Spencer Prior

Spencer Justin Prior (born 22 April 1971) is an English coach and former footballer. He was a central defender who retired at the end of the 2006–07 season, finishing his career with hometown club Southend United, where he began his career.

Spencer Prior
Prior playing for Manly United in 2009
Personal information
Full name Spencer Justin Prior
Date of birth (1971-04-22) 22 April 1971
Place of birth Southend, England
Position(s) Central defender
Club information
Current team
 Port F.C. (Technical Director)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1989–1993 Southend United 135 (3)
1993–1996 Norwich City 74 (1)
1996–1998 Leicester City 64 (0)
1998–2000 Derby County 54 (1)
2000–2001 Manchester City 30 (4)
2001–2004 Cardiff City 81 (2)
2004–2007 Southend United 75 (2)
2008–2009 Newcastle Jets 0 (0)
2009 Manly United
Total 513 (13)
Teams managed
2011–2013 Australia women (asst. manager)
2012–2013 Australia U20 women
2016–2017 Thailand women
2019– Port (Technical Director)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

He is the current Technical Director of Thai League 1 club Port F.C.

Biography

Prior made 135 league appearances in his first spell with Southend. His solid performances in the centre of the Shrimpers defence attracted the attention of other clubs and in the summer of 1993 both Norwich and Wolverhampton Wanderers made moves to sign him. He opted for Norwich because they had qualified to play in Europe for the 1993–94 season and they paid Southend a fee of £300,000 for his services. In his first season at Carrow Road he played in the historic 2–1 win at Bayern Munich and the 1–0 defeat at Inter Milan that saw City eliminated from the UEFA Cup.

During his first two seasons with Norwich, Prior found it difficult to establish himself as a first team regular. After the club had been relegated from the Premiership in 1995, however, Prior became a regular selection under the management firstly of Martin O'Neill and then Gary Megson. It was a difficult season for Norwich which was played out against weekly demonstrations at chairman Robert Chase. Prior ended the season by being voted Norwich City player of the year. In August 1996, Leicester paid £600,000 for him. He had played 89 games for Norwich.

In his first season at Leicester, Prior got a League Cup winner's medal as the Foxes beat Middlesbrough in a replayed final. Prior moved to Derby in 1998 but did not settle there, though did manage to score the winner in a game against Sheffield Wednesday.[1] A number of clubs showed an interest in him before Manchester City signed him shortly before the transfer deadline in the 1999–00 season. City had signed him to replace the injured Andy Morrison as they had only been able to field two central defenders (Gerard Wiekens and Richard Jobson) for most of the season. His impact on the team was immediate, his goals earning City numerous victories and ultimately promotion. As City arrived in the Premiership Prior found his first team opportunities limited as the then City manager, Joe Royle, bought Steve Howey, Richard Dunne and Paul Ritchie, while Andy Morrison also returned from his lengthy injury.

Thus, Prior moved to Cardiff City for a £700,000 fee.[2] His three-year stint at Ninian Park was a difficult one and he failed to win over the City supporters. Indeed, even before he stepped onto the pitch as a substitute in one game, he was met with a chorus of boos from the Cardiff fans. During his time he consistently complained about the abuse he received from fans.[3] In September 2006, reflecting on his time at the club, he suggested he was targeted by the boo boys because he was English despite the fact he was playing with other English players who were considered fan favourites, prompting fury from many Bluebirds supporters.[4]

Prior was released by Cardiff[5] and returned to the club where he began his career, Southend United, in July 2004. In his first two seasons back at Roots Hall, the team won consecutive promotions.

Coaching

After retiring from football, Prior moved to Australia and became a football analyst for Fox Sports Australia. He also coached a number of teams at Sydney Grammar School, and was the head coach at Mosman Football Club in 2007 and 2008, leading a significant improvement in its coaching capabilities.

In December 2008, A-League club Newcastle Jets announced they had signed the 37-year-old Prior for the remainder of the 2008–2009 season.[6] 1 January 2011 confirmed as assistant head coach of the Matildas, assistant to Tom Sermanni.

In 2016, he signed a two-year contract with the Thailand women's national team[7] and was hailed for bringing through major changes in the team's tactical awareness and competitiveness.

In July 2019, he joined Thai League 1 club Port F.C. as Technical Director.[8] After Prior's arrival, Port won five of their next six matches and won the 2019 Thai FA Cup, defeating Ratchaburi Mitr Phol 1–0 in the final.[9]

Honours

With Leicester City

1996–97

With Cardiff City

2002–03
2001–02

References
  1. Andrews, Phil (30 January 1999). "Prior's rare prize". The Independent. London. Retrieved 2 February 2010.
  2. "Prior moves to Cardiff" BBC Sport Retrieved on 7 October 2007
  3. "Prior blasts Bluebirds fans" BBC Sport Retrieved on 7 October 2007
  4. "Prior's Ninian Park abuse". Archived from the original on 8 February 2007. Retrieved 28 September 2006.
  5. "Bluebirds release Prior" BBC Sport Retrieved on 7 October 2007
  6. "Spencer Prior joins Newcastle Jets". Sydney Morning Herald. 30 December 2008. Archived from the original on 13 October 2009. Retrieved 6 January 2009.
  7. http://de.fifa.com/womens-football/news/y=2016/m=7/news=thailand-seek-to-build-upon-world-cup-breakthrough-2812720-2812725.html
  8. http://www.portfcsandpit.com/2019/07/21/sir-det-gets-choked-all-change-at-port/
  9. https://au.soccerway.com/national/thailand/thai-premier-league/2019/regular-season/r50288/
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