Chris Slater
Encyclopedia
Christopher James "Chris" Slater (born 14 January 1984) is an English
footballer who plays for Northern Premier League Premier Division
side Chasetown
.
He had given up on becoming a professional footballer in 2005 after being released by Wolves
, and joined non-league Chasetown. However after victory over Port Vale
in the FA Cup
in December 2007, he turned pro at Vale Park
. He spent eleven months in the Football League
, before returning to Chasetown. He helped the club to win promotion in 2010
.
in 2005 without a first team appearances to his name, Slater joined non-league Chasetown
. Helping the "Chase" take Oldham Athletic
to a replay at Boundary Park
in the first round of the FA Cup
in November 2005 was just the beginning of Slater's and Chasetown's cup adventures.
By April 2006 he had won a trial with Tranmere Rovers
, and was also being looked at by Blackpool
and Crewe Alexandra
, all Football League
clubs. He was at The Scholar Ground for the first season of the new Southern League Division One Midlands
tier (2006–07).
He really came to prominence when he played in Chasetown’s 1–0 FA Cup victory over League One
Port Vale
in December 2007. In doing this he helped Chasetown become the lowest ever ranked club to reach as far as the Third Round (proper) of the FA Cup. Vale was the eighth club Chasetown had vanquished in their campaign that season. In his three years at the club he had played 146 league games for the "Scholars", scoring one goal.
's Port Vale
, along with Chasetown team mate Kyle Perry
, in January 2008 for a nominal fee and gave up his day job as a block paver
. He made his League One
as a 70th minute substitute in a 2–0 defeat to Swansea City
on 19 January 2008. He played four further league games that season
, all of them defeats as the Vale were relegated
into League Two
.
After appearing in six league and two cup games for the "Valiants" in 2008–09
, Slater was released from his contract in mid-November, and subsequently re-joined Chasetown.
, helping the club gain promotion out of the Northern Premier League Division One South
via the play-offs with a 1–0 win over Glapwell
. He remained at the club throughout 2010–11
, as the club competed at the seventh level of the English football league pyramid
for the first time in its history.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
footballer who plays for Northern Premier League Premier Division
Northern Premier League Premier Division
The Premier Division is the top division of the Northern Premier League. It is at Step 3 of the National League System, placing it six divisions below the Premier League...
side Chasetown
Chasetown F.C.
Chasetown Football Club is an English football club based in the Chasetown area of Burntwood, Staffordshire. The club currently plays in the Northern Premier League Premier Division and is nicknamed The Scholars, having been formed by affiliates of nearby Chase Terrace High School in the Chase...
.
He had given up on becoming a professional footballer in 2005 after being released by Wolves
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
, and joined non-league Chasetown. However after victory over Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
in the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
in December 2007, he turned pro at Vale Park
Vale Park
Vale Park is a football stadium in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, England. It is the home ground of Port Vale F.C., who have played at the ground since 1950....
. He spent eleven months in the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
, before returning to Chasetown. He helped the club to win promotion in 2010
2009–10 Northern Premier League
The 2009–10 season was the 42nd season for the Northern Premier League Premier Division, and the third season for the Northern Premier League Division One North and South....
.
Chasetown
Released from Wolverhampton WanderersWolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
in 2005 without a first team appearances to his name, Slater joined non-league Chasetown
Chasetown F.C.
Chasetown Football Club is an English football club based in the Chasetown area of Burntwood, Staffordshire. The club currently plays in the Northern Premier League Premier Division and is nicknamed The Scholars, having been formed by affiliates of nearby Chase Terrace High School in the Chase...
. Helping the "Chase" take 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...
to a replay at Boundary Park
Boundary Park
Boundary Park is the main sports stadium of Oldham, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies at the northwestern extremity of Oldham, with the towns of Royton and Chadderton lying immediately north and west respectively, giving rise to the name Boundary Park....
in the first round of the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
in November 2005 was just the beginning of Slater's and Chasetown's cup adventures.
By April 2006 he had won a trial with 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...
, and was also being looked at by Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
and 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...
, all Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
clubs. He was at The Scholar Ground for the first season of the new Southern League Division One Midlands
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
tier (2006–07).
He really came to prominence when he played in Chasetown’s 1–0 FA Cup victory over 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....
Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
in December 2007. In doing this he helped Chasetown become the lowest ever ranked club to reach as far as the Third Round (proper) of the FA Cup. Vale was the eighth club Chasetown had vanquished in their campaign that season. In his three years at the club he had played 146 league games for the "Scholars", scoring one goal.
Port Vale
He was signed by Lee SinnottLee Sinnott
Lee Sinnott is an English former professional footballer turned football manager, who is in charge at Conference North side Altrincham....
's Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
, along with Chasetown team mate Kyle Perry
Kyle Perry
Kyle Blain Perry is an English footballer who plays for Lincoln City as a striker.Failing to make the first team at Walsall, he dropped into non-league circles before impressing when non-league Chasetown knocked Port Vale out of the FA Cup. Failing to score for the Vale, he dropped down into the...
, in January 2008 for a nominal fee and gave up his day job as a block paver
Paver (flooring)
An interlocking concrete paver is a pre-cast piece of concrete or brick commonly used in exterior hardscaping applications. Pavers were developed in Europe and introduced into the United States in the early 1970s....
. He made his 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....
as a 70th minute substitute in a 2–0 defeat to 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...
on 19 January 2008. He played four further league games that season
2007–08 Port Vale F.C. season
The 2007–08 season was Port Vale's ninety-sixth season of football in the Football League, and fourth successive season in League One. Vale finished second-from-bottom, and were relegated, some twelve points from safety. Manager Martin Foyle left the club in September, and Lee Sinnott failed to...
, all of them defeats as the Vale were relegated
Promotion and relegation
In many sports leagues around the world, promotion and relegation is a process that takes place at the end of each season. Through it, teams are transferred between divisions based on their performance that season...
into 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....
.
After appearing in six league and two cup games for the "Valiants" in 2008–09
2008–09 Port Vale F.C. season
The 2008–09 season was Port Vale's ninety-seventh season of football in the Football League, and first season in League Two, following their relegation from League One. After a poor start to the season manager Lee Sinnott was sacked in September, and was replaced by Dean Glover. Despite a brief...
, Slater was released from his contract in mid-November, and subsequently re-joined Chasetown.
Return to Chasetown
Slater was once again a key member of the Chasetown team, playing 33 games in the 2008–09 season, as they reached the play-off final, only to lose out 1–0 to Nuneaton Town. He played another 35 league games in 2009–102009–10 Northern Premier League
The 2009–10 season was the 42nd season for the Northern Premier League Premier Division, and the third season for the Northern Premier League Division One North and South....
, helping the club gain promotion out of the Northern Premier League Division One South
Northern Premier League Division One South
Division One South is one of the two second-tier divisions of the Northern Premier League. It is at Step 4 of the National League System, placing it seven divisions below the Premier League...
via the play-offs with a 1–0 win over Glapwell
Glapwell F.C.
Glapwell F.C. are a football club based in Glapwell, near Chesterfield in Derbyshire, England.-History:The club were formed in 1985 and joined the Central Midlands Football League Division One in 1989. They reached the 2nd round of the FA Vase in the 1996–97 season...
. He remained at the club throughout 2010–11
2010–11 Northern Premier League
The 2010–11 season was the 43rd season of the Northern Premier League Premier Division, and the fourth season of the Northern Premier League Division One North and South....
, as the club competed at the seventh level of the English football league pyramid
English football league system
The English football league system, also known as the football pyramid, is a series of interconnected leagues for association football clubs in England, with six teams from Wales also competing...
for the first time in its history.
Honours
with Chasetown- Northern Premier League Division One SouthNorthern Premier League Division One SouthDivision One South is one of the two second-tier divisions of the Northern Premier League. It is at Step 4 of the National League System, placing it seven divisions below the Premier League...
play-off winner: 20102009–10 Northern Premier LeagueThe 2009–10 season was the 42nd season for the Northern Premier League Premier Division, and the third season for the Northern Premier League Division One North and South....