 Day playing forStevenage Borough in the2009 FA Trophy final | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Christopher Nicholas Day[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1975-07-28)28 July 1975 (age 50)[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Walthamstow,London, England[1] | ||
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)[1] | ||
| Position | Goalkeeper | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1991–1995 | Tottenham Hotspur | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1995–1996 | Tottenham Hotspur | 0 | (0) |
| 1996–1997 | Crystal Palace | 24 | (0) |
| 1997–2001 | Watford | 11 | (0) |
| 2000–2001 | →Lincoln City (loan) | 14 | (0) |
| 2001–2005 | Queens Park Rangers | 87 | (0) |
| 2002 | →Aylesbury United (loan) | 7 | (0) |
| 2005 | →Preston North End (loan) | 6 | (0) |
| 2005–2006 | Oldham Athletic | 30 | (0) |
| 2006–2008 | Millwall | 10 | (0) |
| 2008–2018 | Stevenage | 300 | (0) |
| Total | 489 | (0) | |
| International career | |||
| 1992–1993 | England U18 | 8 | (0) |
| 1996–1997 | England U21 | 6 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Christopher Nicholas Day (born 28 July 1975) is an English former professionalfootballer who played as agoalkeeper.
Day began his career atTottenham Hotspur, spending five years with the club, during which he made fourUEFA Intertoto Cup appearances. He joinedCrystal Palace for a fee of £225,000 in July 1996 and played regularly during the first half of the1996–97 season. The following season, he signed forWatford, where he spent four seasons and made 11 Premier League appearances during the1999–2000 season. In his final season at the club, he had a three-monthloan spell atLincoln City. After leaving Watford in 2001, Day joinedQueens Park Rangers, making 100 appearances over three and a half years and also having brief loans atAylesbury United andPreston North End.
He moved toOldham Athletic ahead of the2005–06 season and then joinedMillwall a year later. In August 2008, Day signed forStevenage Borough, where he made 361 appearances over a decade. His spell included winning theFA Trophy in 2009 in his first season, followed by back-to-backpromotions from theConference Premier toLeague One. In May 2016, he combined his playing duties with the role of goalkeeping coach. He left Stevenage in July 2018, marking his retirement from professional football. Internationally, Day representedEngland at under-18 level eight times, winning the1993 UEFA European Under-18 Championship, and also earned sixcaps for theEngland under-21 team between 1996 and 1997.
Born inWalthamstow,London, Day began playing as astriker for schoolboy team Ridgeway Rovers, playing alongsideDavid Beckham and scoring 63 goals in one season.[1][2] Due to his height, Day was later made the team'sgoalkeeper.[2]
Day joinedTottenham Hotspur as a trainee and progressed through the club'syouth system.[3][4][5] Although he made noPremier League appearances during his four years there,[5] he played in all four of Tottenham's1995 UEFA Intertoto Cup group matches, with the club fielding a team composed of loanees, youth, and reserve players.[6][7] Tottenham recorded one win in the competition, a 2–1 away victory overRudar Velenje.[8][9] Day transferred toCrystal Palace in July 1996 for £225,000, making hisFootball League debut in a 1–0 defeat againstBirmingham City atSt Andrew's.[10] He made 28 appearances during the first half of the1996–97 season, but did not feature thereafter, having lost his place toCarlo Nash in January 1997.[2][10]
Ahead of the1997–98 season, Day joinedWatford as part of a swap deal that sawKevin Miller move to Crystal Palace.[2] He made his debut in a 4–0League Cup defeat away toSheffield United, scoring anown goal in thefirst half, and made one further appearance that season in a 1–0Football League Trophy defeat atFulham on 9 December 1997.[11] Day did not feature as Watford secured promotion to the Premier League viathe play-offs, but received a winners' medal as an unusedsubstitute in the final.[12][13]
During the1999–2000 season, Day made 11 Premier League appearances for Watford, starting in their opening match of the season againstWimbledon and keeping aclean sheet in a 1–0 victory overLiverpool atAnfield on 14 August 1999.[14][15] His final appearance for the club came in a 1–0 victory overCoventry City on 14 May 2000, after which the arrival ofEspen Baardsen that summer saw him drop to third-choice goalkeeper.[2][14] Midway through the2000–01 season, Day joinedLincoln City on a three-monthloan,[16] making 18 appearances in all competitions for the club.[17]
In July 2001, Day joinedQueens Park Rangers on a free transfer following his release from Watford.[18] He made his QPR debut in a 1–0 victory overStoke City on 11 August 2001, and went on to make 18 appearances during the2001–02 season.[19] He was dropped in October 2001 after the arrival ofFraser Digby and shortly afterwards suffered abroken leg in a home match againstOldham Athletic following a challenge with strikerMatthew Tipton. As part of his recovery, he was loaned to non-League clubAylesbury United in October 2002,[20] and made 11 appearances during his two months there.[21] Day returned to QPR's first team late in the2002–03 season and remained first-choice goalkeeper for the remainder of that campaign, including theplay-off final at theMillennium Stadium, where QPR were defeated 1–0 byCardiff City.[22][23]
Day made 34 appearances for QPR during the2003–04 season, keeping 16 clean sheets between August 2003 to February 2004, including five in six matches during November 2003.[24] An injury in February 2004 led to QPR signingLee Camp on loan to cover in his absence, whose performances kept Day out of the team upon his return.[24] He was an unused substitute in QPR's 3–1 win againstSheffield Wednesday, which secured the club's automaticpromotion to theChampionship.[24][25] He returned to the first team in the2004–05 season, making 33 appearances before being dropped in January 2005 for loaneeSimon Royce.[26] Subsequently, Day joinedPreston North End on a one-month loan,[27] keeping two clean sheets in six appearances during his time there.[26] He was released by QPR upon the expiry of his contract in June 2005.[28]
A week before the start of the2005–06 season, Day joinedOldham Athletic on a two-year contract.[28] He established himself as the first-choice goalkeeper, making 36 appearances and keeping nine clean sheets during the season.[29] After managerRonnie Moore signedDerby County goalkeeperLee Grant on loan in late January 2006, Day became second-choice for the remainder of the season.[29][30] He departed Oldham and signed a two-year contract with League One clubMillwall in June 2006,[31] making seven appearances during the2006–07 season.[32] He was predominantly second-choice goalkeeper during the2007–08 season, making a further seven appearances before leaving when his contract expired in June 2008.[33]
"I've got a close affinity withStevenage. It's my hometown club, so to get promoted with them is fantastic. To finish as champions over a long, difficult season is brilliant."
Following surgery on a leg injury, Day contemplated retirement.[3] Living inStevenage, he trained with localConference Premier clubStevenage Borough for several weeks before signing a two-year contract in August 2008.[3][35] At the time of his arrival, the club were second-bottom of the league, having conceded 13 goals in four matches.[36] He made his debut in a 1–1 draw at home toCrawley Town on 25 August 2008.[37][38] Between December 2008 and April 2009, Stevenage went 24 matches unbeaten, setting a club record.[39] The club reached the play-offs, losing in the semi-finals againstCambridge United, and won theFA Trophy, with Day keeping four clean sheets in six matches, including the 2–0 victory overYork City in thefinal atWembley Stadium on 9 May 2009.[37][40][41] He made 52 appearances across all competitions in his first season, recording 20 clean sheets.[37][40]
Day was in goal for Stevenage's 2–0 victory atKidderminster Harriers on 17 April 2010, which secured promotion to the Football League for the first time in the club's history.[42][43] He made 39 league appearancesthat season, kept 24 clean sheets, the highest in the league,[44] and helped the club achieve the division's best defensive record, conceding 24 goals.[40][42] In all competitions, he made 50 appearances during the season.[40][42] Day started in Stevenage's inaugural Football League fixture, a 2–2 draw againstMacclesfield Town on 7 August 2010.[45] Stevenage finished sixth, winning the play-off semi-final againstAccrington Stanley 3–0 on aggregate, with Day keeping two clean sheets.[46][47] He kept a clean sheet in the 1–0League Two play-off final victory against Torquay United on 28 May 2011, earning promotion toLeague One.[48] The club conceded the fewest goals in League Two, with Day recording 19 clean sheets,[49] and he played every minute of all 56 of Stevenage's matches that season.[50][40]
Ahead of the2011–12 season, Day dislocated a finger in a pre-season friendly againstFulham,[51][52] ruling him out for one month and causing him to miss Stevenage's first three matches of the season.[53] He signed a contract extension on 19 August 2011[54] and retained his position as first-choice goalkeeper for the remainder of the season, missing only one further league game.[40][55] During an FA Cup run to the fifth round, Day kept a clean sheet in a goalless home draw with former clubTottenham Hotspur[56] before a 3–1 defeat in the replay atWhite Hart Lane.[55][57] He made 52 appearances in all competitions that season as Stevenage lost in the League One play-off semi-final toSheffield United,[55][58] with only championsCharlton Athletic conceding fewer league goals.[59]
Day began the2012–13 season as first-choice, with Stevenage unbeaten in their opening nine league matches.[60] However, following Stevenage's 2–2 draw withBury on 29 September 2012,[61] managerGary Smith replaced him withSteve Arnold.[62] He was largely second-choice for the remainder of the campaign, returning briefly during Arnold's suspension, and played in the final two league matches followingGraham Westley's return as manager.[60] Day made 19 appearances across all competitions during the season.[60] In May 2013, Day signed a new one-year contract extension,[63][64] and made 52 appearances under Westley during the2013–14 season as Stevenage were relegated to League Two.[65][66] He extended his contract for another year on 17 May 2014.[67]
Day remained first-choice during the2014–15 season, making 43 appearances in all competitions as Stevenage were defeated in the League Two play-off semi-final bySouthend United.[68][69] He began the2015–16 season as first-choice under new managerTeddy Sheringham, making 23 appearances, before being replaced byJamie Jones.[70] Day signed a player-goalkeeper coach contract on 25 May 2016, taking on a dual role for the first time, and made 12 appearances during the2016–17 season.[71][72] He featured twice thefollowing season before leaving the club in July 2018.[73][74] Offered a position solely as goalkeeping coach, he declined, wishing to retain a playing contract alongside coaching duties, and retired from playing.[74] Day made 361 appearances during his ten years at Stevenage, placing him fifth on the club's all-time appearance list.[75]
Day made his debut for theEngland under-18 team in a 7–2 victory over Switzerland on 17 November 1992.[76] He earned eightcaps at that level, including appearing in all four matches as England won the1993 UEFA European Under-18 Championship.[76][77] Between 1996 and 1997, he made six appearances for theunder-21 team.[78][79]
Having served as Stevenage's goalkeeping coach for two seasons,[74] Day was appointed to the same role atNorthampton Town on 2 August 2018.[80] He joined under managerDean Austin, whom he had known from their time together at Tottenham Hotspur.[80] Following Austin's dismissal a month later, new managerKeith Curle appointed his own goalkeeping coach, and Day left the club on 8 October 2018.[81] He also spent time coaching atTottenham's academy.[3]
Day married inStevenage in June 2004.[82] A supporter of Tottenham Hotspur, he attends matches when commitments permit.[4][83][5] He previously owned apub in Stevenage, located just over a mile fromBroadhall Way.[4]
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Tottenham Hotspur | 1992–93[84] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1993–94[85] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1994–95[86] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1995–96[87] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4[a] | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 0 | ||
| Crystal Palace | 1996–97[10] | First Division | 24 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 0 |
| Watford | 1997–98[11] | Second Division | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[b] | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 1998–99[12] | First Division | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1999–2000[14] | Premier League | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | |
| 2000–01[17] | First Division | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 0 | ||
| Lincoln City (loan) | 2000–01[17] | Third Division | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4[b] | 0 | 18 | 0 |
| Queens Park Rangers | 2001–02[19] | Second Division | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[b] | 0 | 18 | 0 |
| 2002–03[23] | Second Division | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3[c] | 0 | 15 | 0 | |
| 2003–04[24] | Second Division | 29 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1[b] | 0 | 34 | 0 | |
| 2004–05[26] | Championship | 30 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 0 | |
| Total | 87 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 100 | 0 | ||
| Aylesbury United (loan) | 2002–03[21] | Isthmian Premier Division | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 4[d] | 0 | 11 | 0 | |
| Preston North End (loan) | 2004–05[26] | Championship | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Oldham Athletic | 2005–06[29] | League One | 30 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[b] | 0 | 36 | 0 |
| Millwall | 2006–07[32] | League One | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[b] | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| 2007–08[33] | League One | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[b] | 0 | 7 | 0 | |
| Total | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 14 | 0 | ||
| Stevenage | 2008–09[37][40] | Conference Premier | 41 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 8[e] | 0 | 52 | 0 | |
| 2009–10[40][42] | Conference Premier | 40 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 7[f] | 0 | 50 | 0 | ||
| 2010–11[40][50] | League Two | 46 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4[g] | 0 | 56 | 0 | |
| 2011–12[40][55] | League One | 44 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2[h] | 0 | 52 | 0 | |
| 2012–13[40][60] | League One | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 0 | |
| 2013–14[40][65] | League One | 44 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3[b] | 0 | 52 | 0 | |
| 2014–15[40][68] | League Two | 38 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3[i] | 0 | 43 | 0 | |
| 2015–16[40][70] | League Two | 19 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[b] | 0 | 23 | 0 | |
| 2016–17[40][71] | League Two | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[b] | 0 | 12 | 0 | |
| 2017–18[40][73] | League Two | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2[b] | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| Total | 300 | 0 | 25 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 31 | 0 | 361 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 489 | 0 | 33 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 52 | 0 | 591 | 0 | ||
Watford
Stevenage
England U18
Individual
