PHIL CHAPPLE
Phil Chapple was the backbone of arguably the most exciting side that Cambridge United fans have ever enjoyed. John Beck’s team of the late 1980s and early 1990s scared the wits out of the football establishment in rising from the fourth to the second tier in successive seasons. A tall, athletic and imposing centre back, Phil was pretty much an ever present in that side, missing just four league games in three seasons between 1988 and 1991.
Phil was signed by Chris Turner from his home town club Norwich City for £5,000 in March 1988. At the time Chris was attempting to resurrect Cambridge United from the trauma of back-to-back relegations. He had yet to play in the football league but the signing of Phil Chapple was the very first piece of the jigsaw, the foundation on which Chris, and then John Beck, would build the wonderful team that almost took United to the Premier League.
Phil made his full debut for United at Hereford at the end of that season. It was an inauspicious start: Phil scored, but sadly it was in his own net, the only goal of the game. He made amends a week later, though, scoring at the right end in United’s 2-0 win at Stockport – it was not the towering header from a set piece that U’s fans would come to expect, it was an overhead flick from the edge of the box!
From the off the following season Phil was Chris Turner’s first choice centre back, partnered initially by Lindsay Smith but latterly by Liam Daish (and seven times by Dion Dublin). Phil played every game that season and weighed in with four goals. United finished eighth and U’s fans finally had optimism again about the future. John Beck succeeded Chris Turner midway through the following season and United stormed to promotion via the very first Wembley play-off final, with Phil receiving the winner’s trophy. Phil missed just the one game that season – he played 61 in total, including 10 in the FA Cup as the U’s reached the quarter finals - and won the Cambridge Evening News player of the year award.
Phil had a new centre back partner for most of the 1990-91 season in Danny O’Shea. John Beck made Phil his captain, saying that he led by example, was an articulate model professional … and had excellent manners! Phil drove the U’s to the third division title, missing just three games and scoring five goals along the way. United again made it to the quarter final of the FA Cup. At Wolves in the third round Phil hardly allowed the England striker Steve Bull a kick. United were back in the second tier but injuries restricted Phil to 29 league games that season. He was back for the season’s run in, however, and played at Leicester when United’s dream of reaching the Premier League finally foundered. The following season was tough and Phil was troubled for most of it by knee ligament problems and, following relegation, he departed the Abbey for Charlton for a bargain £100,000.
In total Phil appeared 233 times for the U’s, scoring a very decent 22 goals in the process.
Phil Chapple was the backbone of arguably the most exciting side that Cambridge United fans have ever enjoyed. John Beck’s team of the late 1980s and early 1990s scared the wits out of the football establishment in rising from the fourth to the second tier in successive seasons. A tall, athletic and imposing centre back, Phil was pretty much an ever present in that side, missing just four league games in three seasons between 1988 and 1991.
Phil was signed by Chris Turner from his home town club Norwich City for £5,000 in March 1988. At the time Chris was attempting to resurrect Cambridge United from the trauma of back-to-back relegations. He had yet to play in the football league but the signing of Phil Chapple was the very first piece of the jigsaw, the foundation on which Chris, and then John Beck, would build the wonderful team that almost took United to the Premier League.
Phil made his full debut for United at Hereford at the end of that season. It was an inauspicious start: Phil scored, but sadly it was in his own net, the only goal of the game. He made amends a week later, though, scoring at the right end in United’s 2-0 win at Stockport – it was not the towering header from a set piece that U’s fans would come to expect, it was an overhead flick from the edge of the box!
From the off the following season Phil was Chris Turner’s first choice centre back, partnered initially by Lindsay Smith but latterly by Liam Daish (and seven times by Dion Dublin). Phil played every game that season and weighed in with four goals. United finished eighth and U’s fans finally had optimism again about the future. John Beck succeeded Chris Turner midway through the following season and United stormed to promotion via the very first Wembley play-off final, with Phil receiving the winner’s trophy. Phil missed just the one game that season – he played 61 in total, including 10 in the FA Cup as the U’s reached the quarter finals - and won the Cambridge Evening News player of the year award.
Phil had a new centre back partner for most of the 1990-91 season in Danny O’Shea. John Beck made Phil his captain, saying that he led by example, was an articulate model professional … and had excellent manners! Phil drove the U’s to the third division title, missing just three games and scoring five goals along the way. United again made it to the quarter final of the FA Cup. At Wolves in the third round Phil hardly allowed the England striker Steve Bull a kick. United were back in the second tier but injuries restricted Phil to 29 league games that season. He was back for the season’s run in, however, and played at Leicester when United’s dream of reaching the Premier League finally foundered. The following season was tough and Phil was troubled for most of it by knee ligament problems and, following relegation, he departed the Abbey for Charlton for a bargain £100,000.
In total Phil appeared 233 times for the U’s, scoring a very decent 22 goals in the process.