Chris Mepham Explained

Chris Mepham
Full Name:Christopher James Mepham[1]
Birth Date:5 November 1997[2]
Birth Place:Harrow, England
Height:1.93m[3]
Position:Centre-back
Currentclub:AFC Bournemouth
Clubnumber:6
Youthyears1:2008–2012
Youthclubs1:Chelsea
Youthyears2:2012–2016
Youthclubs2:Brentford
Years1:2016–2019
Clubs1:Brentford
Caps1:43
Goals1:1
Clubs2:AFC Bournemouth
Years2:2019–
Caps2:107
Goals2:2
Nationalyears1:2017
Nationalteam1:Wales U20
Nationalcaps1:1
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2017
Nationalteam2:Wales U21
Nationalcaps2:4
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2018–
Nationalteam3:Wales
Nationalcaps3:46
Nationalgoals3:0
Club-Update:23:33, 30 March 2024 (UTC)
Nationalteam-Update:23:48, 26 March 2024 (UTC)

Christopher James Mepham (born 5 November 1997) is a professional footballer who plays as a centre back for club AFC Bournemouth and the Wales national team.

Club career

Early years

A centre back and occasional right back,[4] Mepham began his career in the academy at Premier League club Chelsea at the age of 10.[5] He was released at the age of 14 and was then turned down by Watford and Queens Park Rangers.[6]

Brentford

Youth years (2012–2016)

Mepham joined the academy at Brentford in 2012, after being spotted by the club's Head of Academy Recruitment while making a one-off appearance for North Greenford United's reserve team. After making three appearances for the youth team as an U16,[7] Mepham signed a scholarship deal in June 2014. On 2 February 2016 it was announced that Mepham had signed his first professional contract to be a member of the club's development squad and he finished his scholarship having made 43 appearances and scored two goals for the youth team.[8] [9] After consistently good performances for the reformed B team during the first half of the 2016–17 season, Mepham signed a two-year contract extension on 6 January 2017 and the following day,[10] he made his senior debut as a late substitute for Harlee Dean during a 5–1 FA Cup third round victory over Eastleigh. A successful 2016–17 season saw Mepham named as the club's B Team Player of the Year.[11]

Breakthrough (2016–2019)

After the departure of centre-back Harlee Dean on 30 August 2017,[12] Mepham was promoted into the first team squad and signed a new five-year contract.[13] He made his first start for the club in a 3–1 EFL Cup third round defeat to Norwich City on 19 September 2017 and gave away the penalty which led to the Canaries' opening goal.[14] After appearing sporadically throughout the autumn, a head injury suffered by John Egan in December allowed Mepham a run in the team from the Christmas period until early February 2018.[15] An achilles injury suffered by Andreas Bjelland in mid-March allowed Mepham back into the team and he scored the first senior goal of his career with the equaliser in a 1–1 draw with Sheffield United on Good Friday.[16] He finished the 2017–18 season with 23 appearances and one goal.

Mepham began the 2018–19 season as the Bees' undisputed first-choice centre back in league matches, but was sent off for the first time in his career for two bookable offences committed during a 1–0 defeat to Bristol City on 20 October 2018. He made 27 appearances before departing the club for a club-record transfer fee in January 2019.[17] [18] During his two and a half seasons as a professional at Griffin Park, Mepham made 48 appearances and scored one goal.

AFC Bournemouth

On 22 January 2019, Mepham signed a long-term contract with Premier League club AFC Bournemouth for an undisclosed fee, reported to be £12 million.[19] Eight days later, he made his debut for the club as a substitute for Junior Stanislas late in a 4–0 win over Chelsea. He continued to be regularly selected within the back line at Bournemouth due to the absence of Steve Cook through injury. Mepham finished the 2018–19 season with Bournemouth having made 13 Premier League appearances in total.

On 10 August 2019, Mepham scored his first Premier League goal, and his first ever goal for the Cherries, in a 1–1 home draw against newly promoted Sheffield United.[20] Mepham made a further ten appearances in the Premier League for the Cherries throughout the first half of the 2019–20 season, including a starring role in a 1–0 away win and clean sheet at Chelsea on 14 December.[21] However, Mepham would suffer a "significant knee injury" in the FA Cup game against Luton Town on 4 January, which would potentially rule him out for up to three months.[22]

International career

Mepham was called into the Wales U20 squad for the 2017 Toulon Tournament and made one appearance,[23] in a 2–2 group stage draw with Ivory Coast on 5 June 2017. He made his U21 debut with a start in a 3–0 2019 UEFA U21 Championship qualifying victory over Switzerland on 2 September 2017.[24] Mepham captained the U21 team for the first time in a 0–0 qualifying draw with Romania six weeks later.[25]

In March 2018, Mepham won his maiden call-up to the senior team for the 2018 China Cup.[26] He made his debut as a substitute for Ben Davies after 70 minutes of a 6–0 victory over China on 22 March 2018.[27] Two months later, he made his first international start, in a 0–0 friendly draw with Mexico on 28 May.[28]

In May 2021, he was selected for the Wales squad for the delayed UEFA Euro 2020 tournament.[29] In November 2022, he was named in the Wales squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.[30]

Personal life

Mepham was born in Northwick Park, the London Borough of Harrow.[31] He attended Queensmead School in South Ruislip and grew up as a Queens Park Rangers supporter.[32] [33] His uncle Roy was a member of the Brentford youth team in the 1960s.

Career statistics

Club

Club!rowspan="2"
SeasonLeagueFA CupEFL CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Brentford2016–17Championship00100010
2017–18Championship2111010231
2018–19Championship2200020240
Total4312030481
AFC Bournemouth2018–19Premier League130130
2019–20Premier League1211020151
2020–21Championship241200020281
2021–22Championship2201010240
2022–23Premier League2600020280
2023–24Premier League1001020130
Total10725070201212
Career total150370100201693

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
Wales201840
201960
202040
2021120
2022100
202380
202420
Total460

Honours

AFC Bournemouth

Individual

2016–17

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Club list of registered players: As at 19th May 2018: Brentford . English Football League . 8 . 16 June 2018.
  2. Web site: Chris Mepham: Overview . ESPN . 12 September 2020.
  3. Web site: Chris Mepham: Overview . Premier League . 28 April 2023.
  4. News: Brentford FC Youth Team duo sign first professional contracts . Brentford F.C. . 25 August 2017 . 9 July 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210709183207/https://www.brentfordfc.com/news/2016/february/youth-team-duo-sign-first-professional-contracts-/ . dead .
  5. News: Brentford FC . Brentford F.C. . 25 August 2017 . 11 August 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190811035343/https://www.brentfordfc.com/news/2014/june/youth-team-player-backs-football-v-mnd/ . dead .
  6. Web site: Chris Mepham: 'It's surreal that Ryan Giggs wants to have a chat with you' . James . Stuart . 21 March 2018 . The Guardian . 22 March 2018.
  7. News: Brentford FC . Brentford F.C. . 25 August 2017 . 19 July 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220719100859/https://www.brentfordfc.com/news/2014/april/201314-youth-team-statistics/ . dead .
  8. News: Brentford FC . Brentford F.C. . 25 August 2017 . 10 August 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170810172643/https://www.brentfordfc.com/news/2015/may/201415-youth-team-player-statistics/ . dead .
  9. Web site: Youth Team Player Stats . Brentford F.C. . https://web.archive.org/web/20160907050836/http://www.brentfordfc.co.uk/stats/youth-team-player-stats.aspx . 7 September 2016 . 6 January 2017.
  10. News: Brentford FC Chris Mepham signs contract extension . Brentford F.C. . 25 August 2017 . 6 August 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180806085021/https://www.brentfordfc.com/news/2017/january/chris-mepham-signs-contract-extension/ . dead .
  11. News: Brentford FC 2016/17 Awards Winners . Brentford F.C. . 26 May 2017 . 11 August 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190811035342/https://www.brentfordfc.com/news/2017/may2/201617-awards-winners/ . dead .
  12. News: Brentford hand first team promotion to young defender . Moore . Tom . 7 September 2017 . Get West London . 7 September 2017.
  13. News: Brentford FC Chris Mepham signs new long-term contract . Brentford F.C. . 18 September 2017 . 7 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200807181356/https://www.brentfordfc.com/news/2017/september/chris-mepham/ . dead .
  14. Web site: Brentford vs Norwich City on 19 Sep 17 – Match Centre – Brentford FC . Brentford F.C. . 19 September 2017 . 21 October 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181021233723/https://www.brentfordfc.com/fixtures/first-team/201718/september/brentford-vs-norwich-city-on-19-sep-17/#report . dead .
  15. News: Dean Smith outlines hopes and plans for Brentford's youngsters . Moore . Tom . 2 January 2018 . Get West London . 2 January 2018.
  16. News: Brentford boss on Bjelland injury and Millwall loss . Moore . Tom . 10 March 2018 . Get West London . 1 April 2018.
  17. Web site: Chris Mepham leaves Brentford to join AFC Bournemouth . Brentford F.C. . 31 January 2019 . 11 June 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210611164316/https://www.brentfordfc.com/news/2019/january/chris-mepham-departs-22.01.19/ . dead .
  18. Phil Giles' January Round Up . 31 January 2019 . Brentford F.C. . 0:59 . 31 January 2019 . Interview . YouTube.
  19. Web site: Chris Mepham joins Bournemouth from Brentford for £12m . Sky Sports . 31 January 2019.
  20. News: AFC Bournemouth 1–1 Sheffield United . BBC Sport . 6 March 2020.
  21. News: Chelsea 0–1 AFC Bournemouth . BBC Sport . 6 March 2020.
  22. News: Chris Mepham: Bournemouth defender is ruled out for up to three months with injury . BBC Sport . 6 March 2020.
  23. News: Brentford FC Chris Mepham heading to Toulon Tournament . Brentford F.C. . 27 May 2017 . 21 October 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181021024524/https://www.brentfordfc.com/news/2017/may2/chris-mepham-wales/ . dead .
  24. News: Brentford FC Mepham and Balcombe help home nations to wins . Brentford F.C. . 3 September 2017 . 4 September 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170904070906/https://www.brentfordfc.com/news/2017/september/international-round-up-b-team/ . dead .
  25. News: Brentford FC Mepham and Mads captain nations in Euro Qualifiers . Brentford F.C. . 15 November 2017 . 18 June 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210618002754/https://www.brentfordfc.com/news/2017/november/youth-international-round-up-20171115/ . dead .
  26. News: Brentford FC Chris Mepham gets maiden full Wales Call-up . Brentford F.C. . 15 March 2018 . 12 June 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210612165009/https://www.brentfordfc.com/news/2018/march/chris-mepham-wales/ . dead .
  27. News: Brentford FC Wins for Mepham and Dalsgaard on international stage . Brentford F.C. . 23 March 2018 . 6 August 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180806024912/https://www.brentfordfc.com/news/2018/march/international-round-up-23-march/ . dead .
  28. News: Chris Mepham impresses on full debut for Wales . Brentford F.C. . 29 May 2018 . 18 April 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210418182101/https://www.brentfordfc.com/news/2018/may/international-review-20180529/ . dead .
  29. News: Uncapped Colwill in Wales Euro 2020 squad. BBC Sport .
  30. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/63545011 2022 Wales World Cup squad
  31. Web site: Chris Mepham . 2022-11-16 . AFCB.
  32. Web site: newsletter – Queensmead School – football . 25 August 2017.
  33. News: Brentford FC BRENTFORD 'GAVE EVERYTHING' IN WEST LONDON DERBY . Brentford F.C. . 8 September 2017 . 20 September 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170920043942/https://www.brentfordfc.com/news/2014/september/brentford-gave-everything-in-west-london-derby/ . dead .
  34. News: AFC Bournemouth 1-0 Nottingham Forest. BBC Sport . 3 May 2022 . 6 June 2022.