Full name Ian Chandler Years Team Current team Durham City A.F.C. -1986 Barnsley Position Forward | Playing position Role Footballer Name Ian Chandler | |
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Date of birth (1968-03-20) 20 March 1968 (age 47) | ||
Place of birth Sunderland, England | ||
Ian Chandler (born 20 March 1968) is an English former professional footballer. He is currently manager of Northern League side Whitley Bay and also works for Sage UK.
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In the Football League
Chandler, a forward, represented England as a schoolboy before joining Barnsley as an apprentice. He turned professional in August 1986 and made his league debut the following season. He made a bright start to his Barnsley career, scoring four times in 12 games that first season, but lost his place and failed to make any further appearances for Barnsley.
He joined Stockport County on loan in August 1987 and moved to Aldershot in August 1988.
Into Non-League Football
After leaving Aldershot in 1989 he trained as an accountant and moved into non-league football with Whitley Bay. He spent six years with Bay, scoring 120 goals in 260 appearances, moving to Durham City in 1995. He subsequently played for South Shields, Durham City again, and Blyth Spartans before rejoining Whitley Bay in the 2001 close-season.
On 12 May 2002 Chandler scored against Tiptree United with a powerful header in extra-time at Villa Park to win the FA Vase for Whitley Bay for the first time in their history. He left Bay in July 2003, joining Bishop Auckland, but was released in September 2003 and, after a short spell with Jarrow Roofing, rejoined Whitley Bay as player-manager in January 2004.
Whitley Bay FC
On Sunday 10 May 2009, Ian successfully led Whitey Bay to their second FA Vase triumph, thus becoming the first man in the competition's history to win as both player and manager. The match, which took place at Wembley stadium, was a one-sided affair, with their Derbyshire opponents, Glossop North End, struggling to apply any pressure throughout the game, which was effectively over at half-time, thanks to two well taken Whitley Bay goals. The crowd of 12,212 were treated to a well-mannered game, played in glorious sunshine.
On 9 May 2010 Chandler's Whitley Bay retained the FA Vase, beating Wroxham 6–1 at Wembley Stadium.
Chandler became known as one of the North-Easts best managers. In this successful period he became known for his 3-5-2 formation which went out of fashion in the early 90s. Chandler's Whitley Bay retained the trophy again in 2011, beating Coalville Town 3-2, becoming the first team to win the competition four times and the first team to win it three years in succession.