Chris Hutchings

Christopher Hutchings (born 5 July 1957) is an English former footballer and manager. He played for a number of clubs including Chelsea and played more than 100 games for Brighton & Hove Albion and Huddersfield Town. He has managed in the Premier League with Bradford City and Wigan Athletic, while his most recent tenure was at Walsall. He left Ipswich Town in November 2012 following Paul Jewell's departure.[3]

Not to be confused with Chris Hutchins.

Chris Hutchings
Personal information
Full name Christopher Hutchings[1]
Date of birth (1957-07-05) 5 July 1957[1]
Place of birth Winchester,[1] England
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[2]
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
Harrow Borough
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1980–1983 Chelsea 87 (3)
1983–1987 Brighton & Hove Albion 153 (4)
1987–1990 Huddersfield Town 110 (10)
1990–1991 Walsall 40 (0)
1991–1994 Rotherham United 78 (4)
Total 468 (21)
Managerial career
2000 Bradford City
2007 Wigan Athletic
2008–2009 Derby County (caretaker)
2009–2011 Walsall
2012 Ipswich Town (caretaker)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Playing career

As a player, Hutchings spent time at Harrow Borough, Chelsea, Brighton & Hove Albion, Huddersfield Town, Walsall and Rotherham United. He made a total of 468 senior league appearances.

Chris Hutchings was a part-time player (and former bricklayer) with Harrow Borough. Chelsea signed him in July 1980 for £5,000. He made his debut in October 1980 against Cardiff City, playing midfield, and scored the winning goal after just 15 mins. He converted to full-back, where his best assets were his aggressive approach and his speed. Chelsea transferred him to Brighton and Hove Albion for £50,000 in November 1983.[4]

Management career

Bradford City

His first coaching role came at Rotherham, where he was youth team coach. He moved to Bradford City as assistant manager under Chris Kamara and continued in the role under Paul Jewell. In his time at Bradford, the club was promoted from the Second Division to the Premier League.

Hutchings took charge as Bradford's manager during the 2000–01 season after Jewell moved to Sheffield Wednesday.[5] He took Bradford to the semi-finals of the Intertoto Cup and won the club's first Premier League home game of the season with a 2–0 win over Chelsea. However, he lasted a total of only 21 competitive games, and his win against Chelsea was the only one in 12 Premier League games, before being sacked on 6 November 2000.[6]

Wigan Athletic

Hutchings linked up again with Jewell as assistant manager now at Wigan Athletic in 2001. In May 2007, he succeeded Jewell as manager for a second time.[7] Wigan made an impressive start to the season, going top for a short period in August. However, after six consecutive defeats Wigan sacked Hutchings on 5 November 2007 after the club dropped into the Premier League relegation zone after just 12 Premiership games – almost seven years to the day he was sacked at Bradford. His last game in charge was a 2–0 home defeat to Chelsea.[8]

Derby County

He joined Bury on a voluntary basis in January 2008 to assist caretaker manager Chris Brass,[9] but left on 24 April 2008 to link up with Paul Jewell for a third time, this time as his assistant with Derby County.[10] When Jewell resigned as Derby manager in December 2008 after a 1–0 defeat left them 18th in the Championship table, Hutchings was once again appointed caretaker manager.[11] Hutchings' only match in charge of Derby was an FA Cup third round tie away at Forest Green Rovers, which Derby won 4–3 despite being behind 2–0 and 3–2 during the match,[12] before Derby appointed Nigel Clough, son of former Derby manager Brian Clough, as their new manager. Hutchings immediately left the club.[13]

Walsall

On 20 January 2009, he was named manager of League One club Walsall with Martin O'Connor as his assistant taking over from Jimmy Mullen, who had been sacked earlier in the month. The side were 13th in the table.

[14] Hutchings' started his Walsall career with a 1–1 home league draw with Hereford United.[15] On 4 January 2011, Hutchings was sacked as manager of Walsall along with assistant manager Martin O'Connor.[16]

Ipswich Town

Hutchings was named as Jewell's assistant at Ipswich Town on 17 January 2011.[17] Hutchings was named Ipswich Town caretaker manager after Paul Jewell left the club in October 2012.[3]

Subsequent clubs

In July 2013, Hutchings was named as assistant manager to Lee Ebden at Northern Premier League Division One South side Market Drayton Town.[18] He left the club on 8 November 2013.

He became a coach at Shrewsbury Town in February 2014, leaving in March 2014 to join Barnsley, where he worked until February 2015.[19]

Personal life

Outside football, Hutchings has also worked as a bricklayer and a second-hand car salesman.[20]

References
  1. "Chris Hutchings". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  2. Dunk, Peter, ed. (1987). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1987–88. London: Queen Anne Press. p. 86. ISBN 978-0-356-14354-5.
  3. "Paul Jewell leaves as Ipswich Town manager". BBC Sport. 24 October 2012. Retrieved 24 October 2012.
  4. Chelsea Football Club The Full Statistical Story 1905–1986 by Scott Cheshire and Ron Hockings ISBN 0-9511640-0-7
  5. "Hutchings appointed new Bantams boss". BBC Sport. 22 June 2000. Retrieved 14 May 2007.
  6. "Bradford sack Hutchings". BBC Sport. 6 November 2000. Retrieved 14 May 2007.
  7. "Wigan name Hutchings as new boss". BBC Sport. 14 May 2007. Retrieved 14 May 2007.
  8. "Hutchings sacked as Wigan manager". BBC Sport. 5 November 2007. Retrieved 5 November 2007.
  9. "Hutchings helping Brass at Bury". BBC Sport. 22 January 2008. Retrieved 22 January 2008.
  10. "Hutchings set to take Derby role". BBC Sport. 24 April 2008. Retrieved 24 April 2008.
  11. "Jewell resigns as Derby manager". BBC Sport. 29 December 2008. Retrieved 29 December 2008.
  12. "Forest Green 3–4 Derby". BBC Sport. 3 January 2009. Retrieved 3 January 2009.
  13. "Clough takes over as Derby boss". BBC Sport. 6 January 2009. Retrieved 6 January 2009.
  14. "Walsall appoint Hutchings as boss". BBC Sport. 20 January 2009. Retrieved 20 January 2009.
  15. "Walsall 1–1 Hereford". BBC Sport. 24 January 2009. Retrieved 24 January 2009.
  16. "Chris Hutchings shown door by Walsall". BBC Sport. 4 January 2011. Retrieved 4 January 2011.
  17. "Chris Hutchings joins Paul Jewell at Ipswich Town". BBC Sport. 17 January 2011. Retrieved 17 January 2011.
  18. "Chris Hutchings joins staff at Market Drayton Town". shropshirestar.com. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  19. "Wilson sacked by Barnsley". Barnsley Chronicle. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  20. May, John (16 May 2007). "Hutchings grabs chance to shine". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
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