Bas Savage
Encyclopedia
Basir "Bas" Mohammed Savage (born 7 January 1982 in London
) is a professional English
footballer who plays as a striker
for Northampton Town
. He is known for his trademark moonwalk
goal celebration
and his outrageous hairstyles which have gained him cult fame on TV's Soccer AM
.
in 2002 after moving from non-league
Walton & Hersham
, where, after a very promising start, he was struck by a career threatening injury that kept him out of the game for almost a year. After Reading appointed Steve Coppell
as manager, Savage struggled to get a place back in the team, and was used as a utility midfielder, often playing on the right wing. Despite some good performances in 2003 (notably one against Chelsea
in the League Cup
) and spending a couple of sessions on loan to Bury
and Wycombe Wanderers
, Savage was eventually released by Reading. He then joined Forest Green Rovers
on trial and impressed but rejected the chance to join Forest Green when Bristol City
moved in for him.
, and a host of other clubs, Savage finally decided to sign for Bristol City
on a short-term contract. He was soon a favourite of Gary Johnson
during his time at Bristol City, and he finally quickly scored his first League goal - a header against Scunthorpe United
. He soon won over the City fans, not just by scoring his first goal but with his extravagant style of play. However, he was relegated to the substitutes bench following the arrival of Mark McCammon
, before finally leaving the club after being released from his contract.
after manager Ronnie Jepson
decided they would 'have a good look at him before deciding on a long term decision'. He made his debut for Gillingham as a second half substitute for Clint Easton
in a 2-1 home win over Cheltenham Town
.
His first start came in a 3-2 away win over Tranmere Rovers on 23 December. Following starts in Gillingham's following games, a Boxing Day home match against Leyton Orient
where he was involved in the build up to Gillingham's first goal, an own goal scored by Brian Saah
.
Having impressed Jepson during his initial three months at Gillingham, Savage signed for a further month in late December and scored his first goal on 20 January 2007, in a 1-1 draw away to the team he made his debut against, Cheltenham Town
.
.
His career at Brighton got off to a flying start, with four goals in his first eight appearances for his new club. His goals for the club has meant he had doubled his goals tally with Brighton compared to what he achieved throughout his whole career combined.
It was his move to Brighton which was the catalyst for his newly found cult status. TV show Soccer AM
picked up on his moonwalk
goal celebrations and now broadcast every one of his moonwalk celebrations. The feature 'I wanna be like Bas Savage' is broadcast every weekend morning. He even had his own T-shirt made to highlight his goal celebration.
Savage started new contract talks with Brighton
chairman Dick Knight during November 2007. Knight has been quoted as saying that he offered the player a new improved 18-month contract. It was revealed on Boxing Day
2007 that Savage had turned this deal down.
on 24 February 2008, on a contract that ran until the end of the season.
, joined Tranmere Rovers
on a two-year contract. He scored a goal on his début, away to Swindon Town
on the opening day of the 2008–09 season. On 11 May 2010 it was announced that Bas would not be offered a new contract at Tranmere.
Ahead of the 2010–11 season, Savage was on trial with League Two
side Stevenage, coming on as a substitute in the club's 0–0 draw against Norwich City
. On 17 August 2010 he played as a trialist for Torquay United
's reserve team
, but was not signed by the club.
, making his début on 18 September in a 3–0 home defeat by Bristol Rovers
. In May 2011 Dagenham announced the release of Savage at the end of his contract.
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
) is a professional English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
footballer who plays as a striker
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
for Northampton Town
Northampton Town F.C.
Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season...
. He is known for his trademark moonwalk
Moonwalk (dance)
The moonwalk or backslide is a dance technique that presents the illusion of the dancer being pulled backwards while attempting to walk forward. A popping move, it became most popular around the world after Michael Jackson executed the dance move during a performance of "Billie Jean" on Motown 25:...
goal celebration
Goal celebration
In football, a goal celebration is the practice of celebrating the scoring of a goal. The celebration may be performed by the goalscorer , his or her teammates, the manager or coaching staff and/or the supporters of the team...
and his outrageous hairstyles which have gained him cult fame on TV's Soccer AM
Soccer AM
Soccer AM is a British Saturday-morning football-based comedy/talk show, predominantly based around the Premier League...
.
Starting out at Reading
Savage started his professional career at ReadingReading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
in 2002 after moving from non-league
Non-league football
Non-League football is football in England played at a level below that of the Premier League and The Football League. The term non-League was commonly used well before 1992 when the top football clubs in England all belonged to The Football League; all clubs who were not a part of The Football...
Walton & Hersham
Walton & Hersham F.C.
Walton & Hersham F.C. is an English football club located in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, currently playing in the Isthmian League Division One South. They play in a red and white home kit at Stompond Lane....
, where, after a very promising start, he was struck by a career threatening injury that kept him out of the game for almost a year. After Reading appointed Steve Coppell
Steve Coppell
Stephen James "Steve" Coppell is an English former footballer and manager, currently without a club.As a player, he was a highly regarded right winger known for his speed and work rate. He won domestic honours with Manchester United and represented England at the World Cup...
as manager, Savage struggled to get a place back in the team, and was used as a utility midfielder, often playing on the right wing. Despite some good performances in 2003 (notably one against Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
in the League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
) and spending a couple of sessions on loan to Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
and Wycombe Wanderers
Wycombe Wanderers F.C.
Wycombe Wanderers Football Club is an English professional football team from High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, which has been promoted to Football League One after finishing third in Football League Two in the season 2010–11. The club's nicknames are "The Chairboys" and "The Blues", and they play...
, Savage was eventually released by Reading. He then joined Forest Green Rovers
Forest Green Rovers F.C.
Forest Green Rovers Football Club is an English football club based in Nailsworth, Gloucestershire, currently the longest-serving members of the Conference National. The club is affiliated to the Gloucestershire County FA.-Early years:...
on trial and impressed but rejected the chance to join Forest Green when Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
moved in for him.
Bristol City
After being courted by Coventry CityCoventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
, and a host of other clubs, Savage finally decided to sign for Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
on a short-term contract. He was soon a favourite of Gary Johnson
Gary Johnson (footballer)
Gary Johnson is an English football manager and former player. He was most recently the manager of Npower League Two's Northampton Town....
during his time at Bristol City, and he finally quickly scored his first League goal - a header against Scunthorpe United
Scunthorpe United F.C.
Scunthorpe United Football Club is an English association football team based in the town of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, who play in the Football League One....
. He soon won over the City fans, not just by scoring his first goal but with his extravagant style of play. However, he was relegated to the substitutes bench following the arrival of Mark McCammon
Mark McCammon
Mark Jason McCammon is an English-born Barbadian international football striker.Starting his career with Cambridge United in 1997, two years later he moved on to Charlton Athletic. In 2000 he was loaned out to Swindon Town, before signing with Brentford. He found regular football at Brentford,...
, before finally leaving the club after being released from his contract.
Stint at Gillingham
On 28 September 2006, Savage signed a three month contract with GillinghamGillingham F.C.
Gillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent. The only Kent-based club in the Football League, they play their home matches at the Priestfield Stadium...
after manager Ronnie Jepson
Ronnie Jepson
Ronald Francis "Ronnie" Jepson is an English former footballer and manager, now working as development coach at Queens Park Rangers....
decided they would 'have a good look at him before deciding on a long term decision'. He made his debut for Gillingham as a second half substitute for Clint Easton
Clint Easton
Clint Easton is an English professional footballer who currently plays for Ebbsfleet United in the Conference South.-Club career:...
in a 2-1 home win over Cheltenham Town
Cheltenham Town F.C.
Cheltenham Town Football Club is an English football club playing in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. Founded in 1887, the team has played at four different grounds, namely Agg-Gardner's Recreation Ground, Carter's Field and now the Abbey Business Stadium, although it is more...
.
His first start came in a 3-2 away win over Tranmere Rovers on 23 December. Following starts in Gillingham's following games, a Boxing Day home match against Leyton Orient
Leyton Orient F.C.
Leyton Orient F.C. are an English professional football club in East London. They currently play in Football League One and are known to their fans as the O's.Leyton Orient have spent one season in the top flight of English football, in 1962–63...
where he was involved in the build up to Gillingham's first goal, an own goal scored by Brian Saah
Brian Saah
Brian Ebo Saah is an English footballer who plays for Torquay United.-Club career:Despite starting as a central midfielder, Saah was converted to a central defender and won praise for his displays deputising for first team regulars John Mackie and Gabriel Zakuani during the 2005–06...
.
Having impressed Jepson during his initial three months at Gillingham, Savage signed for a further month in late December and scored his first goal on 20 January 2007, in a 1-1 draw away to the team he made his debut against, Cheltenham Town
Cheltenham Town F.C.
Cheltenham Town Football Club is an English football club playing in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. Founded in 1887, the team has played at four different grounds, namely Agg-Gardner's Recreation Ground, Carter's Field and now the Abbey Business Stadium, although it is more...
.
Saga at Brighton
On 31 January 2007, Savage was released from his deal at Gillingham after failing to agree new contract terms, and on 2 February 2007 he signed a one-year deal at Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....
.
His career at Brighton got off to a flying start, with four goals in his first eight appearances for his new club. His goals for the club has meant he had doubled his goals tally with Brighton compared to what he achieved throughout his whole career combined.
It was his move to Brighton which was the catalyst for his newly found cult status. TV show Soccer AM
Soccer AM
Soccer AM is a British Saturday-morning football-based comedy/talk show, predominantly based around the Premier League...
picked up on his moonwalk
Moonwalk (dance)
The moonwalk or backslide is a dance technique that presents the illusion of the dancer being pulled backwards while attempting to walk forward. A popping move, it became most popular around the world after Michael Jackson executed the dance move during a performance of "Billie Jean" on Motown 25:...
goal celebrations and now broadcast every one of his moonwalk celebrations. The feature 'I wanna be like Bas Savage' is broadcast every weekend morning. He even had his own T-shirt made to highlight his goal celebration.
Savage started new contract talks with Brighton
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....
chairman Dick Knight during November 2007. Knight has been quoted as saying that he offered the player a new improved 18-month contract. It was revealed on Boxing Day
Boxing Day
Boxing Day is a bank or public holiday that occurs on 26 December, or the first or second weekday after Christmas Day, depending on national or regional laws. It is observed in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and some other Commonwealth nations. In Ireland, it is recognized as...
2007 that Savage had turned this deal down.
Millwall
Savage signed for MillwallMillwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
on 24 February 2008, on a contract that ran until the end of the season.
Tranmere Rovers
On 9 July 2008 Savage, along with ex-Brighton teammate George O'CallaghanGeorge O'Callaghan
George Paul O'Callaghan, Jr., is an Irish football player who plays as an attacking midfielder for DPMM FC....
, joined Tranmere Rovers
Tranmere Rovers F.C.
Tranmere Rovers Football Club are an English team based in Birkenhead, Wirral. The club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system...
on a two-year contract. He scored a goal on his début, away to Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
on the opening day of the 2008–09 season. On 11 May 2010 it was announced that Bas would not be offered a new contract at Tranmere.
Ahead of the 2010–11 season, Savage was on trial with League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
side Stevenage, coming on as a substitute in the club's 0–0 draw against Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
. On 17 August 2010 he played as a trialist for Torquay United
Torquay United F.C.
Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...
's reserve team
Reserve team
Large professional sports clubs often have far more players under contract than could possibly play in a match. As a result, many of these clubs create second teams composed of players who need playing time, but have little hope of playing on the first team. The players on this second team are...
, but was not signed by the club.
Dagenham & Redbridge
In September 2010 Savage signed a short-term contract with Dagenham & RedbridgeDagenham & Redbridge F.C.
Dagenham & Redbridge Football Club , informally known as Daggers, is an English association football club based in Dagenham, in the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham, East London. It was formed in 1992 after a merger between Redbridge Forest and Dagenham...
, making his début on 18 September in a 3–0 home defeat by Bristol Rovers
Bristol Rovers F.C.
Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city....
. In May 2011 Dagenham announced the release of Savage at the end of his contract.