View source for Alec Chamberlain

{{Short description|English footballer (born 1964)}}
{{Distinguish|Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Alec Chamberlain
| image = Alec Chamberlain 2014.jpg
| caption = Chamberlain as a goalkeeping coach for Watford
| full_name = Alec Francis Roy Chamberlain<ref name="Hugman2003-04">{{Cite book | editor-first = Barry J. | editor-last = Hugman | title = The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2003/2004 | year = 2003 | publisher = Queen Anne Press | isbn = 1-85291-651-6 | page = 83 }}</ref>
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1964|6|20|df=y}}<ref name="Hugman2003-04"/>
| birth_place = [[March, Cambridgeshire|March]], England<ref name="Hugman2003-04"/>
| height = {{height|ft=6|in=2}}<ref name="Hugman2003-04"/>
| position = [[Goalkeeper (association football)|Goalkeeper]]
| currentclub = 
| youthyears1 = 1980–1981
| youthclubs1 = [[Ramsey Town F.C.|Ramsey Town]]
| years1 = 1981–1982
| clubs1 = [[Ipswich Town F.C.|Ipswich Town]]
| caps1 = 0
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 1982–1987
| clubs2 = [[Colchester United F.C.|Colchester United]]
| caps2 = 188
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 1987–1988
| clubs3 = [[Everton F.C.|Everton]]
| caps3 = 0
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 1987–1988
| clubs4 = → [[Tranmere Rovers F.C.|Tranmere Rovers]] (loan)
| caps4 = 15
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 1988–1993
| clubs5 = [[Luton Town F.C.|Luton Town]]
| caps5 = 138
| goals5 = 0
| years6 = 1992
| clubs6 = → [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] (loan)
| caps6 = 0
| goals6 = 0
| years7 = 1993–1996
| clubs7 = [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]]
| caps7 = 90
| goals7 = 0
| years8 = 1995
| clubs8 = → [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] (loan)
| caps8 = 0
| goals8 = 0
| years9 = 1996–2007
| clubs9 = [[Watford F.C.|Watford]]
| caps9 = 247
| goals9 = 0
| totalcaps = 678
| totalgoals = 0
}}
'''Alec Francis Roy Chamberlain''' (born 20 June 1964) is an English former professional [[association football|footballer]] who played as a [[goalkeeper (association football)|goalkeeper]]. He made 788 league appearances during his 25-year playing career, the final 11 years and 247 appearances of which were with Watford.

==Career==
Chamberlain started his career at [[Ipswich Town F.C.|Ipswich]] as a trainee, but didn't make a single appearance for the club, moving to [[Colchester United F.C.|Colchester]] in 1982. He spent 5 years at Layer Road before joining [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] for £80,000. However, the then 23-year-old was unable to displace established Everton goalkeeper [[Neville Southall]], and his only appearances in the [[1987–88 in English football|1987–88]] season were during a loan spell at [[Tranmere Rovers F.C.|Tranmere]].

Having failed to make a single first team appearance for Everton in a year there, Chamberlain signed for [[Luton Town F.C.|Luton Town]] in the summer of 1988 whilst living in Northampton, where he ousted [[Les Sealey]] after Sealey had a poor game in the League Cup final against [[Nottingham Forest]]. Chamberlain became first choice goalkeeper for the next four seasons. He did have a loan spell as understudy to [[Dave Beasant]] at [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] in the [[1992–93 in English football|1992–93]], but didn't make any first team appearances.<ref name=soccerbase>{{cite web|url=http://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=1400|title=Alec Chamberlain|publisher=Centurycomm|work=[[Soccerbase]]|access-date=23 February 2011}}</ref>

After signing for [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]] in 1993, Chamberlain played regularly, making 90 league appearances over 3 years. He was part of the team that was promoted in [[1995–96 in English football|1995–96]].<ref name=soccerbase/> Towards the end of the [[1994–95 in English football|1994–95 season]], he was loaned to [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] as understudy to [[David James (footballer, born 1970)|David James]] after previous deputy [[Michael Stensgaard]] dislocated a shoulder in an ironing incident. Despite never playing a game for the [[Anfield]] side he collected a [[Football League Cup]] winner's medal as he was a non-playing substitute in the final.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/threecounties/content/articles/2005/01/10/chamberlain_lfc_watford_links_feature.shtml|title=Alec's Liverpool honour|publisher=BBC Three Counties|date=10 January 2005|access-date=23 February 2011}}</ref>

In the summer of 1996 he was allowed to join recently [[Promotion and relegation|relegated]] [[Watford F.C.|Watford]], who paid £40,000 for him.<ref name=soccerbase/> He started off unable to get in the team, but finally played when first-choice goalkeeper and two-time [[Watford F.C. Player of the Season|Player of the Season]] [[Kevin Miller (footballer)|Kevin Miller]] was sold to [[Crystal Palace F.C.|Crystal Palace]] in the 1997 close season. Now the first-choice goalkeeper, he was part of the Division Two Championship winning side in [[1997–98 in English football|1997–98]], becoming Player of the Season in the process.<ref name=pots>{{Cite web|url=http://www.watfordfc.com/page/Awards/0,,10400~1034010,00.html |title=Player of the Season |publisher=Watford Football Club |access-date=23 February 2011 |date=16 October 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719150237/http://www.watfordfc.com/page/Awards/0%2C%2C10400~1034010%2C00.html |archive-date=19 July 2011 }}</ref> He continued to play an important role as Watford gained promotion to the [[Premier League]] in 1999. In the playoff semi-final second leg against [[Birmingham City F.C.|Birmingham City]], his save denied Birmingham a winning goal, and won the match for Watford with a [[Penalty shootout (association football)|penalty shootout]] save from [[Chris Holland]] in sudden-death.<ref>{{cite news |title=Hornets sting the Blues |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/349123.stm|publisher=[[BBC]]|date=20 May 1999 |access-date=2 December 2016}}</ref> He appeared at [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley]] when Watford beat [[Bolton Wanderers F.C.|Bolton Wanderers]] 2–0 in the [[1999 Football League First Division play-off final|final]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/357452.stm|title=Watford back in the big time|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=29 October 2010|date=31 May 1999}}</ref>

In Watford's [[1999–2000 Watford F.C. season|Premiership campaign]], Chamberlain started off with an injury, and had to wait six games before he could play again. Watford were relegated to Division One at the end of the season. The club signed [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham]] goalkeeper [[Espen Baardsen]], and the two players competed for the starting position through the [[2000–01 in English football|2000–01]] season. When [[Gianluca Vialli]] arrived as Watford manager at the end of the season, he selected Baardsen as his first choice, but Chamberlain returned to the side in October 2001 and kept his place, finishing as Player of the Season for the second time in five years.<ref name=pots/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/football-league/chamberlain-keeps-viallis-house-in-winning-order-748093.html|title=Chamberlain keeps Vialli's house in winning order|first=Ronald|last=Atkin|date=16 December 2001|access-date=23 February 2011|work=[[The Independent]]}}{{dead link|date=August 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

Under [[Ray Lewington]], he was first-choice for the whole of the [[2002–03 Watford F.C. season|2002–03 season]]. In [[2003–04 in English football|2003–04]] he started as first-choice, but lost his place to [[Lenny Pidgeley]] for several months, before regaining his place towards the end of the campaign.<ref name=soccerbase/> Chamberlain, now 40, took the job of goalkeeping coach in the autumn of 2004.

Chamberlain was given a testimonial by Watford. With Chamberlain in goal Watford lost to Premiership side [[Charlton Athletic F.C.|Charlton Athletic]] 2–1. Various events were run throughout the season to celebrate Chamberlain's 10 years at the club.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://goalden.watfordmuseum.org.uk/news.html|title=Watford Museum: Exhibitions about Watford Football Club|publisher=Watford Museum|access-date=29 October 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101101115309/http://goalden.watfordmuseum.org.uk/news.html|archive-date=1 November 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On 20 July 2006, after Watford's promotion to the Premier League via the Championship playoffs, he signed a new one-year contract keeping him as player at [[Vicarage Road]] until summer 2007 making him, at 42, the oldest [[Premier League]] player in [[2006–07 Watford F.C. season|2006–07]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/watford/5199232.stm |title=Chamberlain extends Watford deal |access-date=20 July 2006 |date=20 July 2006 |publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref> On 13 May 2007, Chamberlain came on as a substitute to become one of the oldest Premier League players ever. On 19 May 2007, it was announced that Chamberlain would be retiring from playing and would concentrate on his coaching role at the club.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.watfordfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10400~1027381,00.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120805205219/http://www.watfordfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10400~1027381,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 August 2012 |title=New page for Chamberlain |access-date=24 May 2007 |date=19 May 2007 |publisher=Watford Football Club }}</ref>

==Honours==
'''Everton'''
* [[FA Community Shield|FA Charity Shield]]: [[1987 FA Charity Shield|1987]]<ref>{{cite web
|url=https://www.ccfpa.co.uk/?p=46577
|title=Blast From The Past: On This Day 1987 – City's Second Wembley Date Delivers Defeat In Charity Shield
|publisher=ccfpa.co.uk
|access-date=23 October 2019}}</ref>

'''Liverpool'''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.Coludaybyday.co.uk/Statistics/Player%20Stats/PlayerHonours/PlayerLeagueCup.html |title=League Cup Honours |work=Coludaybyday.co.uk |access-date=10 February 2022 |archive-date=4 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161104010532/http://www.coludaybyday.co.uk/Statistics/Player |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[Football League Cup]]: 1994–95

'''Sunderland'''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.Coludaybyday.co.uk/Statistics/Player%20Stats/PlayerHonours/PlayerTheChampionship.html |title=Tier Two (Championship) Honours |work=Coludaybyday.co.uk |access-date=10 February 2022 |archive-date=26 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926130835/http://www.coludaybyday.co.uk/Statistics/Player |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[Football League Division One]]: 1995–96

'''Watford'''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.Coludaybyday.co.uk/Statistics/Player%20Stats/PlayerHonours/PlayerChampionshipPlayoff.html |title=Division One (Championship) Play-Off Finalists |work=Coludaybyday.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.Coludaybyday.co.uk/Statistics/Player%20Stats/PlayerHonours/PlayerLeagueOne.html |title=Tier Three (League One) Honours |work=Coludaybyday.co.uk |access-date=10 February 2022 |archive-date=29 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181229031358/http://www.coludaybyday.co.uk/Statistics/Player |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[Football League Division One]] Playoff: 1998–99
* [[Football League Second Division]]: 1997–98

'''Individual'''
* [[PFA Team of the Year]]: 1997–98<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.Coludaybyday.co.uk/Statistics/Player%20Stats/PlayerHonours/PlayerIndividualHonours.html |title=Individual Awards |work=Coludaybyday.co.uk}}</ref>
* [[Colchester United F.C.|Colchester United]] Player of the Year: 1985<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.Coludaybyday.co.uk/Statistics/Player%20Stats/PlayerPOTS.html |title=Colchester United Player of the Season |work=Coludaybyday.co.uk |access-date=9 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171026002700/http://www.coludaybyday.co.uk/Statistics/Player%20Stats/PlayerPOTS.html |archive-date=26 October 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[Watford F.C.|Watford]] Player of the Season: 1997–98, 2001–02

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Soccerbase}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120717090107/http://www.alecchamberlain.com/ Alec Chamberlain's official website]

{{Navboxes
|title = Awards
|bg = gold
|fg = navy
|list1 =
{{1997–98 Football League Second Division PFA Team of the Year}}
{{Colchester United F.C. Player of the Year}}
{{Watford F.C. Player of the Season}}
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chamberlain, Alec}}
[[Category:1964 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:English men's footballers]]
[[Category:People from March, Cambridgeshire]]
[[Category:Men's association football goalkeepers]]
[[Category:Ipswich Town F.C. players]]
[[Category:Colchester United F.C. players]]
[[Category:Everton F.C. players]]
[[Category:Tranmere Rovers F.C. players]]
[[Category:Luton Town F.C. players]]
[[Category:Chelsea F.C. players]]
[[Category:Sunderland A.F.C. players]]
[[Category:Liverpool F.C. players]]
[[Category:Watford F.C. players]]
[[Category:Watford F.C. non-playing staff]]
[[Category:Premier League players]]
[[Category:English Football League players]]
[[Category:Association football goalkeeping coaches]]
[[Category:Footballers from Cambridgeshire]]