Brian Statham (footballer)

A right back, Statham began his career in the youth system at First Division club Tottenham Hotspur and turned professional in 1987.[3] He broke through into the first team during the 1987–88 season and made 19 appearances.[2] Statham managed eight further appearances during the 1988–89 season, before dropping out of the squad.[2] He spent time away on loan during the 1990–91 and 1991–92 seasons and departed White Hart Lane in February 1992.[4] Statham was awarded a benefit match by the club in July 2000.[5]

In January 1992, Statham joined high-flying Third Division club Brentford on a one-month loan, with a view to a permanent transfer.[6] He made just one appearance during his spell and rejected the contract offered, before reconsidering and joining the club on a permanent deal for a £70,000 fee on 28 February.[6][4] Statham was a regular in the team during the last three months of the 1991–92 season,[7] making 18 appearances and he won the first silverware of his career when Brentford secured the Third Division title on the final day.[8] Statham's 58 appearances during the 1992–93 season in the reclassified First Division was a career-high,[7] but the season ended on a disappointing note, with relegation straight back to the third-tier.[8]

Back in the Second Division for the 1993–94 season, Statham made 36 appearances and scored what would be the only goal of his professional career in a 3–3 draw with Cambridge United on 26 March 1993.[7][9] Despite appearing regularly during the first half of the 1994–95 season,[10] he was transfer listed in December 1994.[11] Statham made 44 appearances during a season in which the Bees were denied promotion after defeat to Huddersfield Town in the playoff semi-finals.[7][8] During the 1995 off-season, Statham rejected a new contract in favour of a week-to-week deal.[12] He made 24 appearances before suffering a double fracture of his right leg during a 1–0 FA Cup second round victory over Bournemouth on 2 December 1995.[13] Though he was still on the weekly contract, the club would honour the terms of its initial contract offer until the end of the 1995–96 season.[13]

Statham returned to training November 1996 and made his first appearance in nearly 13 months as a 79th-minute substitute for Carl Asaba in a 4–1 victory over Plymouth Argyle on 26 December 1996.[14][15] Featuring mostly as a substitute,[16] Statham finished with the 1996–97 season with 25 appearances,[15] but his Brentford career would end in ignominy, after he was sent off after being shown a second yellow card late in the 1997 Second Division playoff Final, which was lost 1–0 to Crewe Alexandra.[17] Statham departed Brentford in August 1997, having made 201 appearances and scored one goal during five-and-a-half years at Griffin Park.[4]

On 22 August 1997, Statham joined Second Division club Gillingham for a £10,000 fee, with two further £10,000 fees to be paid based on appearances.[18] He made just 24 appearances before departing Priestfield in October 1999.[4]

After loan spells with Woking and Stevenage Borough while a Gillingham player, Statham dropped back into non-League football upon his release from Gillingham.[4] Between 2000 and 2005 he played for Chesham United, Chelmsford City, Welling United, East Thurrock United, Erith & Belvedere and Heybridge Swifts.[19]

Statham was appointed as manager of Isthmian League Premier Division club Heybridge Swifts in January 2005.[20] He guided the club to a runners-up finish in the 2005–06 season, but the Swifts were denied promotion after falling to Hampton & Richmond Borough in the playoff semi-finals.[21] After two mid-table finishes,[21] Statham resigned on 28 August 2008.[22]

On 23 April 2009, Statham was announced as manager of Isthmian League Premier Division club Billericay Town.[23] With relegation at the end of the 2009–10 season looking a possibility, Statham was sacked on 29 March 2010.[24]