Chris Porter (footballer born 1983)
Encyclopedia
Christopher John "Chris" Porter (born 12 December 1983 in Wigan
, England
) is an English
footballer
, who currently plays for Sheffield United
. Born in Wigan
, England
he has also played for Bury
, Oldham Athletic
, Motherwell
and Derby County
.
, where his form alerted Oldham Athletic who signed him for a fee of £150,000 after going to a tribunal
in 2005. The move proved a successful one and he finished the 2006–07 season
with 22 League One
goals, taking Oldham into the playoffs. However, with Porter's contract was expiring his exploits earned attention from Scotland and there was controversy surrounding Porter when, in June 2007, Dundee United offered Porter a contract. This angered Oldham, who argued that, as under FIFA
directives, they would be entitled to a transfer fee as the player was not moving abroad, as the player is under 24 years old. However, a transfer to Scotland was regarded as a "cross-border transfer" by FIFA and they decreed that no fee would be payable, with Dundee United chairman Eddie Thompson
pointing out that his club has breached no rules in doing this, and were acting in a proper manner. Despite all this, on 27 June 2007, Dundee United announced they would not be signing Porter as he had turned down the move.
on 3 July 2007 and his debut season with them proved to be a huge success. Porter scored 15 league goals, finishing as the club's top goalscorer and joint third highest in the league, helping Motherwell finish third, seven points clear of fourth placed Aberdeen
and qualify for the 2008/09 Uefa Cup
. Porter had a successful start to the 2008/09 season, hitting 9 goals in the first half of the season, but Motherwell's disappointing league form saw him linked with a move back to England in the 2009 January transfer window, including to clubs such as Sheffield United
, Nottingham Forest
and Cardiff City
. Motherwell
manager Mark McGhee
then went on to claim that he would not keep Porter at the club if he wished to continue his career elsewhere. At the end of January it was revealed that Porter was on the verge of a £425,000 move to Football League Championship
side Cardiff City
, but the move was hijacked by Derby County
, who signed the player for an undisclosed fee (believed to be around £400,000) a couple of days later. During his time at Motherwell, Porter scored 27 goals in 65 games in all competitions.
's first signing and joined on a 2½ year deal which took him through until the end of the 2010/11 season. His début came as a 69th minute substitute in a 3–0 win at Plymouth Argyle
on February 7, 2009. His first goals for the club came on his 200th career league appearance, as he grabbed a brace on his full home début in a 2–2 draw with Swansea City on March 3, 2009. He grabbed his third four days later, scoring after just 52 seconds against Bristol City
in a 2–1 win, but it proved to be his last meaningful contribution of the 2008–09 campaign as a hip injury ruled him out for the remainder of the season. Porter returned to take part in the 2009–10 pre-season, including scoring the winner in a 1–0 win at Burton Albion
but aggravated the injury in training in the summer and was ruled out for 9 months after undergoing hip impingement surgery
. He returned to the side in a 0–0 draw away to Preston North End
on 8 December 2009 and scored his first of the season four days later with the header in a 1–0 win away to Watford
, the club's first League away win for 9 months. Porter appeared regularly for Derby through the rest of the campaign as Derby battled relegation, making 10 starts and 12 substitute appearances, scoring three times.
Porter made his first start of the 2010–11 campaign
in a League Cup tie away to Crewe Alexandra
in August 2010 but picked up another injury. After substitute appearances in the next two games, the hip injury ruled Porter out for the next 3 months before he returned to the side with a series of substitute appearances throughout December 2010. After a run of six defeats in seven fixtures, Porter was handed his first league start of the season on New Year's Day 2011 away to Preston North End
and scored twice in a 2-1 Derby victory. Porter's final start of the season came on February 26, 2011 against Sheffield United
and he featured only twice as a substitute after this, with loanees Jamie Ward
and Theo Robinson
often preferred as Derby's forward line. Approaching the end of his contract, questions were raised on Porter's future at the club when he failed to make the 18 man squad for a home fixture against Swansea City
, with academy product Callum Ball
being preferred to him on the bench, despite Porter being fully fit, which saw him linked with a move to Sheffield United
. Derby County subsequently confirmed that Porter would not be offered a new deal. He left Derby having made just 25 starts in two and a half years with the club.
on a two year contract. Porter made his Blades début, starting ironically against his former club Oldham Athletic
in the Blades 2-0 win on the opening day of the 2011-2012 npower League One campaign before scoring his first goal for the club against Yeovil Town
at the end of August at Huish Park
.
Wigan
Wigan is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It stands on the River Douglas, south-west of Bolton, north of Warrington and west-northwest of Manchester. Wigan is the largest settlement in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan and is its administrative centre. The town of Wigan had a total...
, England
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...
) is an 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
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
, who currently plays for Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
. Born in Wigan
Wigan
Wigan is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It stands on the River Douglas, south-west of Bolton, north of Warrington and west-northwest of Manchester. Wigan is the largest settlement in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan and is its administrative centre. The town of Wigan had a total...
, England
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...
he has also played for 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...
, Oldham Athletic
Oldham Athletic A.F.C.
Oldham Athletic Association Football Club is an English association football club based at Boundary Park, on Sheepfoot Lane in Oldham, Greater Manchester. The club currently competes in the Football League One, the third tier of the English league...
, Motherwell
Motherwell F.C.
Motherwell Football & Athletic Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire. The club compete in the Scottish Premier League and are one of only seven teams to have remained in this league since it was founded in 1998...
and Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
.
Early career
Porter started his career at BuryBury 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...
, where his form alerted Oldham Athletic who signed him for a fee of £150,000 after going to a tribunal
Tribunal
A tribunal in the general sense is any person or institution with the authority to judge, adjudicate on, or determine claims or disputes—whether or not it is called a tribunal in its title....
in 2005. The move proved a successful one and he finished the 2006–07 season
2006-07 in English football
The 2006–07 season was the 127th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* The number of divisions at Level 8 of the English football league system increased from four to five...
with 22 League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
goals, taking Oldham into the playoffs. However, with Porter's contract was expiring his exploits earned attention from Scotland and there was controversy surrounding Porter when, in June 2007, Dundee United offered Porter a contract. This angered Oldham, who argued that, as under FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
directives, they would be entitled to a transfer fee as the player was not moving abroad, as the player is under 24 years old. However, a transfer to Scotland was regarded as a "cross-border transfer" by FIFA and they decreed that no fee would be payable, with Dundee United chairman Eddie Thompson
Eddie Thompson
Edward Henry "Eddie" Thompson, OBE was a Scottish businessman, he was the chairman of Scottish football club Dundee United and a well known figure in the Scottish retail industry....
pointing out that his club has breached no rules in doing this, and were acting in a proper manner. Despite all this, on 27 June 2007, Dundee United announced they would not be signing Porter as he had turned down the move.
Motherwell
Porter instead opted to join MotherwellMotherwell F.C.
Motherwell Football & Athletic Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire. The club compete in the Scottish Premier League and are one of only seven teams to have remained in this league since it was founded in 1998...
on 3 July 2007 and his debut season with them proved to be a huge success. Porter scored 15 league goals, finishing as the club's top goalscorer and joint third highest in the league, helping Motherwell finish third, seven points clear of fourth placed Aberdeen
Aberdeen F.C.
Aberdeen Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Aberdeen...
and qualify for the 2008/09 Uefa Cup
UEFA Cup 2008–09
The UEFA Cup 2008–09 was the 38th edition of the UEFA Cup football tournament. The final was played at the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium, home ground of Fenerbahçe, in Istanbul, Turkey, on 20 May 2009. This season was the final one to use the UEFA Cup format; starting in 2009, the event is known as the...
. Porter had a successful start to the 2008/09 season, hitting 9 goals in the first half of the season, but Motherwell's disappointing league form saw him linked with a move back to England in the 2009 January transfer window, including to clubs such as Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
, Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
and Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
. Motherwell
Motherwell F.C.
Motherwell Football & Athletic Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire. The club compete in the Scottish Premier League and are one of only seven teams to have remained in this league since it was founded in 1998...
manager Mark McGhee
Mark McGhee
Mark Edward McGhee is a former Scottish professional football player. McGhee started his career at Greenock Morton in 1975 and spent spells at clubs including Newcastle United, Aberdeen, Hamburg, Celtic, IK Brage and Reading...
then went on to claim that he would not keep Porter at the club if he wished to continue his career elsewhere. At the end of January it was revealed that Porter was on the verge of a £425,000 move to Football League Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
side Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
, but the move was hijacked by Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
, who signed the player for an undisclosed fee (believed to be around £400,000) a couple of days later. During his time at Motherwell, Porter scored 27 goals in 65 games in all competitions.
Derby County
Porter was new Derby manager Nigel CloughNigel Clough
Nigel Howard Clough is an English former footballer and the current manager of Derby County. Playing predominately as a striker, but later in his career was used as a midfielder, Clough was capped by England 14 times in the early 1990s....
's first signing and joined on a 2½ year deal which took him through until the end of the 2010/11 season. His début came as a 69th minute substitute in a 3–0 win at Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
on February 7, 2009. His first goals for the club came on his 200th career league appearance, as he grabbed a brace on his full home début in a 2–2 draw with Swansea City on March 3, 2009. He grabbed his third four days later, scoring after just 52 seconds against 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...
in a 2–1 win, but it proved to be his last meaningful contribution of the 2008–09 campaign as a hip injury ruled him out for the remainder of the season. Porter returned to take part in the 2009–10 pre-season, including scoring the winner in a 1–0 win at Burton Albion
Burton Albion F.C.
Burton Albion Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire. The club's home ground is the Pirelli Stadium, having moved from Eton Park in 2005...
but aggravated the injury in training in the summer and was ruled out for 9 months after undergoing hip impingement surgery
Femoral Acetabular Impingement
Femoroacetabular Impingement or hip impingement syndrome is a condition affecting the hip joint in young and middle-aged adults. Impingement occurs when the ball shaped femoral head rubs abnormally or doesn't have full range of motion in the acetabular socket...
. He returned to the side in a 0–0 draw away to Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
on 8 December 2009 and scored his first of the season four days later with the header in a 1–0 win away to Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
, the club's first League away win for 9 months. Porter appeared regularly for Derby through the rest of the campaign as Derby battled relegation, making 10 starts and 12 substitute appearances, scoring three times.
Porter made his first start of the 2010–11 campaign
2010–11 Derby County F.C. season
The 2010–11 season was Derby County's 112th season in the Football League. It was their third consecutive season in the second tier following the previous campaign and their 43rd overall. The club entered the season with odds of 25/1 for the title, the same as the previous year, 6–1 to be promoted...
in a League Cup tie away to Crewe Alexandra
Crewe Alexandra F.C.
Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club...
in August 2010 but picked up another injury. After substitute appearances in the next two games, the hip injury ruled Porter out for the next 3 months before he returned to the side with a series of substitute appearances throughout December 2010. After a run of six defeats in seven fixtures, Porter was handed his first league start of the season on New Year's Day 2011 away to Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
and scored twice in a 2-1 Derby victory. Porter's final start of the season came on February 26, 2011 against Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
and he featured only twice as a substitute after this, with loanees Jamie Ward
Jamie Ward
Jamie John Ward is an English-born Northern Irish international professional footballer, who plays as a midfielder or forward for Derby County...
and Theo Robinson
Theo Robinson
Theo Laroyan R. S. Robinson is an English footballer who plays for Football League Championship side Derby County.-Watford:...
often preferred as Derby's forward line. Approaching the end of his contract, questions were raised on Porter's future at the club when he failed to make the 18 man squad for a home fixture against Swansea City
Swansea City A.F.C.
Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...
, with academy product Callum Ball
Callum Ball
Callum Reece Ball is a professional footballer, currently playing for Football League Championship side Derby County. He plays as a striker.-Playing career:...
being preferred to him on the bench, despite Porter being fully fit, which saw him linked with a move to Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
. Derby County subsequently confirmed that Porter would not be offered a new deal. He left Derby having made just 25 starts in two and a half years with the club.
Sheffield United
On 15 July 2011, Porter signed for Sheffield UnitedSheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
on a two year contract. Porter made his Blades début, starting ironically against his former club Oldham Athletic
Oldham Athletic A.F.C.
Oldham Athletic Association Football Club is an English association football club based at Boundary Park, on Sheepfoot Lane in Oldham, Greater Manchester. The club currently competes in the Football League One, the third tier of the English league...
in the Blades 2-0 win on the opening day of the 2011-2012 npower League One campaign before scoring his first goal for the club against Yeovil Town
Yeovil Town F.C.
Yeovil Town F.C. are an English association football team based in Yeovil, Somerset. The club play in League One after having won the League Two championship in 2004–05...
at the end of August at Huish Park
Huish Park
Huish Park is a football ground in the suburbs of Yeovil, Somerset, England and is the home ground of Yeovil Town Football Club. The stadium replaced the club's previous ground, The Huish famous for numerous FA Cup giant-killings was officially opened on 4 August 1990, with a match against then...
.