Spencer Whelan
Encyclopedia
Spencer Whelan is a former professional footballer who played as a defender
for Chester City
and Shrewsbury Town
during the 1990s.
as an apprentice. However, when he was 18 he was not offered a full contract and joined Chester City
on a free transfer in April 1990. He had to wait until November 1990 for his first Football League
appearance, when he came on as a substitute during Chester’s 2–0 home loss to Bolton Wanderers
. His full debut came two months later, during a 3-2 defeat by AFC Bournemouth in the FA Cup
third round.
In his early years at Chester, Whelan predominantly played in the right back slot, having spells in and out of the side. It was not until regular central defenders Colin Greenall
and Mark Came
left in the summer of 1994 that Whelan became a regular in the centre of defence as well as captain. But he was to be ruled out between September 1994 and February 1995 with a broken leg. The season also saw Whelan finally score his first goal for the club in a Coca Cola Cup
tie with Lincoln City
, with his first league goal arriving at Wycombe Wanderers
in April 1995.
Whelan largely remained a regular for his next three years at the club, memorably scoring from the halfway line against Colchester United
in April 1998. But he missed the start of the 1998–99 season
through a knee injury. He still had not played when he joined Shrewsbury Town
at the start of November 1998, for a reported £35,000. Unfortunately injuries limited Whelan’s appearances for Shrewsbury and he made just 25 league appearances over the next two seasons. His final appearance was ironically on his return to Chester in March 2000, being substituted at half time in a goalless draw. Although Whelan remained with the club during the following season, he failed to recover from his injury problems and retired from football at the relatively early age of 29.
• Football League Division Three runners-up: 1993–1994
(22 apps).
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
for Chester City
Chester City F.C.
Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the...
and Shrewsbury Town
Shrewsbury Town F.C.
Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football...
during the 1990s.
Playing career
Predominantly a tall central defender, Whelan began his career with LiverpoolLiverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
as an apprentice. However, when he was 18 he was not offered a full contract and joined Chester City
Chester City F.C.
Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the...
on a free transfer in April 1990. He had to wait until November 1990 for his first 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...
appearance, when he came on as a substitute during Chester’s 2–0 home loss to Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
. His full debut came two months later, during a 3-2 defeat by AFC Bournemouth 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...
third round.
In his early years at Chester, Whelan predominantly played in the right back slot, having spells in and out of the side. It was not until regular central defenders Colin Greenall
Colin Greenall
Colin Greenall is an English former professional footballer who made over 600 Football League appearances between 1980 and 1999...
and Mark Came
Mark Came
Mark Came was a professional footballer who made more than 300 Football League appearances for Bolton Wanderers, Chester City and Exeter City. He is now manager of non-league side Barnton....
left in the summer of 1994 that Whelan became a regular in the centre of defence as well as captain. But he was to be ruled out between September 1994 and February 1995 with a broken leg. The season also saw Whelan finally score his first goal for the club in a Coca Cola 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...
tie with Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
, with his first league goal arriving at 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...
in April 1995.
Whelan largely remained a regular for his next three years at the club, memorably scoring from the halfway line against 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....
in April 1998. But he missed the start of the 1998–99 season
1998-99 in English football
-Premier League:Manchester United overcame close competition from Arsenal, Aston Villa and Chelsea to win their fifth Premiership title in seven seasons thanks to the comeback of Roy Keane after his long-term injury and a transfer raid totalling nearly £30 million which netted Aston Villa striker...
through a knee injury. He still had not played when he joined Shrewsbury Town
Shrewsbury Town F.C.
Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football...
at the start of November 1998, for a reported £35,000. Unfortunately injuries limited Whelan’s appearances for Shrewsbury and he made just 25 league appearances over the next two seasons. His final appearance was ironically on his return to Chester in March 2000, being substituted at half time in a goalless draw. Although Whelan remained with the club during the following season, he failed to recover from his injury problems and retired from football at the relatively early age of 29.
Honours
Chester City• Football League Division Three runners-up: 1993–1994
1993-94 in English football
The 1993-1994 season was the 114th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:From the start of this season, the FA Premier League would be sponsored by Carling Breweries - an association which would last for eight years...
(22 apps).