Michael Basham
Encyclopedia
Michael "Mike" Basham is an English former professional footballer who played as a central defender. Born in Barking
, he started his career with West Ham United
, although he failed to make a first-team appearance for the club. After a loan spell at Colchester United
, he joined Swansea City
in 1994. Basham then moved on to Peterborough United
, where he stayed for two years before joining Barnet
at the start of the 1997–98 season. Basham signed for York City
in 2001 and subsequently moved into non-league football
with Chelmsford City
and Thurrock
.
. He was promoted to the first-team squad in the 1992–93 season, but found it difficult to break into the side. On 18 November 1993, he was loaned to Football League Third Division
club Colchester United
, where he made one league appearance during his spell. Basham left West Ham the following year without having played a single first-team match, and joined Swansea City
for a small fee on 25 March 1994. He went on to play a total of 45 matches for the club, and was a part of the team that won after a penalty shootout in the 1994 Football League Trophy Final
. Basham moved to Peterborough United
in December 1995, and he stayed at London Road for one-and-a-half seasons, scoring one goal in 19 league matches.
. He made his debut for the club on 9 December 1997, in the 1–2 defeat to Walsall
in the first round of the Football League Trophy
. His first league game for Barnet came four days later when he played in the 3–1 victory against Macclesfield Town
at Underhill Stadium
. He became a first-team regular throughout the following months, and scored his first Barnet goal in the 2–0 win away at Doncaster Rovers
on 3 March 1998. Barnet made the play-offs at the end of the campaign, but were defeated by Basham's former club Colchester United in the semi-finals. Basham played almost every match in the 1998–99 campaign, but over the following seasons, he found himself on the periphery of the first-team. He made a total of 75 league appearances for Barnet, scoring two goals for the club.
on a free transfer on 15 March 2001. He made his league debut on 31 March, in the defeat to Plymouth Argyle
, and scored his first goal for the side on 28 April in the 2–2 draw away at Torquay United
. Despite playing regularly for much of the 2001–02 season, he found himdelf dropped from the team at the end of the campaign, and made what was to be his final appearance for the side on 23 March 2002 in the 0–1 loss to Kidderminster Harriers
. Basham scored a three goals in 36 league matches for York City. He joined Chelmsford City
on loan in January 2003, and made ten league appearances during a two-month loan spell. His transfer was made permanent on 31 March 2002, and he played two further games for the club. In the summer of 2003, he moved to Thurrock
, and made his debut in the 1–1 draw with Kingstonian
on 16 August 2003. He played a total of 29 matches for Thurrock during the 2003–04 season. He rejoined Chelmsford on a free transfer in December 2004.
Barking
Barking is a suburban town in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, in East London, England. A retail and commercial centre situated in the west of the borough, it lies east of Charing Cross. Barking was in the historic county of Essex until it was absorbed by Greater London. The area is...
, he started his career with West Ham United
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
, although he failed to make a first-team appearance for the club. After a loan spell at Colchester United
Colchester United F.C.
Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910....
, he joined 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...
in 1994. Basham then moved on to Peterborough United
Peterborough United F.C.
Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is...
, where he stayed for two years before joining Barnet
Barnet F.C.
Barnet Football Club is an English football team from High Barnet, London, England, currently playing in Football League Two. The ground is in the town of Barnet within the London Borough of Barnet....
at the start of the 1997–98 season. Basham signed for York City
York City F.C.
York City Football Club is an English football club based in York, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Conference National, the fifth tier of English football. Founded in 1922, they joined the Football League in 1929, and have spent most of their history in the lower divisions...
in 2001 and subsequently moved into non-league football
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...
with Chelmsford City
Chelmsford City F.C.
Chelmsford City F.C. is an English semi-professional football club based in the town of Chelmsford, Essex. The club are currently members of the Conference South and play at the Melbourne Stadium.-Chelmsford:...
and Thurrock
Thurrock F.C.
Thurrock F.C. are an English football club based in Aveley, Thurrock, Essex. Known as Purfleet until 2003, the club are currently members of the Conference South and play at Ship Lane.-History:...
.
Early career
As a youngster, Basham played in the youth team at West Ham UnitedWest Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
. He was promoted to the first-team squad in the 1992–93 season, but found it difficult to break into the side. On 18 November 1993, he was loaned to Football League Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
club Colchester United
Colchester United F.C.
Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910....
, where he made one league appearance during his spell. Basham left West Ham the following year without having played a single first-team match, and joined 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...
for a small fee on 25 March 1994. He went on to play a total of 45 matches for the club, and was a part of the team that won after a penalty shootout in the 1994 Football League Trophy Final
1994 Football League Trophy Final
The 1994 Autoglass Trophy Final was the 11th final of the domestic football cup competition for teams from Second Division and Third Division for the Football League Trophy. The Final was played at Wembley Stadium, London on 24 April 1994. The match was contested by Huddersfield Town and Swansea City...
. Basham moved to Peterborough United
Peterborough United F.C.
Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is...
in December 1995, and he stayed at London Road for one-and-a-half seasons, scoring one goal in 19 league matches.
Barnet
At the start of the 1997–98 season, Basham signed for Third Division outfit BarnetBarnet F.C.
Barnet Football Club is an English football team from High Barnet, London, England, currently playing in Football League Two. The ground is in the town of Barnet within the London Borough of Barnet....
. He made his debut for the club on 9 December 1997, in the 1–2 defeat to Walsall
Walsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...
in the first round of the Football League Trophy
Football League Trophy
The Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
. His first league game for Barnet came four days later when he played in the 3–1 victory against Macclesfield Town
Macclesfield Town F.C.
Macclesfield Town Football Club is an English football team. The club was formed in 1874 and is based in the town of Macclesfield in Cheshire. The team play its home games at the 6,355 capacity Moss Rose stadium...
at Underhill Stadium
Underhill Stadium
Underhill is the home of Barnet F.C. It is situated in Barnet in the London Borough of Barnet and has a capacity of 6,200. The stadium is famous for its slope from the North to South end. It is also used for Arsenal reserve games....
. He became a first-team regular throughout the following months, and scored his first Barnet goal in the 2–0 win away at Doncaster Rovers
Doncaster Rovers F.C.
Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in...
on 3 March 1998. Barnet made the play-offs at the end of the campaign, but were defeated by Basham's former club Colchester United in the semi-finals. Basham played almost every match in the 1998–99 campaign, but over the following seasons, he found himself on the periphery of the first-team. He made a total of 75 league appearances for Barnet, scoring two goals for the club.
York City and non-league
Basham moved to York CityYork City F.C.
York City Football Club is an English football club based in York, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Conference National, the fifth tier of English football. Founded in 1922, they joined the Football League in 1929, and have spent most of their history in the lower divisions...
on a free transfer on 15 March 2001. He made his league debut on 31 March, in the defeat to 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...
, and scored his first goal for the side on 28 April in the 2–2 draw away at 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...
. Despite playing regularly for much of the 2001–02 season, he found himdelf dropped from the team at the end of the campaign, and made what was to be his final appearance for the side on 23 March 2002 in the 0–1 loss to Kidderminster Harriers
Kidderminster Harriers F.C.
Kidderminster Harriers F.C. are an English football club based in Kidderminster, Worcestershire formed in 1886 They currently play in the Conference National and have played at Aggborough Stadium since they were formed...
. Basham scored a three goals in 36 league matches for York City. He joined Chelmsford City
Chelmsford City F.C.
Chelmsford City F.C. is an English semi-professional football club based in the town of Chelmsford, Essex. The club are currently members of the Conference South and play at the Melbourne Stadium.-Chelmsford:...
on loan in January 2003, and made ten league appearances during a two-month loan spell. His transfer was made permanent on 31 March 2002, and he played two further games for the club. In the summer of 2003, he moved to Thurrock
Thurrock F.C.
Thurrock F.C. are an English football club based in Aveley, Thurrock, Essex. Known as Purfleet until 2003, the club are currently members of the Conference South and play at Ship Lane.-History:...
, and made his debut in the 1–1 draw with Kingstonian
Kingstonian F.C.
Kingstonian Football Club are an English, semi-professional football club that are playing in the Isthmian League Premier Division for the 2011–12 season. The club has played at Kingsmeadow in Kingston upon Thames since 1989, after leaving their traditional Richmond Road ground...
on 16 August 2003. He played a total of 29 matches for Thurrock during the 2003–04 season. He rejoined Chelmsford on a free transfer in December 2004.