Chris Spendlove (born 18 December 1984) is an English former footballer.[1]

Chris Spendlove
Personal information
Full name Christopher Spendlove
Date of birth (1984-12-18) 18 December 1984 (age 39)
Place of birth Liverpool, England
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
Everton
Preston North End
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007–2010 Oklahoma City Stars 83 (26)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006–2007 St. Helens Town
2008–2009 Austin Aztex U23 15 (1)
2010 GPS Portland Phoenix 14 (1)
2011 Wilmington Hammerheads 21 (0)
2013 OKC Energy 1 (0)
Total 51+ (2+)
Managerial career
2011–2013 Oklahoma State Cowgirls (assistant)
2014 OKC Energy (assistant)
2015–2017 OKC Energy U23
2015–2017 OKC Energy (assistant)
2019 Hartford Athletic (assistant)
2020 Miami FC (assistant)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Early life and education

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As a schoolboy, Spendlove played football for Everton and Preston North End.[2] He was a five-year captain of district and regional representative squads back in his home town of Liverpool before he began his undergraduate and master's degrees at Oklahoma City University, playing with their soccer team during his four years there, recording 26 goals and 9 assists.[3]

During his college career, Spendlove also played with USL Premier Development League club GPS Portland Phoenix during their 2010 season.[4]

Professional career

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Spendlove signed his first professional contract in February 2011, joining USL Pro club Wilmington Hammerheads.[5] He made his professional debut on 17 April 2011, in Wilmington's first game of the 2011 season, a 1–0 win over the Rochester Rhinos.[6]

Prior to the 2020 USL Championship season, Spendlove became the assistant coach at Miami FC.[7]

Trial

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In December 2014, Spendlove was arrested and charged with the murder of a police officer and two counts of malicious wounding in Liverpool, England.[2] On 22 December, Oklahoma City Energy dismissed him as a result.[8]

During the subsequent murder trial at Liverpool Crown Court, it was alleged that Spendlove had struck PC Steventon whilst he was on the floor. CCTV was released by Merseyside Police[9] following the trial which appears to show the alleged punch. Spendlove was accused of watching out for his two friends whilst they attacked the officers.[10]

In July 2015 he was cleared of all charges, while his two co-defendants were convicted.[9][11]

References

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  1. ^ "PC Neil Doyle trial: Two men guilty of manslaughter". 31 July 2015.
  2. ^ a b Bartlett, David (23 December 2014). "PICTURED: PC Neil Doyle murder accused Andy Taylor in football playing days". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
  3. ^ "Oklahoma City University Athletics". Retrieved 23 December 2014.
  4. ^ "United Soccer Leagues (USL)". Archived from the original on 20 October 2014. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
  5. ^ "Hammerheads Announce 1st Signings - Wilmington Hammerheads". www.wilmingtonhammerheads.com. Archived from the original on 18 July 2011.
  6. ^ "United Soccer Leagues (USL)". Archived from the original on 19 July 2012. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
  7. ^ "Miami FC Technical Staff". Miami FC.
  8. ^ "Oklahoma assistant coach charged with murder of policeman". Archived from the original on 23 December 2014. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
  9. ^ a b "Watch: PC Neil Doyle's killers in brutal attack on fellow policeman". 11 September 2015.
  10. ^ "Live: PC Neil Doyle murder trial - Thursday 23 July 2015". 23 July 2015.
  11. ^ "PC Neil Doyle killing: Two men guilty of manslaughter". BBC News. 31 July 2015. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
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