Les Chapman

Football player infobox
playername = Les Chapman
fullname = Leslie Chapman


nickname =
height= height|ft=5|in=8
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1948|9|27
cityofbirth = Royton, Lancashire
countryofbirth = England
currentclub =
position = Midfield
years = 1986–1987
1985
1983–1984
1979–1982
1979
1978
1974–1978
1969–1974
1966–1969
1965
clubs = Preston North End
Stockport County
Rochdale
Bradford City
Stockport County
San Jose Earthquakes
Oldham Athletic
Huddersfield Town
Oldham Athletic
Huddersfield Town
High Barn
caps(goals) = 053 0(1)
038 0(3)
088 0(0)
139 0(3)
032 0(1)
020 0(0)
187 (11)
134 0(8)
076 0(9)
000 0(0)
manageryears = 1985–1986
1990–1992
managerclubs = Stockport County
Preston North End

Les Chapman (born in Royton, LancashireFact|date=June 2007 on September 27, 1948Fact|date=June 2007) is a former football player and manager who played in the English football league. Midfield player Chapman made 747 league appearances in a career that spanned 22 seasons.

From an early stage, it was not clear how Chapman would go on to have such a long career in football as he himself admits: "I never had a great desire to be a professional footballer, it simply landed at my feet."Fact|date=June 2007

Early years

Chapman was raised in RoytonFact|date=June 2007 and as a youngster played for Chadderton Boys before going on to play for Huddersfield's youth team during his schooldays.

Les didn't turn professional straight away and actually spent the first months of his working life as a trainee accountant with Middleton Council before being recommended to Latics.Fact|date=June 2007

He began his 1st spell with Oldham Athletic making his 1st team debut as an 18 year old against Bristol Rovers in February 1967 but went back to Huddersfield (where he had played as a junior) in September 1969.Fact|date=June 2007

Back at Oldham

In December 1974, he returned to Oldham Athletic, now in Division 4. He stayed at the club for the next four and a half years, during which it climbed back up to the 2nd division, the equivalent of today's Championship. Chapman missed only five games during that time and his came as a surprise to many when he left at the end of the 1978-79 season.

In total, he made 263 league appearances for Oldham Athletic and scored 20 times.

Later years

Upon leaving Oldham, Chapman spent the summer of 1979 playing in the NAFL for San Jose Earthquakes before returning to England and to Stockport County. After one season at Edgeley Park though Les left to sign for Bradford City. Les spent four seasons at Valley Parade making 139 league appearances before leaving on a free transfer for Rochdale where he would spend two seasons ,playing nearly 100 games for the Spotland side.

Management

In July 1985 he became player-manager of Stockport County but moved on a year later to become player-assistant manager alongside John McGrath at Preston. This despite similar interest from Frank Worthington at Tranmere Rovers. In April February 1990 he took over the managership of the club himself but was later sacked in October 1992. He became reserve team coach at Manchester City in January 1993 but was replaced by Kevin Bond in July 1996 since then he has been City's kit man.

Les' daughter, Tiffany Chapman is an actress, most famous for her role as Rachel Jordache in the soap opera "Brookside", which she played from 1993 until the show ended in 2003. She also released a fitness video and appeared in "Celebrity Wrestling".