Alan Comfort Explained

Alan Comfort
Fullname:Alan Comfort
Birth Date:8 December 1964
Birth Place:Aldershot, England
Height:[1]
Position:Winger
Youthyears1:
Youthclubs1:Queens Park Rangers
Years1:1980–1984
Clubs1:Queens Park Rangers
Caps1:0
Goals1:0
Years2:1984–1986
Clubs2:Cambridge United
Caps2:63
Goals2:5
Years3:1986–1989
Clubs3:Leyton Orient
Caps3:150
Goals3:46
Years4:1989
Clubs4:Middlesbrough
Caps4:15
Goals4:2
Totalcaps:228
Totalgoals:53

Alan Comfort (born 8 December 1964) is an English former professional footballer who played as a winger. Active between 1980 and 1989 before his career was cut short by injury, Comfort played for four teams, scoring 53 goals in 228 games in the Football League.

Career

Born in Aldershot, Comfort began his career at Queens Park Rangers, turning professional in 1980. After spending four years at Queens Park Rangers without making an appearance in the Football League,[2] Comfort signed for Cambridge United in 1984. In two seasons with Cambridge, Comfort scored five goals in 63 games,[2] before moving to Leyton Orient in early 1986. Comfort spent three-and-a-half seasons with Orient, scoring 46 goals in 150 appearances.[2]

After moving to Middlesbrough in 1989, where he scored 2 goals in 15 games,[2] Comfort's career was cut short by a knee injury at the age of 25.[3] [4] After playing in the 1989 Football League Fourth Division play-off final, Comfort took a helicopter to Heathrow Airport in order to catch a flight to Ireland for his wedding later that day.[5]

Post-retirement

After retirement, Comfort spent time as a radio commentator for Teesside radio station TFM.[6]

In the mid-1990s, Comfort became a Church of England priest and served as chaplain to Leyton Orient for 21 years, leaving the role in 2014.[7] [8]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Rothmans Football Yearbook 1987–88 . Peter . Dunk . Queen Anne Press . London . 1987 . 214 . 978-0-356-14354-5 .
  2. Web site: Alan Comfort . Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Database . Neil Brown . 13 April 2020.
  3. Web site: God's footballers: Which players turned to religion after hanging up their boots?. 18 August 2010. 18 August 2010. John Ashdown. The Guardian. https://web.archive.org/web/20100820124550/http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/aug/18/gods-footballers-players-religion. 20 August 2010 . live.
  4. Web site: From the pitch to the pulpit – a 'natural step' for Alan Comfort when his playing career came to a premature end! . 18 August 2010 . Professional Footballer's Association . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110613181316/http://www.givemefootball.com/championship/from-the-pitch-to-the-pulpit---a-natural-step-for . 13 June 2011 .
  5. Web site: Orient up . . Louise . Taylor . 21 April 2021 . 4 June 1989 . . 24 . 21 April 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210421163103/https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/76196363/the-observer/ . live .
  6. News: Turnbull. Simon . 23 January 2000 . Sportsmen who develop altar egos . The Independent on Sunday.
  7. News: Amos . Mike . 27 January 2006 . Os' tidings of Comfort and joy . The Northern Echo.
  8. News: Amos . Mike . 4 May 2017 . The vicar who supports three teams - Middlesbrough, Leyton Orient and Hartlepool - all seemingly doomed to relegation. The Northern Echo. 2 October 2020.