Les Chapman

Les Chapman
Personal information
Date of birth27 September 1948
Place of birthOldham, Lancashire, England
Height5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Playing positionMidfielder
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
1966–1969Oldham Athletic76(9)
1969–1974Huddersfield Town134(8)
1974–1978Oldham Athletic187(11)
1978San Jose Earthquakes20(0)
1979Stockport County32(1)
1979–1982Bradford City139(3)
1983–1984Rochdale88(0)
1985Stockport County38(3)
1986–1987Preston North End53(1)
Teams managed
1985–1986Stockport County
1990–1992Preston North End
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).

Leslie "Les" Chapman (born 27 September 1948) is an English former football player and the current kit manager for Manchester City FC. As a player, he made 749 appearances in the Football League in a career that spanned 22 seasons, playing for Oldham Athletic, Huddersfield Town, Stockport County, Bradford City, Rochdale, Stockport County and Preston North End,[1] and also spent a season in the North American Soccer League with the San Jose Earthquakes.[2] As a manager, he took charge of Stockport County and Preston North End.[3]

Playing career

Early years

Chapman was born in Oldham, Lancashire, growing up in nearby Royton, and as a youngster played for Chadderton Boys before going on to play for Huddersfield Town's youth team during his schooldays. He spent the first months of his working life as a trainee accountant with Middleton Council before being recommended to Oldham Athletic, where he signed as a professional.[4] He made his first-team debut as an 18-year-old against Bristol Rovers in February 1967, but went back to Huddersfield Town in September 1969.

Back at Oldham

In December 1974, he returned to Oldham Athletic, now in Division Two. He stayed at the club for the next four and a half years, during which they climbed back up to the Second Division. Chapman missed only five games during that time and it came as a surprise to many when he left at the end of the 1978–79 season. In total, he made 263 league appearances for Oldham Athletic and scored 20 times.

Later years

Upon leaving Oldham, Chapman spent the summer of 1979 playing in the North American Soccer League for San Jose Earthquakes before returning to England and to Stockport County. After one season at Edgeley Park, Chapman left to sign for Bradford City. He spent four seasons at Valley Parade making 139 league appearances, before leaving on a free transfer for Rochdale where he spent two seasons, playing nearly 100 games for the Spotland side.

Management career

In July 1985 he became player-manager of Stockport County but moved on a year later to become player-coach under John McGrath at Preston North End. In 1990, he took over the managership of the club himself but was later sacked in October 1992.[4] He became reserve team coach at Manchester City in January 1993 but was replaced by Kevin Bond in July 1996.[5] Then in 1996 he became youth coach at Huddersfield Town in place of Mark Lillis but was sacked in October 1997. He then became Manchester City's kit man.[4]

Personal life

Chapman's daughter, Tiffany, is an actress perhaps best known for playing Rachel Jordache in the British soap opera Brookside.[6]

References

  1. ↑ "Birmingham City : 1946/47 – 2008/09". UK A–Z Transfers. Neil Brown. Retrieved 11 February 2010.
  2. ↑ "North American Soccer League Players Graham Bell". NASL Jerseys. Dave Morrison. Retrieved 11 February 2010.
  3. ↑ "Les Chapman's managerial career". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 February 2010.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "The One And Only Interviews: Les Chapman". Preston North End F.C. 12 November 2009. Retrieved 11 February 2010.
  5. ↑ Nixon, Alan (9 July 1996). "Ball calls on Bond" (REPRINT). Daily Mirror (Farlex). Retrieved 11 February 2010.
  6. ↑ Moss, Adam (8 February 2007). "Tiffany's home comforts". City Life (MEN Media). Retrieved 11 February 2010.

External links