# Alec Chamberlain

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English footballer (born 1964)

Not to be confused with [Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain](/source/Alex_Oxlade-Chamberlain).

Alec Chamberlain Chamberlain as a goalkeeping coach for Watford Personal information Full name Alec Francis Roy Chamberlain[1] Date of birth (1964-06-20) 20 June 1964 (age 62)[1] Place of birth March, England[1] Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)[1] Position Goalkeeper Youth career 1980–1981 Ramsey Town Senior career* Years Team Apps (Gls) 1981–1982 Ipswich Town 0 (0) 1982–1987 Colchester United 188 (0) 1987–1988 Everton 0 (0) 1987–1988 → Tranmere Rovers (loan) 15 (0) 1988–1993 Luton Town 138 (0) 1992 → Chelsea (loan) 0 (0) 1993–1996 Sunderland 90 (0) 1995 → Liverpool (loan) 0 (0) 1996–2007 Watford 247 (0) Total 678 (0) * Club domestic league appearances and goals

**Alec Francis Roy Chamberlain** (born 20 June 1964) is an English former professional [footballer](/source/Association_football) who played as a [goalkeeper](/source/Goalkeeper_(association_football)). He made 788 league appearances during his 25-year playing career, the final 11 years and 247 appearances of which were with Watford.

## Career

Chamberlain started his career at [Ipswich Town](/source/Ipswich_Town_F.C.) as a trainee but did not make an appearance for the club and moved to [Colchester United](/source/Colchester_United_F.C.) in 1982. He spent five years at [Layer Road](/source/Layer_Road) before joining [Everton](/source/Everton_F.C.) for £80,000. However, he was unable to displace established Everton goalkeeper [Neville Southall](/source/Neville_Southall), and his only appearances in the [1987–88](/source/1987%E2%80%9388_in_English_football) season were during a loan spell at [Tranmere Rovers](/source/Tranmere_Rovers_F.C.).

Having failed to make a single first team appearance for Everton in a year there, Chamberlain signed for [Luton Town](/source/Luton_Town_F.C.) in the summer of 1988 whilst living in Northampton, where he ousted [Les Sealey](/source/Les_Sealey) after Sealey had a poor game in the League Cup final against [Nottingham Forest](/source/Nottingham_Forest_F.C.). Chamberlain became first choice goalkeeper for the next four seasons. He did have a loan spell as understudy to [Dave Beasant](/source/Dave_Beasant) at [Chelsea](/source/Chelsea_F.C.) in the [1992–93](/source/1992%E2%80%9393_in_English_football), but did not make an appearance.[2]

After signing for [Sunderland](/source/Sunderland_A.F.C.) in 1993, Chamberlain played regularly, making 90 league appearances over three years. He was part of the team that was promoted in [1995–96](/source/1995%E2%80%9396_in_English_football).[2] Towards the end of the [1994–95 season](/source/1994%E2%80%9395_in_English_football), he was loaned to [Liverpool](/source/Liverpool_F.C.) as understudy to [David James](/source/David_James_(footballer%2C_born_1970)) after previous deputy [Michael Stensgaard](/source/Michael_Stensgaard) dislocated a shoulder in an ironing incident. Despite never playing a game for the [Anfield](/source/Anfield) side he collected a [League Cup](/source/EFL_Cup) winner's medal as an unused substitute in the final.[3]

In the summer of 1996 he was allowed to join recently [relegated](/source/Promotion_and_relegation) [Watford](/source/Watford_F.C.), who paid £40,000 for him.[2] He started off unable to get in the team, but finally played when first-choice goalkeeper and two-time [Player of the Season](/source/Watford_F.C._Player_of_the_Season) [Kevin Miller](/source/Kevin_Miller_(footballer)) was sold to [Crystal Palace](/source/Crystal_Palace_F.C.) in the 1997 close season. Now the first-choice goalkeeper, he was part of the Division Two Championship winning side in [1997–98](/source/1997%E2%80%9398_in_English_football), becoming Player of the Season in the process.[4] He continued to play an important role as Watford gained promotion to the [Premier League](/source/Premier_League) in 1999. In the playoff semi-final second leg against [Birmingham City](/source/Birmingham_City_F.C.), his save denied Birmingham a winning goal, and won the match for Watford with a [penalty shootout](/source/Penalty_shootout_(association_football)) save from [Chris Holland](/source/Chris_Holland) in sudden-death.[5] He appeared at [Wembley](/source/Wembley_Stadium_(1923)) when Watford beat [Bolton Wanderers](/source/Bolton_Wanderers_F.C.) 2–0 in the [final](/source/1999_Football_League_First_Division_play-off_final).[6]

Chamberlain missed the first six games of Watford's [Premiership campaign](/source/1999%E2%80%932000_Watford_F.C._season) due to injury and had to wait six games before he could play again. Watford were relegated to Division One at the end of the season. The club signed [Tottenham Hotspur](/source/Tottenham_Hotspur_F.C.) goalkeeper [Espen Baardsen](/source/Espen_Baardsen), and the two players competed for the starting position through the [2000–01](/source/2000%E2%80%9301_in_English_football) season. When [Gianluca Vialli](/source/Gianluca_Vialli) arrived as Watford manager at the end of the season, he selected Baardsen as his first choice, but Chamberlain returned to the side in October 2001 and kept his place, finishing as Player of the Season for the second time in five years.[4][7]

Under [Ray Lewington](/source/Ray_Lewington), he was first-choice for the whole of the [2002–03 season](/source/2002%E2%80%9303_Watford_F.C._season). In [2003–04](/source/2003%E2%80%9304_in_English_football) he started as first-choice, but lost his place to [Lenny Pidgeley](/source/Lenny_Pidgeley) for several months, before regaining his place towards the end of the campaign.[2] Chamberlain, now 40, took the job of goalkeeping coach in the autumn of 2004.

Chamberlain was given a testimonial by Watford. With Chamberlain in goal Watford lost to Premiership side [Charlton Athletic](/source/Charlton_Athletic_F.C.) 2–1. Various events were run throughout the season to celebrate Chamberlain's ten years at the club.[8]

On 20 July 2006, after Watford's promotion to the Premier League via the Championship playoffs, he signed a new one-year contract keeping him as player at [Vicarage Road](/source/Vicarage_Road) until summer 2007 making him, at 42, the oldest [Premier League](/source/Premier_League) player in [2006–07](/source/2006%E2%80%9307_Watford_F.C._season).[9] On 13 May 2007, Chamberlain came on as a substitute to become one of the oldest Premier League players ever. On 19 May 2007, it was announced that Chamberlain would be retiring from playing and would concentrate on his coaching role at the club.[10]

## Honours

**Everton**

- [FA Charity Shield](/source/FA_Community_Shield): [1987](/source/1987_FA_Charity_Shield)[11]

**Liverpool**[12]

- [Football League Cup](/source/Football_League_Cup): 1994–95

**Sunderland**[13]

- [Football League Division One](/source/Football_League_Division_One): 1995–96

**Watford**[14][15]

- [Football League Division One](/source/Football_League_Division_One) Playoff: 1998–99

- [Football League Second Division](/source/Football_League_Second_Division): 1997–98

**Individual**

- [PFA Team of the Year](/source/PFA_Team_of_the_Year): 1997–98[16]

- [Colchester United](/source/Colchester_United_F.C.) Player of the Year: 1985[17]

- [Watford](/source/Watford_F.C.) Player of the Season: 1997–98, 2001–02

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Hugman2003-04_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Hugman2003-04_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Hugman2003-04_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Hugman2003-04_1-3) Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2003). *The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2003/2004*. Queen Anne Press. p. 83. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1-85291-651-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-85291-651-6).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-soccerbase_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-soccerbase_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-soccerbase_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-soccerbase_2-3) ["Alec Chamberlain"](http://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=1400). *[Soccerbase](/source/Soccerbase)*. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 February 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Alec's Liverpool honour"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/threecounties/content/articles/2005/01/10/chamberlain_lfc_watford_links_feature.shtml). BBC Three Counties. 10 January 2005. Retrieved 23 February 2011.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-pots_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-pots_4-1) ["Player of the Season"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110719150237/http://www.watfordfc.com/page/Awards/0%2C%2C10400~1034010%2C00.html). Watford Football Club. 16 October 2009. Archived from [the original](http://www.watfordfc.com/page/Awards/0,,10400~1034010,00.html) on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 23 February 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Hornets sting the Blues"](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/349123.stm). [BBC](/source/BBC). 20 May 1999. Retrieved 2 December 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Watford back in the big time"](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/357452.stm). BBC Sport. 31 May 1999. Retrieved 29 October 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Atkin, Ronald (16 December 2001). ["Chamberlain keeps Vialli's house in winning order"](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/football-league/chamberlain-keeps-viallis-house-in-winning-order-748093.html). *[The Independent](/source/The_Independent)*. Retrieved 23 February 2011.[*[dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*]

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Watford Museum: Exhibitions about Watford Football Club"](https://web.archive.org/web/20101101115309/http://goalden.watfordmuseum.org.uk/news.html). Watford Museum. Archived from [the original](http://goalden.watfordmuseum.org.uk/news.html) on 1 November 2010. Retrieved 29 October 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Chamberlain extends Watford deal"](http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/watford/5199232.stm). BBC Sport. 20 July 2006. Retrieved 20 July 2006.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["New page for Chamberlain"](http://www.watfordfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10400~1027381,00.html). Watford Football Club. 19 May 2007. Retrieved 24 May 2007.{{[cite news](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_news)}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_deprecated_archival_service))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Blast From The Past: On This Day 1987 – City's Second Wembley Date Delivers Defeat In Charity Shield"](https://www.ccfpa.co.uk/?p=46577). ccfpa.co.uk. Retrieved 23 October 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["League Cup Honours"](https://web.archive.org/web/20161104010532/http://www.coludaybyday.co.uk/Statistics/Player). *Coludaybyday.co.uk*. Archived from [the original](http://www.Coludaybyday.co.uk/Statistics/Player%20Stats/PlayerHonours/PlayerLeagueCup.html) on 4 November 2016. Retrieved 10 February 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Tier Two (Championship) Honours"](https://web.archive.org/web/20180926130835/http://www.coludaybyday.co.uk/Statistics/Player). *Coludaybyday.co.uk*. Archived from [the original](http://www.Coludaybyday.co.uk/Statistics/Player%20Stats/PlayerHonours/PlayerTheChampionship.html) on 26 September 2018. Retrieved 10 February 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["Division One (Championship) Play-Off Finalists"](http://www.Coludaybyday.co.uk/Statistics/Player%20Stats/PlayerHonours/PlayerChampionshipPlayoff.html). *Coludaybyday.co.uk*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["Tier Three (League One) Honours"](https://web.archive.org/web/20181229031358/http://www.coludaybyday.co.uk/Statistics/Player). *Coludaybyday.co.uk*. Archived from [the original](http://www.Coludaybyday.co.uk/Statistics/Player%20Stats/PlayerHonours/PlayerLeagueOne.html) on 29 December 2018. Retrieved 10 February 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["Individual Awards"](http://www.Coludaybyday.co.uk/Statistics/Player%20Stats/PlayerHonours/PlayerIndividualHonours.html). *Coludaybyday.co.uk*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["Colchester United Player of the Season"](https://web.archive.org/web/20171026002700/http://www.coludaybyday.co.uk/Statistics/Player%20Stats/PlayerPOTS.html). *Coludaybyday.co.uk*. Archived from [the original](http://www.Coludaybyday.co.uk/Statistics/Player%20Stats/PlayerPOTS.html) on 26 October 2017. Retrieved 9 November 2018.

## External links

- [Alec Chamberlain](https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=1400) at Soccerbase

- [Alec Chamberlain's official website](https://web.archive.org/web/20120717090107/http://www.alecchamberlain.com/)

Awards v t e 1997–98 Football League Second Division PFA Team of the Year GK: Chamberlain DF: Parkinson DF: Taylor DF: Coleman DF: Kennedy MF: Donovan MF: Bracewell MF: Groves MF: Hodge FW: Boli FW: Goater v t e Colchester United F.C. – Player of the Year 1965: Ames 1966: Hall 1967: Forbes 1968: Trevis 1969: Hall 1970: Jones 1971: Crawford 1972: Cook 1973: Mahon 1974: Harford 1975: Froggatt 1976: L. Smith 1977: Dowman 1978: Leslie 1979: Wignall 1980: Walker 1981: Walker 1982: Bremner 1983: Walker 1984: Wignall 1985: Chamberlain 1986: Osborne 1987: Hedman 1988: Hill 1989: Hill 1990: Marmon 1991: Barrett 1992: N. Smith 1993: Roberts 1994: Kinsella 1995: Whitton 1996: Kinsella 1997: Fry 1998: Wilkins 1999: Greene 2000: Greene 2001: Stockwell 2002: Duguid 2003: S. Brown 2004: White 2005: Baldwin 2006: W. Brown 2007: Cureton 2008: Jackson 2009: Hammond 2010: Williams 2011: Perkins 2012: Odejayi 2013: Ibehre 2014: Eastman 2015: Eastman 2016: Gilbey 2017: Dickenson 2018: Eastman 2019: Kent 2020: Eastman 2021: Chilvers 2022: George 2023: Tchamadeu 2024: Read 2025: Payne 2026: Tucker v t e Watford F.C. – Player of the Season 1972–73: Rankin 1973–74: Jennings 1974–75: Rankin 1975–76: Jenkins 1976–77: Mercer 1977–78: Garner 1978–79: Jenkins 1979–80: Bolton 1980–81: Sims 1981–82: L. Taylor 1982–83: Rostron 1983–84: Rostron 1984–85: McClelland 1985–86: Coton 1986–87: Coton 1987–88: McClelland 1988–89: Hodges 1989–90: Coton 1990–91: James 1991–92: Gibbs 1992–93: Furlong 1993–94: Porter 1994–95: Miller 1995–96: Mooney 1996–97: Miller 1997–98: Chamberlain 1998–99: Palmer 1999–2000: Page 2000–01: Mooney 2001–02: Chamberlain 2002–03: Gayle 2003–04: Mahon 2004–05: Helguson 2005–06: King 2006–07: Foster 2007–08: Smith 2008–09: Smith 2009–10: Cleverley 2010–11: Graham 2011–12: Mariappa 2012–13: Abdi 2013–14: Deeney 2014–15: Deeney 2015–16: Gomes 2016–17: Prödl 2017–18: Doucouré 2018–19: Capoue 2019–20: N/A 2020–21: Sarr 2021–22: Kamara 2022–23: João Pedro 2023–24: Hoedt 2024–25: Louza 2025–26: Pollock

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Alec Chamberlain](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alec_Chamberlain) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alec_Chamberlain?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.