Chris Pike

For other people of the same name, see Christopher Pike (disambiguation).

Chris Pike

Personal information
Full name	Christopher Pike
Date of birth	19 October 1961 (1961-10-19) (age 50)
Place of birth	Cardiff, Wales
Playing position	Striker
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
19??–19??	Park Lawn	?	(?)
19??–198?	Maesteg Park	?	(?)
198?–1985	Barry Town	?	(?)
1985–1989	Fulham	42	(4)
1986	→ Cardiff City (loan)	6	(2)
1989–1993	Cardiff City	148	(55)
1993–1994	Hereford United	38	(18)
1994–1995	Gillingham	27	(13)
1995–1998	Barry Town	82	(46)
1998–1999	Cwmbran Town	29	(6)
1999	Bridgend Town	?	(?)
1999–2000	Rhayader Town	14	(6)
2000	Llanelli	1	(0)
2000–2001	Rhayader Town	9	(2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Christopher "Chris" Pike (born 19 October 1961)^[1] is a Welsh former professional footballer. His clubs included Fulham, Cardiff City and Gillingham. He made over 250 Football League appearances.

Career

Pike began his career playing in the Cardiff Combination League with Park Lawn Football Club of Whitchurch, before moving up to the Welsh Football League with Maesteg Park and Barry Town. In 1985 he was given a chance in the Football League when he was signed by Fulham, managing to make an impact on the first team before an injury meant he lost his place in the side and, after finding himself unable to force his way back into the squad, was loaned out to his hometown side Cardiff City. He enjoyed a fairly successful spell at Cardiff but an injury crisis at Fulham saw him recalled.

In 1989 he returned to Cardiff City, this time on a permanent basis. At the club he established a striking partnership with Carl Dale and the two competed for the clubs top scorer award at the club for several years, with Pike winning the award for thee consecutive seasons between 1989 and 1992, the third season sharing it with Dale. He left the club in 1993 having played over 150 League games for the Bluebirds,^[2] to sign for Hereford United.

While playing for Hereford United in 1993 he scored a hat-trick against Colchester United, in which each of the three goals was scored past a different goalkeeper, one of only five such hat-tricks ever scored in the Football League.^[3] He made 38 League appearances for Hereford and transferred to Gillingham in 1994-95, where he made his remaining 27 Football League appearances.^[2]

Personal life

He is the uncle of Gareth Bale of Tottenham Hotspur.^[4]

References

Specific

1. ^ Triggs, Roger (2001). The Men Who Made Gillingham Football Club. Tempus Publishing Ltd. pp. p255. ISBN 0-7524-2243-X. 
2. ^ ^{a b} Football League Career Stats at Neil Brown
3. ^ Barnes, Stuart (2007). News of the World Football Annual 2007–2008. HarperSport. pp. p344. ISBN 0-0072-5555-1. 
4. ^ "Bluebirds of a feather are flocking together". walesonline.co.uk South Wales Echo. 8 December 2008. http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2008/12/08/bluebirds-of-a-feather-are-flocking-together-in-91466-22425013/. 

General

• Hayes, Dean (2006). The Who's Who of Cardiff City. Breedon Books. ISBN 1-8598-3462-0. 

Persondata
Name	Pike,Chris
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	19 October 1961
Place of birth	Cardiff, Wales
Date of death
Place of death