Christopher Mark Whelpdale (born 27 January 1987) is an English professional

footballer A football player or footballer is a sportsperson who plays one of the different types of football. The main types of football are association football, American football, Canadian football, Australian rules football, Gaelic football, rugby lea ...

who plays as a

midfielder In the sport of association football, a midfielder takes an Glossary of association football terms#O, outfield position primarily in the middle of the pitch. Midfielders may play an exclusively defensive role, breaking up attacks, and are in t ...

for club Burgess Hill Town.

Career

After playing local football in Brentwood, Whelpdale was recruited by

Norwich City Norwich City Football Club is a professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk, England. The club competes in the Championship, the second tier of English football. The club was founded in 1902. Since 1935, Norwich have played their h ...

's youth academy. Whelpdale later moved to

Arsenal An arsenal is a place where arms and ammunition are made, maintained and repaired, stored, or issued, in any combination, whether privately or publicly owned. Arsenal and armoury (British English) or armory (American English) are mostly ...

and Ipswich Town before being released. Whelpdale began his senior career at Maldon Town, after not being offered a scholarship by Ipswich, before moving shortly to Billericay Town.

Peterborough United

In 2007 Whelpdale signed for League Two side Peterborough United, rejecting League One side Southend United, who had just been relegated from the

Football League Championship The English Football League Championship, known simply as the Championship and for sponsorship purposes as Sky Betting & Gaming, Sky Bet Championship, is a professional association football league in England and Wales. Contested by 24 clubs, i ...

Gillingham

He joined Gillingham on loan in the 2010–11 season and scored three goals in four games for the League Two team. He joined Gillingham on a permanent basis in July 2011. Whelpdale was part of the Gillingham side that won the 2012–13 League Two title.

Stevenage

He rejected a new deal from Gillingham and signed for League Two side

Stevenage Stevenage ( ) is a town and borough in Hertfordshire, England, about north of London. Stevenage is east of junctions 7 and 8 of the A1(M), between Letchworth Garden City to the north and Welwyn Garden City to the south. In 1946, Stevenage w ...

on 30 June 2014.

AFC Wimbledon

On 28 June 2016 Whelpdale signed for League One side

AFC Wimbledon AFC Wimbledon is an English professional association football club based in Wimbledon, London, Wimbledon, London Borough of Merton, London. The team competes in , the third tier of the English football league system. The club was founded in ...

. He scored his first goal for Wimbledon in a 3–2

EFL Cup The English Football League Cup, often referred to as the League Cup and currently known as the Carabao Cup for sponsorship reasons, is an annual Single-elimination tournament, knockout competition in men's domestic football in England. Orga ...

loss against Peterborough United on 9 August 2016.

Stevenage

On 28 July 2017, Whelpdale re-signed for Stevenage. Whelpdale made 27 League Two appearances, starting 19 times, scoring once, before departing the club.

Chelmsford City

On 10 August 2018, Whelpdale signed for Chelmsford City. On 27 August 2018, Whelpdale scored his first goal for the club in a 5–3 away win against Hemel Hempstead Town. On 30 January 2020, Whelpdale was confirmed as assistant to interim manager Robbie Simpson alongside Michael Spillane following the sacking of Rod Stringer.

Eastbourne Borough

On 29 July 2020, Whelpdale left Chelmsford to join fellow

National League South The National League South, officially Vanarama National League South, is a professional Association football league in England. National League South is the second division of the National League (English football), National Leagues and step ...

club Eastbourne Borough.

Lewes

On 19 July 2023, Whelpdale signed for

Isthmian League The Isthmian League () is a regional Association football, football league covering Greater London, East of England, East and South East England, featuring mostly semi-professional clubs. Founded in 1905 by amateur clubs in the London area, th ...

Premier Division club

Lewes Lewes () is the county town of East Sussex, England. The town is the administrative centre of the wider Lewes (district), district of the same name. It lies on the River Ouse, Sussex, River Ouse at the point where the river cuts through the Sou ...

. He scored on his league debut against Cray Wanderers on 12 August.

Whitehawk

On 17 June 2024, Whelpdale joined fellow Isthmian Premier Division side

Whitehawk Whitehawk is a suburb in the east of Brighton, England, south of Bevendean and north of Brighton Marina. The area is a large, modern housing estate built in a downland dry valley historically known as Whitehawk Bottom. The estate was originall ...

Burgess Hill Town

On 19 October 2024, Whelpdale joined Isthmian League South East Division club Burgess Hill Town.

Career statistics

Honours

Individual *

Team of the Year: 2018–19

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Whelpdale, Chris 1987 births Living people People from Harold Wood Footballers from the London Borough of Havering English men's footballers Men's association football midfielders Maldon & Tiptree F.C. players Billericay Town F.C. players Peterborough United F.C. players Gillingham F.C. players Stevenage F.C. players AFC Wimbledon players Chelmsford City F.C. players Eastbourne Borough F.C. players Lewes F.C. players Whitehawk F.C. players Burgess Hill Town F.C. players English Football League players National League (English football) players Isthmian League players Chelmsford City F.C. non-playing staff 21st-century English sportsmen