Mark Chamberlain

Club career

Born in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, to British Jamaican parents, Chamberlain started his career with local side Port Vale, making his debut under Dennis Butler as a substitute in a 2–2 home draw with Scunthorpe United on 19 August 1978, aged 16. His full debut came on 14 April 1979 in a 3–2 win over Barnsley at Vale Park, and his first goal came two days later in a 3–2 defeat at Huddersfield Town. He turned professional the following month, having made eight appearances in 1978–79. Chamberlain then made eleven goalless appearances in 1979–80, whilst his brother was the club's top-scorer in what was Vale's worst season in the Fourth Division. He became a first team regular from October 1980 under John McGrath and scored 10 goals in 36 games in the 1980–81 campaign. He was an ever-present in the 55 game 1981–82 season, also being selected in the PFA Fourth Division team and chosen as The Star's best player of the division. He scored eight goals during the campaign, most memorably when he stood off the pitch at Field Mill to avoid being caught offside, then returned to tackle a startled Rod Arnold and tap the ball into an empty net.

He was sold to local rivals Stoke City in August 1982, along with Mark Harrison for a combined fee of £180,000. His brother also made the switch later in the season. Asked if this move caused him to receive any "stick" from his friends, he replied: "No not really. Mind you I wouldn't, I didn't really have any mates." He proved to be a good signing for manager Richie Barker, and got the better of Arsenal's left-back Kenny Sansom. He replaced Paul Maguire on the left-wing and scored six goals in 39 appearances in 1982–83 as the "Potters" finished 13th in the First Division. Chamberlain scored seven goals in 46 games in 1983–84, helping the club to avoid relegation by two places and two points. However, he scored just twice in 32 appearances in 1984–85, as Stoke finished bottom of the division with a mere 17 points; they won just 3 of their 42 games and were 23 points short of safety. Barker had abandoned Chamberlain and the midfield in favour of desperate long ball tactics. New manager Mick Mills stabilised the club in the Second Division in 1985–86, but let Chamberlain go as he wished to build his own team.

In September 1985 he moved on to Sheffield Wednesday, who went on to finish fifth in the top-flight under Howard Wilkinson in 1985–86, missing out on European football due to the ban imposed on English clubs following the Heysel Stadium disaster. The "Owls" finished 13th in 1986–87 and 11th in 1987–88, with Chamberlain playing 66 league games before transferring to Alan Ball's Second Division side Portsmouth in 1988.

"Pompey" finished two places above the drop in 1988–89, before 12th and 17th finishes in 1989–90 and 1990–91. He then helped Jim Smith's side to the FA Cup semi-finals in 1991–92, and featured in the 1–1 draw with Liverpool at Highbury, but not in the replay at Villa Park. The club finished in third-place in 1992–93, missing out on automatic promotion by goal difference, and were beaten by Leicester City at the play-off semi-final stage. They then finished a disappointing 17th in 1993–94, and Chamberlain moved on to Liam Brady's Brighton & Hove Albion in August 1994, having played 167 games in his six years at Fratton Park.

The "Seagulls" finished 14th in the Second Division (the old Third Division) in 1993–94, and Chamberlain moved on to Exeter City in the Third Division (the old Fourth Division). Peter Fox's "Grecians" finished bottom of the Football League in 1994–95, albeit level on goal difference with Scarborough, and only avoided dropping into the Conference because Macclesfield Town's Moss Rose did not meet the Football League's capacity standards. Chamberlain was converted to the right-back position. Exeter rallied to a 14th-place finish in 1995–96, though Chamberlain left St James Park after the club finished third-from-bottom in 1996–97, ahead of rock bottom Hereford United by just the one point.

International career

An England under-21 international, Chamberlain broke into the England senior squad under Bobby Robson during his first season at Stoke City, scoring on his debut against Luxembourg at Wembley on 15 December 1982, at age 21. During the match teammate Luther Blissett became the first black player to score for England, having bagged two of his three goals before Chamberlain found the net. He also made a substitute appearance in the 1–0 home defeat to Denmark on 21 September 1983; this crucial result eventually led the Danes to win qualification to Euro 1984 ahead of England. He picked up a total of eight caps, though some believed he could have gone on to pick up many more, and Port Vale coach Graham Barnett in particular said that he was "like a bloody gazelle... a black jewel... he's got the bloody lot... he's class... so much better than John Barnes."

Post-retirement

Chamberlain became player-manager of non-league Fareham Town after leaving the Football League in 1997. In 2008, he joined the coaching staff at Portsmouth and coaches the U13s.

Style of play

Chamberlain was a pacey winger with excellent ball control and decision making.

"He could do it all: Run, pass, shoot, make goals and score them. Chambo was the perfect wide man who could play on either flank and delighted in making chances for his teammates."

Personal life

Chamberlain lives with his family in Port Solent. His son, Alex, plays for Liverpool Football Club and the England national team. Mark's older brother Neville was also a professional footballer. When the pair played together for Port Vale they used to swap shirts at half-time so as to confuse opposition players attempting to mark him.

Club statistics

Honours