Richard Chaplow

Richard David Chaplow (born 2 February 1985) is an English retired professional footballer who is currently the head coach of USL Championship side Orange County SC. He is a former England under-21 international.

Club Career

Burnley

Chaplow joined Burnley at the age of eight, before earning a scholarship at the club in 2001 as part of the YTS Apprenticeships, turning down offers from Blackburn Rovers and Manchester City.

In 2002–03, part of his season in the reserves was blighted by glandular fever, although he returned to action in January. After being included as an unused substitute against Preston North End on 8 April 2003, Chaplow made his Burnley debut, coming on as a second-half substitute, in 2–0 loss against Norwich City four days later on 12 April 2003. Chaplow then made his first start and played the whole game despite losing, 2–0, against Nottingham Forest on 21 April 2003. He went on to make five appearances for the side in the 2002–03 season.

However, ahead of the 2003–04 season, Chaplow suffered from alopecia during 2003, returning to pre-season training having lost all his hair. Despite this, Chaplow continued to a handful of first-team appearances at the start of the season, playing in the midfielder position, and scored his first goal for the club on 30 August 2003, in a 1–0 win over Crewe Alexandra. As a result, Chaplow signed his first professional contract with the club. By the rest of 2003, Chaplow scored two more goals, which came against Cardiff City and Reading. Chaplow's performance throughout December earned him PFA First Division Player of the Month award. Later in the 2003–04 season, Chaplow scored two more goals, which came against Ipswich Town and Nottingham Forest. Despite missing out through suspension and fitness concerns, Chaplow went on to make thirty–nine appearances and scoring five times in all competitions.