User:Ytfc23/YTFC Sandbox/Chris Weale

Christopher Weale (born 9 February 1982) is an English former professional footballer who is currently director of football at Sherborne School.

A goalkeeper, Weale started his career at his hometown club Yeovil Town joining the club's youth system in the summer of 1999, before making his debut for the first team in October 2000.


 * First team regular under Johnson
 * Trophy final, England honours, Conference title
 * In PFA teams of the year first two seasons in Football League, promotion to League One
 * Injury and departure from Yeovil
 * Rejoins Johnson at City
 * Struggles with injury and to get first team football
 * Loan spells, including scoring for Yeovil
 * Move to Leicester, first choice for two seasons until arrival of new investment, Sven and Schmeichel
 * Spell with Shrewsbury
 * Return to Yeovil under Johnson, move into coaching and release

Bristol City
Upon the expiry of his Yeovil contract despite being ruled out with injury until the end of 2006, Weale signed for fellow League One side Bristol City on a one-year contract linking up with former manager Gary Johnson. On 10 February 2007, Weale made his Bristol City debut as a second half substitute after keeper Adriano Basso was sent off for handling the ball outside of his area.

Loan to Hereford United
On 9 August 2007, Weale signed for League Two side Hereford United on a one month loan deal. Weale made his debut in Hereford's opening match of the season, a 0–0 draw against Rotherham United, on 10 August 2007. It would turn out to be Weale's only appearance in his loan spell, as after an injury to Adriano Basso he was recalled to Bristol City.

Return to Bristol City

 * Returned to Bristol City, after Basso's injury played four matches until the end of August
 * Only one more appearance that season in December
 * 2008–09 started season as first choice until September

Loan to Hereford United
On 27 November 2008, Weale went on loan to Hereford United for a second time on a month's loan deal. He made his second debut for Hereford in a 2–1 away victory over Colchester United, on 6 December 2008. On 12 December 2008, Weale then suffered a thumb injury in training and returned to Bristol City having only made one appearance for Hereford.

Loan to Yeovil Town
On 17 March 2009, Weale rejoined Yeovil Town on an initial month's loan deal, after regular goalkeeper Josh Wagenaar's sending off against Brighton & Hove Albion. His loan move was partially funded by Green and White Supporters Club. Weale made his second debut for Yeovil keeping a clean sheet in a 0–0 draw against Milton Keynes Dons, on 21 March 2009. After keeping four clean sheets in his first four appearances, Weale extended his loan spell at Yeovil until the end of the season. After extending his loan spell, Weale extended his run of clean sheets to five with a shutout in a 2–0 victory over Millwall, on 10 April 2009. On 21 April 2009, Weale scored a late equaliser in a 2–2 draw against rivals Hereford United, which all but secured their League One safety, becoming one of the few goalkeepers to score a professional goal. The goal won Sky Sports goal of the week beating goals from Andrey Arshavin and Robinho. Weale ended his loan spell having made 10 appearances scoring once and keeping five clean sheets for Yeovil.

Return to Bristol City

 * Comments by Johnson
 * Struggles with injury during time a Bristol City

Leicester City
With no new contract offer forthcoming at Bristol City, on 29 May 2009, Weale moved to fellow Championship side Leicester City signing a pre-contract agreement to join upon the expiry of his contact.
 * Two seasons as first choice
 * Replaced by Kasper Schmeichel

Loan to Northampton Town
On 20 January 2012, having only made three appearances for Leicester during the 2011–12 season, Weale joined League Two side Northampton Town on a month's loan deal. After making three appearances for Northampton, he suffered a knee injury which saw him return to Leicester City.

Return to Leicester City
Upon his return from Northampton Town, Weale was one of six players to be released by Leicester City at the end of the season.

Shrewsbury Town
Having been released by Leicester City, on 6 July 2012, Weale signed for newly promoted League One side Shrewsbury Town.

Yeovil Town
After the expiry of his Shrewsbury contract, on 30 June 2014, Weale rejoined League One side Yeovil Town on a two-year contract, linking up with Gary Johnson for a third time.
 * Started the season as first choice but replaced when Johnson brought in Kean on loan

Loan to Burton Albon
With both Weale and Artur Krysiak out of favour at Yeovil, on 15 November 2014, Weale joined League Two side Burton Albion on a one-month loan deal, as new manager Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's first signing. Weale only made two unused substitutes appearances for Burton before an ankle injury suffered in training saw him return to Yeovil for treatment.

Return to Yeovil Town
While the injury that Weale suffered, in December 2014, on loan at Burton Albion was initially diagnosed as an ankle problem he was later shown to have fractured three bones in his foot, which made for a longer period out of action and only returned to training in March 2015. He made his return from injury, on 25 April 2015, after Yeovil's relegation to League Two had already been confirmed appearing in a 2–1 defeat against Port Vale. At the end of the season despite having a year left on his contract Weale was offered a fresh deal by manager Paul Sturrock, that saw him combine playing with taking up a new role as the club's goalkeeper coach.
 * Started as first choice in 2015/16 season but usurped by Krysiak
 * After Krysiak's sending off in FA Cup run in the team until mistake against Plymouth
 * Left the club at the end of the season

Academic career

 * Work at Sherborne School post-retirement

Personal life

 * Twin brother Sam Weale
 * Wife and two children

Honours

 * Yeovil Town
 * Football League Two: 2004–05
 * Football Conference: 2002–03
 * FA Trophy: 2001–02


 * England National Game XI
 * Four Nations Tournament: 2003


 * Individual
 * Conference Team of the Year: 2002–03
 * PFA Third Division Team of the Year: 2003–04
 * PFA League Two Team of the Year: 2004–05