Vince Bartram
Encyclopedia
Vincent Lee Bartram is an English
former professional footballer, who played as a goalkeeper
. He is now goalkeeping coach at Southampton F.C.
who in 1985 signed him from non-league, making his first team debut on 23 August 1986 in a 2-1 home defeat to Cambridge United
, that marked the club's first-ever game in the fourth tier. However, this proved his only Wolves league outing until April 1991 as the club brought in Mark Kendall
, and later Mike Stowell
, who were both virtual ever-presents.
Instead, Bartram had loan spells with Blackpool
, Cheltenham Town
and West Bromwich Albion
, before finally leaving Molineux
for Bournemouth
in July 1991 for £35,000. He played 132 league games for Bournemouth before moving to Arsenal
for £
250,000 in 1994. At Arsenal he was David Seaman
's understudy, and played just 11 games in four seasons (all in 1994/95
). To gain playing time, he spent 12 games on loan with Huddersfield Town
in late 1997.
He signed for Gillingham
in March 1998 initially signing on loan. He firmly established himself as the first-choice goalkeeper at the Priestfield Stadium
and helped them to the Division Two
play-off final in his first full season, where they lost out to Manchester City
on penalties. The following season saw them go one step further as they beat Wigan Athletic
in the play-off final to reach the second tier for the first time in the club's history.
In total, he made over 200 appearances for the "Gills", before his retirement from the game in February 2004 due to a wrist injury. Bizarrely, the injury was caused by a collision with the opposition goalkeeper, Tony Warner
, who had come upfield to try and score a goal from a last-minute corner
.
academy.
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...
former professional footballer, who played as a goalkeeper
Goalkeeper (football)
In association football, the goalkeeper occupies a position that represents the last line of defence between the opponent's offence and his own team's goal. The primary role of the goalkeeper is to defend his team's goal and prevent the opposition from scoring a goal...
. He is now goalkeeping coach at Southampton F.C.
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
Career
After attending Hagley RC High School, Bartram's first professional club was 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...
who in 1985 signed him from non-league, making his first team debut on 23 August 1986 in a 2-1 home defeat to Cambridge United
Cambridge United F.C.
Cambridge United Football Club is a professional football club from Cambridge, England. They are currently playing the 2011-2012 season in the Conference National, the fifth tier of the English league system, where they have competed since 2005 following their relegation from the Football League...
, that marked the club's first-ever game in the fourth tier. However, this proved his only Wolves league outing until April 1991 as the club brought in Mark Kendall
Mark Kendall
Mark Kendall was a Welsh footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He represented his country at schoolboy, youth and Under-21 level.-Biography:...
, and later Mike Stowell
Mike Stowell
Michael "Mike" Stowell is an English former professional football goalkeeper, and now goalkeeping coach at Leicester City...
, who were both virtual ever-presents.
Instead, Bartram had loan spells with 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...
, Cheltenham Town
Cheltenham Town F.C.
Cheltenham Town Football Club is an English football club playing in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. Founded in 1887, the team has played at four different grounds, namely Agg-Gardner's Recreation Ground, Carter's Field and now the Abbey Business Stadium, although it is more...
and West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
, before finally leaving Molineux
Molineux stadium
Molineux Stadium is a Premier League football stadium situated in Whitmore Reans, Wolverhampton, England. It has been the home ground of Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club since 1889, and has a long and illustrious history as the first 'new build' stadium in Football League history, one of the...
for Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth is an English football club currently playing in Football League One. The club plays at Dean Court in Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset and have been in existence since 1899....
in July 1991 for £35,000. He played 132 league games for Bournemouth before moving to Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
for £
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
250,000 in 1994. At Arsenal he was David Seaman
David Seaman
David Andrew Seaman MBE is a former English football goalkeeper who played for several clubs, most notably Arsenal. He retired from the game on 13 January 2004, following a recurring shoulder injury...
's understudy, and played just 11 games in four seasons (all in 1994/95
1994-95 in English football
-Premiership:Blackburn Rovers ended their 81-year wait for the league title thanks to the strike partnership of Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton which scored a total of more than 50 league goals. Manchester United would have made it three league titles in a row if they had been able to turn a 1-1 draw...
). To gain playing time, he spent 12 games on loan with Huddersfield Town
Huddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
in late 1997.
He signed for Gillingham
Gillingham F.C.
Gillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent. The only Kent-based club in the Football League, they play their home matches at the Priestfield Stadium...
in March 1998 initially signing on loan. He firmly established himself as the first-choice goalkeeper at the Priestfield Stadium
Priestfield Stadium
Priestfield Stadium is a football stadium in Gillingham, Kent...
and helped them to the Division Two
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
play-off final in his first full season, where they lost out to Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
on penalties. The following season saw them go one step further as they beat Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
in the play-off final to reach the second tier for the first time in the club's history.
In total, he made over 200 appearances for the "Gills", before his retirement from the game in February 2004 due to a wrist injury. Bizarrely, the injury was caused by a collision with the opposition goalkeeper, Tony Warner
Tony Warner
Anthony Randolph "Tony" Warner is a Trinidad and Tobago international football goalkeeper who currently plays for the Wellington Phoenix.-Footballing career:...
, who had come upfield to try and score a goal from a last-minute corner
Corner kick
A corner kick is a method of restarting play in a game of association football. It was first devised in Sheffield under the Sheffield Rules 1867...
.
Goalkeeping coach at Southampton F.C.
He is now a level 3 FA Coach and is the "Goalkeeper Development Coach" at Southampton F.C.Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
academy.