Dave Brammer

David Brammer (born 28 February 1975) is an English former footballer. A midfielder, in a sixteen-year career he scored 22 goals in 455 games in the Football League.

Dave Brammer
Personal information
Full name David Brammer[1]
Date of birth (1975-02-28) 28 February 1975[2]
Place of birth Bromborough, England[2]
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[2]
Position(s) Midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1993–1999 Wrexham 137 (12)
1999–2001 Port Vale 73 (3)
2001–2004 Crewe Alexandra 87 (4)
2004–2007 Stoke City 105 (2)
2007–2009 Millwall 40 (1)
2008 → Port Vale (loan) 3 (0)
2009 Port Vale 10 (0)
Total 455 (22)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Starting his career at Wrexham in 1993, he lifted the Welsh Cup and FAW Premier Cup with the club. He moved on to Port Vale for an initial £350,000 fee in March 1999. In 2001 he lifted the Football League Trophy, and was also made the club's Player of the Year. Following this success he was sold on to Crewe Alexandra for £500,000. He helped the "Alex" win promotion out of the Second Division in 2002–03. After three years with Crewe he switched to Stoke City in 2007, thereby becoming one of a small number of players to have played for the three local rivals of Crewe, Stoke and Vale. He spent 2007 to 2009 at Millwall, before finishing his career at Vale Park later in 2009.

Club career

Brammer started his career at Welsh side Wrexham in 1993, under the management of Brian Flynn. He was on the fringes of the first team in 1993–94 and 1994–95, as Wrexham lifted the Welsh Cup after a 2–1 win over Cardiff City at Cardiff Arms Park. He was again a much used squad member in 1995–96 and 1996–97. He played 34 games in 1997–98, as the club missed out on the Second Division play-offs due to their inferior goal difference. He did however win the FAW Premier Cup with the club in 1998, after a 2–1 win over Cardiff. Following 41 appearances in 1998–99, he moved Port Vale on transfer deadline day for an initial fee of £350,000 – one of Brian Horton's first signings as Vale manager. The fee would late rise by £100,000 due to appearances clauses.

Brammer, whose father was born in Burslem, helped Vale to escape relegation from the First Division in 1998–99, as the "Valiants" finished above Bury on goal difference. He was handed the club captaincy for the 1999–2000 season, however he was unable to prevent Vale from being relegated. He had a poor start to his Vale Park career, but soon won round his detractors after some improved performances and some long range strikes on goal.

Brammer remained an important part of the Vale side in 2000–01. He scored 4 goals in 44 appearances, all of his strikes were key: he got the only goal at Colchester United in the league and salvaged a point against Millwall, and also helped save the club's blushes by scoring at non-league Canvey Island in a 4–4 FA Cup tie. Most significantly, he saved the Vale from defeat in the 2001 Potteries derby at the Britannia Stadium with an 81st-minute equaliser. He also led the team to Football League Trophy glory,[3] in the final he was the man of the match, inspiring a 2–1 victory over Brentford at the Millennium Stadium. Fans voted him Port Vale F.C. Player of the Year at the end of the campaign.[4]

In August 2001, he made the short journey to Crewe Alexandra, who paid Vale £500,000 for his services; manager Dario Gradi described him as "probably the biggest [signing] in our history."[5] The sale was highly criticised by Vale fans.[6] He suffered with hernia trouble towards the end of the 2001–02 season,[7] though by July 2002 the club were relegated and he was appointed club captain.[8] After close to fifty games in the 2002–03 Second Division promotion season, he struggled with injury the next season. In October 2003 he was hit with a groin problem,[9] which required corrective surgery the next month.[10] In all his pelvic trouble caused him to miss five months of the season,[11] though he was offered a new contract upon his recovery.[12] Gradi had hoped Brammer would sign a new contract with the "Alex",[13] but after weeks of speculation,[14] in July 2004 he chose a return to the Potteries to join Championship club Stoke City.[15]

Brammer scored three spectacular goals in his time at the Britannia Stadium and was a key player for manager Tony Pulis in 2004–05, making 44 appearances. He made a further 45 appearances in 2005–06, though new manager Johan Boskamp complained that Brammer was less than prolific in front of goal.[16] Pulis returned for the 2006–07 campaign, though Brammer played half of his 22 league games from the bench, and in January 2007 was allowed to sign for Millwall on a free transfer.[17] He was instrumental in saving Millwall from relegation out of League One due to his steadying influence in midfield, however fell out of favour for the 2008–09 season.

He started training with former club Port Vale on 27 October 2008 to try to stay fit. He impressed manager Dean Glover and four days later Vale signed Brammer on a month's loan.[18] On 27 November, the club announced that they would be extending Brammer's loan until January. After recovering from a knee injury,[19] he was released by Millwall in January 2009,[20] at which point he signed with Vale.[21] He made fourteen appearances in 2008–09, however Vale chairman Bill Bratt informed him by voicemail that he would not be offered a new contract for the 2009–10 season.[22] The 34-year-old intended to find another club,[23] but never did.

Statistics
Club Season Division League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Wrexham1992–93[24]Third Division2000000020
1993–94[24]Second Division222100020252
1994–95[24]Second Division141002020181
1995–96[24]Second Division112201020162
1996–97[25]Second Division211201010251
1997–98[26]Second Division33400101[lower-alpha 1]0354
1998–99[27]Second Division34251206[lower-alpha 1]1[lower-alpha 1]475
Total 137121017014116815
Port Vale1998–99[27]First Division9000000090
1999–00[28]First Division290002000310
2000–01[29]Second Division35321007[lower-alpha 1]0444
Total 733212070844
Crewe Alexandra2001–02[30]First Division302402100363
2002–03[31]Second Division41141202[lower-alpha 1]0492
2003–04[32]First Division161002000181
Total 8748161201036
Stoke City2004–05[33]Championship431001000441
2005–06[34]Championship401401100452
2006–07[35]Championship220100000230
Total 10525021001123
Millwall2006–07[35]League One171000000171
2007–08[36]League One230200000250
Total 401200000421
Port Vale2008–09[37]League Two130100000140
Career total 4552228317223152328
  1. Appearance/s and goal/s in the EFL Trophy.

Honours
Individual
Wrexham
Port Vale
Crewe Alexandra

References
  1. "Dave Brammer". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
  2. "FootballSquads - Port Vale - 2001/02". www.footballsquads.co.uk. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
  3. Westbrook, Ian (18 April 2001). "Port Vale's route to Cardiff". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 June 2009.
  4. "David Brammer". crewealex.net/. Archived from the original on 23 July 2012. Retrieved 24 October 2011.
  5. "Brammer joins Gradi's Crewe". BBC Sport. 10 August 2001. Retrieved 7 June 2009.
  6. "Valiant 2001 critical of Brammer sale". 10 August 2001. Archived from the original on 12 October 2002. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
  7. "Brammer resumes training". BBC Sport. 16 May 2002. Retrieved 7 June 2009.
  8. "Injury blow for Crewe". BBC Sport. 25 July 2002. Retrieved 7 June 2009.
  9. "Brammer blow for Crewe". BBC Sport. 20 October 2003. Retrieved 7 June 2009.
  10. "Brammer faces surgery". BBC Sport. 29 November 2003. Retrieved 7 June 2009.
  11. "Brammer close to return". BBC Sport. 30 March 2004. Retrieved 7 June 2009.
  12. "Crewe keen to keep Brammer". BBC Sport. 6 May 2004. Retrieved 7 June 2009.
  13. "Gradi hoping Brammer stays". BBC Sport. 19 June 2004. Retrieved 7 June 2009.
  14. "Brammer to reveal decision". BBC Sport. 7 July 2004. Retrieved 7 June 2009.
  15. "Brammer signs for Stoke". BBC Sport. 9 July 2004. Retrieved 7 June 2009.
  16. "Boskamp issues Brammer challenge". BBC Sport. 23 August 2005. Retrieved 7 June 2009.
  17. "Millwall snap up Stoke's Brammer". BBC Sport. 29 January 2007. Retrieved 7 June 2009.
  18. "Brammer completes Vale loan deal". BBC Sport. 31 October 2008. Retrieved 7 June 2009.
  19. "Vale's Brammer set for surgery". BBC Sport. 1 December 2008. Retrieved 1 December 2008.
  20. "Brammer considers Valiants offer". BBC Sport. 13 January 2009. Retrieved 7 June 2009.
  21. "Breaking news: Brammer and Collins sign". The Sentinel. 16 January 2009. Retrieved 16 January 2009.
  22. "Brammer denied new Vale contract". BBC Sport. 13 May 2009. Retrieved 13 May 2009.
  23. "Port Vale: Brammer released by Valiants". The Sentinel. 13 May 2009. Archived from the original on 14 September 2012. Retrieved 13 May 2009.
  24. "Dave Brammer". The English National Football Archive.
  25. "Games played by Dave Brammer in 1996/1997". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  26. "Games played by Dave Brammer in 1997/1998". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  27. "Games played by Dave Brammer in 1998/1999". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  28. "Games played by Dave Brammer in 1999/2000". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  29. "Games played by Dave Brammer in 2000/2001". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  30. "Games played by Dave Brammer in 2001/2002". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  31. "Games played by Dave Brammer in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  32. "Games played by Dave Brammer in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  33. "Games played by Dave Brammer in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  34. "Games played by Dave Brammer in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  35. "Games played by Dave Brammer in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  36. "Games played by Dave Brammer in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  37. "Games played by Dave Brammer in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  38. "Vale vault Brentford to lift Vans trophy". BBC Sport. 22 April 2001. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
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