wilder was offered and accepted a further one-year contract for the 2013–14 season.[10]

On 25 January 2014 he resigned from Oxford United as manager with the intention of joining League Two rivals Northampton Town as their manager.[11]

Northampton Town

On 27 January 2014 Wilder was appointed manager of Northampton Town, signing a three-and-a-half year contract. Wilder successfully battled imminent relegation to the Conference, after taking over the club in the relegation zone in League 2.[12]

Managerial statistics

As of 25 April 2015[13]
Team Nat From To Record
GWDLWin %
Alfreton Town England 24 October 2001 2 July 2002 48 40 5 3 83.33
Halifax Town England 2 July 2002 30 June 2008 312 120 77 115 38.46
Oxford United England 21 December 2008 25 January 2014 269 121 70 78 44.98
Northampton Town England 27 January 2014 71 28 15 28 39.44
Total 700 309 167 224 44.14

Honours

As a manager

Alfreton Town
Oxford United

References

  1. ↑ Holley, Duncan; Chalk, Gary (2003). In That Number – A post-war chronicle of Southampton FC. Hagiology Publishing. p. 615. ISBN 978-0-9534474-3-5.
  2. ↑ "Wilder quits Alfreton for Halifax Town". Ripley & Heanor News. 5 July 2002. Retrieved 9 June 2010.
  3. ↑ "Alfreton Town Football Club History". Alfreton Town F.C. Retrieved 9 June 2010.
  4. ↑ "Wilder leaves Halifax for Shakers". BBC Sport. 30 June 2008. Retrieved 1 July 2008.
  5. ↑ "Wilder is new Oxford United boss". BBC Sport. 21 December 2008. Retrieved 21 December 2008.
  6. ↑ "Oxford United 3–1 York City". BBC Sport. 16 May 2010. Retrieved 17 May 2010.
  7. ↑ "Shrewsbury 3–0 Oxford Utd". BBC Sport. 8 May 2011. Retrieved 8 May 2011.
  8. ↑ "Port Vale 3–0 Oxford Utd". BBC Sport. 5 May 2012. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
  9. ↑ "Thomas pinning faith in Oxford United boss Wilder". Oxford Mail. 12 May 2012. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
  10. ↑ "Chris Wilder signs new Oxford United deal". BBC Sport. 25 April 2013. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  11. ↑ "Wilder swaps Oxford for Northampton". thesackrace.com. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
  12. ↑ "Chris Wilder appointed new manager". ntfc.co.uk. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
  13. ↑ "Chris Wilder's managerial career". Soccerbase.

External links