Scott Canham
Encyclopedia
Scott Walter Canham is an English former professional footballer who played in the Football League
as a midfielder
for Torquay United
, Brentford
and Leyton Orient
. He went on to play for several years in non-League football
.
, London
, and was associated with West Ham United
from the age of nine. As a young professional he spent a month on loan at Torquay United
in late 1995, where he made his debut in the Football League
, and in January 1996, joined Brentford
on loan for the remainder of the season, in which he played 14 league games. West Ham offered him a new two-year contract, which he turned down, feeling that there was no point staying at a club where he felt he had little chance of first-team football, so, in August 1996, Canham returned to Brentford on a permanent basis for a fee of around £25,000, potentially rising to £60,000 depending on appearances.
He played 35 league games for Brentford, 11 of which were as a substitute, scoring only once before being released after Brentford's relegation in the summer of 1998. On 10 August 1998 he joined Leyton Orient
, but the form of the other midfielders at Brisbane Road limited his chances and he joined Isthmian Premier League
side Chesham United
for a month's loan on 22 December. On his return to Orient, he failed to reappear in their first team, and in August 2000 was released to join Chesham United.
Such was his form for Chesham the following season, that Orient manager Tommy Taylor
, who had released him a year before, brought Canham back to Brisbane Road for the 2001–02 season. He earned a contract extension, but then fell out of favour, and joined Conference
club Woking
on loan in March 2003. After helping them avoid relegation, he joined the club on a free transfer at the end of the 2002–03 season. In February 2005 he moved to Farnborough Town
, where he spent some time as joint manager alongside Gerry Murphy, but moved nearer his Romford
home at the end of the 2005–06 season when he linked up with his former Farnborough manager Frank Gray
at Grays Athletic
. Released after a couple of months without having appeared for the first team, he then moved to neighbours Thurrock
.
In May 2008, Canham became assistant manager to his former Leyton Orient team mate Carl Griffiths
at Brentwood Town
, but the pair left the club before the 2009–10 season.
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...
as a midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
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...
, Brentford
Brentford F.C.
Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One....
and 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...
. He went on to play for several years in 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...
.
Career
Canham was born in NewhamLondon Borough of Newham
The London Borough of Newham is a London borough formed from the towns of West Ham and East Ham, within East London.It is situated east of the City of London, and is north of the River Thames. According to 2006 estimates, Newham has one of the highest ethnic minority populations of all the...
, London
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...
, and was associated 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...
from the age of nine. As a young professional he spent a month on loan 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...
in late 1995, where he made his debut 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...
, and in January 1996, joined Brentford
Brentford F.C.
Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One....
on loan for the remainder of the season, in which he played 14 league games. West Ham offered him a new two-year contract, which he turned down, feeling that there was no point staying at a club where he felt he had little chance of first-team football, so, in August 1996, Canham returned to Brentford on a permanent basis for a fee of around £25,000, potentially rising to £60,000 depending on appearances.
He played 35 league games for Brentford, 11 of which were as a substitute, scoring only once before being released after Brentford's relegation in the summer of 1998. On 10 August 1998 he joined 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...
, but the form of the other midfielders at Brisbane Road limited his chances and he joined Isthmian Premier League
Isthmian League
The Isthmian League is a regional football league covering London and South East England featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs. It is sponsored by Ryman, and therefore officially known as the Ryman League. It was founded in 1905 by amateur clubs in the London area...
side Chesham United
Chesham United F.C.
Chesham United is an English football club based in Chesham, Buckinghamshire, currently playing in the Southern League. They are nicknamed "The Generals" because they were once the football team of the General Baptist Church in Chesham. Chesham Generals merged with Chesham Town to form United...
for a month's loan on 22 December. On his return to Orient, he failed to reappear in their first team, and in August 2000 was released to join Chesham United.
Such was his form for Chesham the following season, that Orient manager Tommy Taylor
Tommy Taylor (footballer born 1951)
Thomas Frederick Taylor is an English football manager and former footballer. As a footballer, he played as a defender. He is the former manager of Belper Town.-Career:...
, who had released him a year before, brought Canham back to Brisbane Road for the 2001–02 season. He earned a contract extension, but then fell out of favour, and joined Conference
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
club Woking
Woking F.C.
Woking Football Club is a football club from in Woking, Surrey, England, formed in 1889. They are playing in the Conference South in the 2011–12 season. For the 2011/2012 season, Woking are sharing their ground with Conference National club Hayes & Yeading United.-Promotion to the...
on loan in March 2003. After helping them avoid relegation, he joined the club on a free transfer at the end of the 2002–03 season. In February 2005 he moved to Farnborough Town
Farnborough Town F.C.
Farnborough Football Club is an English football team currently in the Conference South after finishing top of Southern League Premier Division in 2009–10. Their home ground is known as the Rushmoor Stadium, formerly Cherrywood Road, based in Farnborough, Hampshire...
, where he spent some time as joint manager alongside Gerry Murphy, but moved nearer his Romford
Romford
Romford is a large suburban town in north east London, England and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Havering. It is located northeast of Charing Cross and is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the London Plan...
home at the end of the 2005–06 season when he linked up with his former Farnborough manager Frank Gray
Frank Gray
Francis Tierney 'Frank' Gray is a Scottish football manager and former footballer.Gray has previously managed Darlington, Farnborough Town, Grays Athletic and Woking....
at Grays Athletic
Grays Athletic F.C.
Grays Athletic Football Club is an English football club currently based in Corringham, Essex after leaving the New Recreation Ground in Grays at the end of the 2009–10 season...
. Released after a couple of months without having appeared for the first team, he then moved to neighbours 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:...
.
In May 2008, Canham became assistant manager to his former Leyton Orient team mate Carl Griffiths
Carl Griffiths
Carl Brian Griffiths is an English-born Welsh footballer, now manager. He is currently manager of Aveley.He started his career with Shrewsbury Town in 1988, and after five years moved on to Manchester City. In 1995 he transferred to Portsmouth, moving on to Peterborough United a year later...
at Brentwood Town
Brentwood Town F.C.
Brentwood Town F.C. are an English football club based in Brentwood, Essex. The club is currently a member of the Isthmian League Division One North.-History:...
, but the pair left the club before the 2009–10 season.