Raphael Meade

Raphael Meade
Personal information
Full nameRaphael Joseph Meade
Date of birth22 November 1962
Place of birthIslington, England
Height5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Playing positionStriker (Retired)
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1977–1985Arsenal41(14)
1985–1988Sporting41(25)
1987–1988Real Betis (loan)3(0)
1988–1989Dundee United11(4)
1989Luton Town4(0)
1989–1991Odense BK
1990Ipswich Town (loan)1(0)
1991Plymouth Argyle (loan)5(0)
1991–1992Brighton & Hove Albion40(9)
1992–1993Ernest Borel3(0)
1994–1995Brighton & Hove Albion3(0)
1995–1996Crawley Town?(?)
1996-1997Sittingbourne16(7)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).

Raphael Joseph Meade (born 22 November 1962 in Islington) is an English former footballer who played as a striker.

Career

Meade started his career at Arsenal as a schoolboy in 1977, and turning professional in 1980. He was the leading scorer for Arsenal's reserve side in the London Combination for both the 1980–81 and 1981–82, and made his first-team debut against Manchester City on 17 October 1981. He went on to total 16 league appearances that season (eight as substitute), scoring four goals.

However, a cartilage injury ruled him out of most of the 1982–83 season, but on his return he scored twice against Brighton & Hove Albion in February 1983. He followed that up with a hat-trick against Watford and then a brace against Tottenham Hotspur in December that year. However, the signings of Paul Mariner and Charlie Nicholas meant Meade had been pushed down the pecking order at Arsenal, and he made only eight appearances in 1984–85. In total he made 51 appearances and scored 16 goals for Arsenal.

He was sold to Sporting Clube de Portugal in the summer of 1985, where he was a major part of epic Sporting 7–1 thrashing of Benfica, in 14 December 1986, scoring one goal. He went on to have stints at Real Betis (on loan), Dundee United, Luton Town, Odense BK, Ipswich Town (on loan), Plymouth Argyle (on loan), Brighton & Hove Albion, Hong Kong and finally Crawley Town.

References