Ritchie Humphreys

Ritchie Humphreys

Humphreys in May 2008
Personal information
Full nameRitchie John Humphreys[1]
Date of birth30 November 1977[2]
Place of birthSheffield, England
Height5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[2]
Playing positionForward
Club information
Current team
Chesterfield
Number15
Youth career
Sheffield United
1995–1996Sheffield Wednesday
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
1996–2001Sheffield Wednesday67(4)
1999→ Scunthorpe United (loan)6(2)
1999–2000→ Cardiff City (loan)9(2)
2001Cambridge United7(3)
2001–2013Hartlepool United488(34)
2006→ Port Vale (loan)7(0)
2013–Chesterfield61(2)
National team
1997England U202(0)
1997England U213(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 16:30, 15 April 2015 (UTC).
† Appearances (Goals).

Ritchie John Humphreys (born 30 November 1977) is an English professional footballer who plays for League One side Chesterfield. He is chairman of the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) and holds a UEFA A Licence coaching qualification.[3]

Humphreys started his career with Premier League side Sheffield Wednesday in 1996. Whilst with the club, he was loaned out to Scunthorpe United and Cardiff City. He also won five caps for England at under-20 and under-21 levels. He left the club in 2001 and joined Cambridge United for a short period, after which he joined Hartlepool United. He joined Port Vale on loan in 2006. He left Hartlepool in July 2013, and moved on to Chesterfield. Whilst at Chesterfield in 2014 he appeared at Wembley in the final of the Football League Trophy and helped the club to the League Two title in 2013–14.

In 12 seasons with Hartlepool he made a club record 544 appearances, and picked up numerous club awards, including two Player of the Year awards from fans, one Player of the Year award from his teammates, as well as the award for Player of the Decade (2000s). He was also recognised at regional and national levels, being named on the PFA Team of the Year twice, and recognised as the North East League Player of the Year in 2006. He helped the club win promotion out of the fourth tier in 2002–03, and again in 2006–07. However he suffered play-off heartbreak with the club on three separate occasions.

Childhood and early career

Humphreys was introduced to football from an early age, his grandfather, Ernest Humphreys, played for Millwall, Motherwell and St. Mirren. His dad, John Humphreys, also had trials with Sheffield United.[4]

Humphreys grew up as a Sheffield United fan and joined their academy, which he described as a "dream come true". However, they released him when we he was 13.[4]

Humphreys then played for the Sheffield Boys and was one of their few players who did not play for a professional club. However, that soon changed when Humphreys was scouted by a Sheffield Wednesday scout and he joined their centre of excellence.[4] He completed a boy-hood dream by scoring at Bramall Lane in a 3–2 win for Hartlepool in December 2012.[5] In November 2009, Humphreys was listed 40th in the Daily Mail's Top 50 Teenage Sensations in Premier League history.[6]

Playing career

Sheffield Wednesday

In 1995, after leaving Newfield Secondary School, Humphreys became part of Sheffield Wednesday’s youth squad. For the youth squad Humphreys played as a left winger and was offered a professional contract.[4] Due to the injuries of strikers David Hirst and Mark Bright, Wednesday manager David Pleat gave Humphreys the opportunity to go on Wednesday's pre-season tour of the Netherlands.[4]

Humphreys played the first game and scored twice. He then played in the second game against FC Utrecht and scored again. Johan Cruyff was the guest of honour for that game and he praised Humphreys and said he was the next Marco van Basten. It was during this pre season tour that he was taken under the wing and guidance of Wednesday legend Chris Waddle. After scoring 4 goals in his first 5 Premier League games lifting Wednesday to the top of the league, David Pleat decided to release his mentor Waddle. Humphreys did not score another league goal all season (only notching a hat-trick in a League Cup game against Grimsby Town in a 7–1 win).[4][7] Humphreys pre-season form earned him a full league debut in Wednesday's opening match against Aston Villa. In this match Humphreys scored a goal that was recorded at 95.9 mph, one of the hardest-hit goals in the history of football.[8] Humphreys also scored in the following match against Leeds United. Two games later, Humphreys scored a much talked about goal when he went on a 50-yard run and scored a spectacular chipped goal against Leicester City .[9][10] Humphreys was seen as the driving force behind Sheffield Wednesday's shock early lead at the top of The Premiership.[11]

His form linked him to a £4 million transfer to Leeds United.[9] However Humphreys remained at Sheffield Wednesday and played 34 games for them in the 1996–97 season. His performances earned him a place in the England team for the 1997 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Malaysia.[12] Humphreys wore the much coveted number 9 shirt for that tournament.

For the next two seasons, after Sheffield Wednesday signed an influx of foreign players such as Paolo Di Canio and Benito Carbone, Humphreys failed to hold down a regular place and he only played a total of 31 games in those two seasons.[13][14][15] Humphreys was sent on loan to Scunthorpe United on 13 August 1999,[16] where he played six matches and again scored twice.[17] He was then sent on loan to Cardiff City where he played 11 matches, scoring twice.[9][18] After a brief return to the Wednesday side for the 2000–01 season, Humphreys decided to leave Wednesday to play more first team football was allowed to join Cambridge United on trial.[19] Humphreys impressed on trial scoring 3 goals in 7 games and it looked likely that Cambridge manager Roy McFarland was going to offer him a contract. However, Humphreys' trial was cut abruptly after he broke his foot.[20] After the sacking of Roy McFarland, new Cambridge manager John Beck was reluctant to offer Humphreys a new contract until he had seen him play.[21]

Hartlepool United

Hartlepool United manager Chris Turner then offered Humphreys the chance to train with the club. Shortly after Humphreys signed a new contract with the club, much to the dismay of Cambridge fans who wanted him to stay and described him as "a big loss".[22] Humphreys started the 2001–02 season partnering Kevin Henderson up front for the first 9 league games. However after a bad run Humphreys was dropped and replaced by new signing Gordon Watson. However, Humphreys would force his way back into the team and replace Henderson to partner Watson instead, these two players were already familiar with each other from their days at Sheffield Wednesday.[23] Despite not scoring many goals Hartlepool manager Chris Turner was pleased with his performances.[24] Humphreys was then moved into central midfield due to the injury of Tommy Widdrington and after impressing played there for the remainder of the season.[25] Humphreys' first season at the club would end in disappointment as he missed the decisive penalty in the play-off semi final defeat to Cheltenham Town, which cost Hartlepool a place in Division Two. The penalty struck the woodwork twice and stayed out.[26] Humphreys' miss would send him to tears and he was photographed by Frank Reid, a photograph that would prove to be one of the most memorable images of Reid and Humphreys' career.[27] After his miss Humphreys was devastated but he was cheered up by Chris Turner and the players who rang him and told him to keep his head up.[4] Humphreys also received lots of letters of support from the Hartlepool fans.[26]

When Humphreys returned to pre-season training for the following season, he was playfully teased over his penalty miss.[28] Humphreys took the motto "that anything that doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger" and was determined to come back stronger. Humphreys started the 2002–03 season with a goal against Carlisle on the opening day of the season.[29] Throughout the course of the season, Humphreys would be played prominently as a left winger. Humphreys finished the season as an ever present in the Hartlepool squad, adding 11 goals to his name in the process and helped Hartlepool gain promotion to Division 2. His performances won him the Player of the Season award from the supporters.[30][31] During this season it was revealed that Humphreys had been writing a diary, which he published and named it "From Tears to Cheers", in reference to his tears at Cheltenham.[32]

The following two seasons once again saw Humphreys as an ever-present in the Hartlepool side under new manager Neale Cooper. In the 2003–04 season, Hartlepool once again made the play-offs, only to go out after conceding two last minute goals to Bristol City, a memory which Humphreys described as more painful than Cheltenham.[33] Due to the injuries of Michael Barron, Humphreys began regularly captaining the side.[34]

In the 2004–05 season, Humphreys helped Hartlepool once again make the play-offs. During the play-off semi-final against Tranmere, Humphreys had the task of taking a penalty for Hartlepool in sudden death. This was the first time Humphreys had taken a penalty since his crucial miss at Cheltenham. This time he scored and sent Hartlepool through to the play-off final against his old club Sheffield Wednesday at the Millennium Stadium.[35] This helped to erase the memories of Cheltenham.[30] However, Hartlepool lost the play-off final to Sheffield Wednesday. Humphreys believes that of all the play-off defeats he has suffered that the controversial loss to Wednesday was the hardest to take.[36] Before the end of the season Humphreys extended his contract by a further two years.[35]

The following season, 2005–06, saw Humphreys become the first player to make 200 consecutive league appearances for Hartlepool.[37] For this season Humphreys' moved to left back due to Hugh Robertson being injured. Unfortunately Hartlepool and Humphreys suffered relegation. Despite this Humphreys was named the Supporters and Players' Player of the Season as well as the North East Football Awards Football League Player of the Season.[38]

For the 2006–07 season, Danny Wilson was appointed the new manager, Wilson had previously managed Humphreys at Sheffield Wednesday. On 22 August 2006, Humphreys was dropped for Hartlepool's match against Hereford United. After making 230 consecutive appearances, this was the first time Humphreys had not played since October 2001. Shortly after that match, Humphreys joined Port Vale on a month's loan.[39] This was the third time that Danny Wilson had loaned Humphreys out during his career, the only times Humphreys had ever been loaned out. Port Vale tried to extend Humphreys' loan deal by at least another month,[40] but Hartlepool refused and Humphreys returned. Humphreys later stated that he had no intentions of leaving Hartlepool.[41]

After a bad start to the season, Hartlepool were struggling near the lower reaches of the table. However, this changed against Accrington Stanley when Humphreys scored a spectacular last minute winner.[42] This sent Hartlepool on 23 match unbeaten streak. During that streak, Humphreys scored another spectacular goal against Walsall to give Hartlepool the lead in a victory that sent them into second place.[43] Hartlepool would remain in the top two for the remainder of the season and secured promotion, narrowly missing out on the title. Humphreys performances earned him a place in the League Two PFA Team of the Year.[44] Humphreys was also awarded the Monkey Business Achievement Award for this contribution to the season,[45] and had a street in Hartlepool named after him.[46] However these awards proved small in comparison to when Humphreys was honoured by the Queen for making a "significant contribution to local and national life" earlier on in the season.[47]

At the end of the 2007–08 season, Humphreys was voted Player of the Year, Player of the 2000s and Hartlepool United's Player of the Century. He continued to be a key player in 2008–09, making a total of 54 appearances. He was a key figure once again in the 2009–10 season, missing just nine games as a central midfielder. On 26 February 2011, Humphreys replaced Joe Gamble after 82 minutes to play his 473rd game for "Pools".[48] This broke the record previously held by Watty Moore for over half a century.[49] Over the course of the 2010–11 season he played 29 games. On 2 August 2011, Humphreys was given a testimonial game against Premier League Sunderland to mark his ten years at Hartlepool United.[50] Sunderland won 3–1, though the 5,757 fans present at the Victoria Park were reported to be very vocal in their appreciation of the veteran player.[50] On 7 January 2012, Humphreys replaced Luke James 90 minutes into a 2–0 win over Rochdale to make his 500th appearance for "Pools".[51] He signed an "undisclosed extension to his contract" in May 2012.[52] He made 33 appearances in the 2012–13 campaign, as Hartlepool were relegated into League Two.

Hartlepool released Humphreys from the club in May 2013, after it was decided that the option in his contract to extend would not be taken up.[53]

Chesterfield

Humphreys signed a one-year contract with League Two club Chesterfield on 15 July 2013.[54] He became a key player for Paul Cook's "Spireites" during the 2013–14 season, and on 30 March 2014 he made his first appearance at Wembley Stadium in Chesterfield's 3–1 defeat to Peterborough United in the final of the Football League Trophy.[55] In total he made 49 appearances throughout the 2013–14 campaign as Chesterfield won promotion as divisional champions.

PFA work

Humphreys succeeded Clarke Carlisle as chairman of the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) in 2013.[56]

Statistics

As of 3 May 2014.
Club Season Division League FA Cup League Cup Other[57] Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Sheffield Wednesday1995–96[58]Premier League5000000050
1996–97[59]293422000355
1997–98[60]70301000110
1998–99[61]191220000213
1999–2000[62]0000000000
Scunthorpe United (loan)1999–2000[62]Second Division6200000062
Cardiff City (loan)1999–2000[62]92100010112
Sheffield Wednesday2000–01[63]First Division70003000100
Total 674946000828
Cambridge United2000–01[63]Second Division7300000073
Total 7300000073
Hartlepool United2001–02[64]Third Division465101030515
2002–03[65]46112010004911
2003–04[66]Second Division463312030544
2004–05[67]League One463602060603
2005–06[68]462202000502
2006–07[69]League Two383300021434
Port Vale (loan)2006–07[69]League One7000000070
Hartlepool United2007–08[70]453201020503
2008–09[71]450503010540
2009–10[72]380100010400
2010–11[73]252310010293
2011–12[74]291100010311
2012–13[75]311100010331
Total 4813430212021154437
Chesterfield2013–14[76]League Two422101050492
Total 422101050492
Career total 6194741619027170653

Honours

With Hartlepool United

With Chesterfield

References

  1. ↑ "England & Wales births 1837–2006". FindMyPast. Retrieved 26 September 2012.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2010). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11. Mainstream Publishing. p. 207. ISBN 978-1-84596-601-0.
  3. ↑ "UEFA A Licence Joy For Humphreys". Hartlepool United. 19 April 2013. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 Humphreys, Ritchie (2003). From Tears to Cheers. Cheers Promotions. Introduction. ISBN 0-9545696-0-1.
  5. ↑ "'To score was a dream come true', says Unitedite Humphreys". Sheffield News & Sport. 30 December 2012. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
  6. ↑ "THE LIST: The top 50 teenage sensations in Premier League history, Nos 40–31". Daily Mail. 17 November 2009. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
  7. ↑ "Humphreys dreams of Cardiff joy". The Northern Echo. 28 May 2004. Retrieved 22 July 2007.
  8. ↑ Dart, James (14 February 2007). "The hardest recorded shot in football – ever". London: The Northern Echo. Retrieved 22 July 2007.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 "Mon 22nd Nov 1999 – Humphreys signs for City". Cardiff City Online. 22 November 1999. Retrieved 22 July 2007.
  10. ↑ "Ritchie Humphreys". CNN Sports Illustrated. 1 November 2001. Retrieved 22 July 2007.
  11. ↑ "The Managerial Merry-Go-Round". Sheffield Wednesday – Official Site. 19 June 2007. Retrieved 22 July 2007.
  12. ↑ "Football: Shepherd strikes as England ride luck". The Independent. 19 June 1997. Archived from the original on 10 July 2007. Retrieved 22 July 2007.
  13. ↑ "Di Canio and Wednesday Set For Divorce". 4thegame.com. 24 December 1998. Retrieved 22 July 2007.
  14. ↑ "Sheff Wed 1997/1998 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 23 September 2007.
  15. ↑ "Sheff Wed 1998/1999 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 23 September 2007.
  16. ↑ Hugman (ed.). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11. p. 208.
  17. ↑ "Scunthorpe 1999/2000 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 23 September 2007.
  18. ↑ "Cardiff 1999/2000 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 23 September 2007.
  19. ↑ "Humphreys signs for Us". BBC Sport. 2 February 2001. Retrieved 22 July 2007.
  20. ↑ "Humphreys joins Hartlepool on trial". Cambridge United: Rivals. 16 July 2001. Retrieved 22 July 2007.
  21. ↑ "Humphreys signs for Hartlepool". Cambridge United: Rivals. 17 July 2001. Archived from the original on 28 September 2004. Retrieved 22 July 2007.
  22. ↑ "Poll: Humphreys is "a big loss"". Cambridge United: Rivals. 22 July 2001. Archived from the original on 29 September 2004. Retrieved 22 July 2007.
  23. ↑ "A good day for a Wednesday reunion". The Northern Echo. 12 November 2001. Retrieved 22 July 2007.
  24. ↑ "Ritchie one of the best". Darlington & Stockton Times. 11 January 2002. Retrieved 22 July 2007.
  25. ↑ "Humphreys earns praise from Turner". The Northern Echo. 15 February 2002. Retrieved 22 July 2007.
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 "Ritchie helps Pool to forget Whaddon woe". The Northern Echo. 12 August 2002. Retrieved 22 July 2007.
  27. ↑ "Memorable Moments: Ritchie Humphreys". Frank Reid, Hartlepool Mail: Official Site. Archived from the original on 2 September 2006. Retrieved 22 July 2007.
  28. ↑ Humphreys, Ritchie (2003). From Tears to Cheers. Cheers Promotions. pp. re–Season. ISBN 0-9545696-0-1.
  29. ↑ "Carlisle 1–3 Hartlepool". BBC Sport. 10 August 2002. Retrieved 22 July 2007.
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 "Details – Ritchie Humphreys". In The Mad Crowd. Retrieved 22 July 2007.
  31. ↑ "Humphreys takes top player honour". The Northern Echo. 17 April 2003. Retrieved 22 July 2007.
  32. ↑ "Humphreys looking for new chapter of success". The Northern Echo. 9 August 2003. Retrieved 22 July 2007.
  33. ↑ "Play-off heartache too much for Humphreys". The Northern Echo. 21 May 2004. Retrieved 22 July 2007.
  34. ↑ "Keep it up, skipper tells Boyd". The Northern Echo. 31 March 2004. Retrieved 22 July 2007.
  35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 "Humphreys caps a memorable week with new deal". The Northern Echo. 23 May 2005. Retrieved 22 July 2007.
  36. ↑ "Play-off loss a new low for Humphreys". The Northern Echo. 31 May 2005. Retrieved 22 July 2007.
  37. ↑ "Record breaker". BBC Sport. 6 December 2005. Retrieved 22 July 2007.
  38. ↑ "8: Ritchie Humphreys". Hartlepool: Vital Football. Retrieved 22 July 2007.
  39. ↑ "Humphreys leaves Pools". The Northern Echo. 8 September 2007. Retrieved 22 July 2007.
  40. ↑ "Port Vale keen to keep Humphreys". BBC Sport. 6 October 2006. Retrieved 22 July 2007.
  41. ↑ "Good to be back says Humphreys". North East Football. 12 October 2006. Archived from the original on 18 October 2006. Retrieved 22 July 2007.
  42. ↑ "Post Pilgrim Papers". Hartlepool United F.C. Retrieved 22 July 2007.
  43. ↑ "Humphreys left foot sets Pools apart from the rest". The Northern Echo. 12 February 2007. Retrieved 22 July 2007.
  44. ↑ "Ronaldo secures PFA awards double". BBC Sport. 22 April 2007. Retrieved 22 July 2007.
  45. ↑ "Nelson and Liddle Big Winners". Hartlepool United F.C. 9 May 2007. Retrieved 22 July 2007.
  46. ↑ "Pools duo receive streets honour". BBC Sport. 13 February 2008. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
  47. ↑ "Humphreys is pride of Hartlepool". BBC Sport. 11 January 2007. Retrieved 22 July 2007.
  48. ↑ "Ritchie Humphreys delight at Hartlepool United record". BBC Sport. 28 February 2011. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
  49. ↑ Fraser, Paul (25 February 2011). "Watty's family pay tribute to Humphreys". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 26 February 2011.
  50. ↑ 50.0 50.1 "Hartlepool United 1 Sunderland 3". Peterlee Mail. 2 August 2011. Retrieved 2 August 2011.
  51. ↑ "Hartlepool vs Rochdale". hartlepoolunited.co.uk. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
  52. ↑ "Ritchie Humphreys extends Hartlepool United contract". BBC Sport. 18 May 2012. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
  53. ↑ "Humphreys To Leave Victoria Park". Hartlepool United. Retrieved 21 May 2013.
  54. ↑ "Ritchie Humphreys: Chesterfield sign former Hartlepool full-back". BBC Sport. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  55. ↑ Woodcock, Ian (30 March 2014). "Carlisle 1 - 3 Peterborough". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
  56. ↑ Magowan, Alistair (17 November 2013). "Ritchie Humphreys: Who is the PFA's new chairman?". BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 November 2013.
  57. ↑ Includes other competitive competitions, including the Football League Trophy.
  58. ↑ "Games played by Ritchie Humphreys in 1995/1996". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  59. ↑ "Games played by Ritchie Humphreys in 1996/1997". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  60. ↑ "Games played by Ritchie Humphreys in 1997/1998". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  61. ↑ "Games played by Ritchie Humphreys in 1998/1999". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  62. ↑ 62.0 62.1 62.2 "Games played by Ritchie Humphreys in 1999/2000". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  63. ↑ 63.0 63.1 "Games played by Ritchie Humphreys in 2000/2001". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  64. ↑ "Games played by Ritchie Humphreys in 2001/2002". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  65. ↑ "Games played by Ritchie Humphreys in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  66. ↑ "Games played by Ritchie Humphreys in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  67. ↑ "Games played by Ritchie Humphreys in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  68. ↑ "Games played by Ritchie Humphreys in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  69. ↑ 69.0 69.1 "Games played by Ritchie Humphreys in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  70. ↑ "Games played by Ritchie Humphreys in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  71. ↑ "Games played by Ritchie Humphreys in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  72. ↑ "Games played by Ritchie Humphreys in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  73. ↑ "Games played by Ritchie Humphreys in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  74. ↑ "Games played by Ritchie Humphreys in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  75. ↑ "Games played by Ritchie Humphreys in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
  76. ↑ "Games played by Ritchie Humphreys in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
  77. ↑ Hartlepool United Official Site- Honours List. Last accessed on 25 July 2006.

Bibliography

External links

Non-profit organization positions
Preceded by
Clarke Carlisle		 Chairman of the Professional Footballers' Association
2013– 		Succeeded by
Incumbent