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

Career

Youth, college, and amateur

As a schoolboy Spendlove played football for Everton and

Preston North End Preston North End Football Club, commonly referred to as Preston, North End or PNE, is a professional football club in Preston, Lancashire, England, who currently play in the EFL Championship, the second tier of the English football league syste ...

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

Professional

Spendlove signed his first professional contract in February 2011, joining USL Pro club Wilmington Hammerheads. 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. Prior to the

2020 USL Championship season The 2020 USL Championship season was the tenth season of the USL Championship and fourth under Division II sanctioning. This was the second season under the name "USL Championship", having used the name "United Soccer League" through 2018. Rea ...

, Spendlove became the assistant coach at Miami FC.

Personal

In December 2014, Spendlove was arrested and charged with the murder of a police officer and two counts of malicious wounding in Liverpool, England. On 22 December,

Oklahoma City Energy Oklahoma City Energy Football Club is an American professional soccer club based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The club is a member of the USL Championship, the second division of the American soccer league system. History Oklahoma City business ...

dismissed him as a result. 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 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. In July 2015 he was cleared of all charges, while his two co-defendants were convicted.

References

External links

Oklahoma City University profile
{{DEFAULTSORT:Spendlove, Chris Living people 1984 births English men's footballers Footballers from Liverpool Men's association football defenders Oklahoma City Stars men's soccer players Austin Aztex U23 players GPS Portland Phoenix players Wilmington Hammerheads FC players Oklahoma City FC (NPSL) players North West Counties Football League players USL League Two players USL Championship players English expatriate men's footballers Expatriate men's soccer players in the United States English expatriate sportspeople in the United States Oklahoma State Cowgirls soccer coaches OKC Energy FC coaches Hartford Athletic coaches Miami FC coaches People acquitted of murder English football managers English expatriate football managers Expatriate soccer coaches in the United States