Richard Chaplow


Richard David Chaplow is an English professional football coach and former player who was most recently the head coach of USL Championship side Orange County SC.
Chaplow was a product of the Burnley academy and made his professional debut for the club in April 2003. He joined West Bromwich Albion in 2005. In 2006, Chaplow joined Southampton on loan. He moved to Preston North End in 2008 and had another loan spell with Southampton in 2010 before joining the club permanently a year later. In 2013, Chaplow initially joined Millwall on loan before joining the club permanently. He had a loan spell with Ipswich Town in 2015 before moving to Doncaster Rovers. Chaplow joined Orange County SC in July 2016. He represented his country at youth levels.
In August 2021, Chaplow was named interim head coach of Orange County SC before becoming the permanent head coach in November 2021. He was dismissed from this role in May 2023.

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. At the end of the 2003–04 season, Chaplow signed a contract with the club, keeping him until 2006.
Ahead of the 2004–05 season, Chaplow was subject of a transfer move throughout the summer, with Blackburn Rovers and Leeds United. Despite this, Chaplow ended the transfer speculation when he signed a four–year contract, keeping him until 2008. Throughout September, Chaplow scored two goals in five appearances against Crewe Alexandra and Cardiff City. However, Chaplow was soon sidelined for several months with a cartilage trouble, which he sustained and substituted in the first half, in a 3–0 defeat to Queens Park Rangers on 30 October 2004. After a month out, he made his first team return from injury on 18 December 2004, coming on as a second-half substitute, in a 2–1 loss against Sunderland. In the January transfer window, Chaplow was linked with a move to Premier League side West Brom Albion and had a bid rejected from Burnley shortly after. Amid the transfer speculation, Chaplow's performance against Liverpool in the third round of FA Cup was well-received, with Manager Steve Cotterill praising his performance, which saw Burnley beating them, 1–0. A week later, West Brom Albion made another bid for Chaplow, which was accepted soon after.

West Bromwich Albion

Chaplow joined West Bromwich Albion for a fee of £1.5 million on transfer deadline day in January 2005. The Baggies had previously attempted to force the deal through several times during the transfer window. He moved to The Hawthorns on a -year deal, with the option of a further season.
Chaplow made his Albion debut in a 4–1 victory over Charlton Athletic at The Valley on 19 March 2005. He won a penalty soon after coming on as a late substitute, enabling Robert Earnshaw to complete his hat-trick from the spot. He would later make four appearances in the 2004–05 season in his first half season at the club.
However, in the 2005–06 season, Chaplow struggled to dispatch the first team place in midfield, with Riccardo Scimeca, Steve Watson and Diomansy Kamara preferred instead and made two appearances at the start of the season. first goals for West Brom came in an FA Cup 3rd round replay at Reading on 17 January 2006. His two first-half goals gave Albion a 2–0 lead, but they eventually lost 3–2 in extra-time. In February 2006, Chaplow signed a three-month loan deal with Championship side Southampton, as part of the deal which saw Nigel Quashie move the other way. Chaplow made his full debut for the side two days later after signing for the club despite losing 2–0 against Reading. On his ninth appearance, he scored his only Saints goal at Brighton & Hove Albion on 8 April 2006, which saw Southampton win 2–0. Two weeks later, Chaplow returned to his parent club after suffering a knee injury.
Upon his return from the loan, Manager Bryan Robson was impressed with his performance and expected use him in the 2006–07 season. Chaplow's first appearance of the season came on 8 August 2006, where he came on as a second-half substitute, in a 1–1 against Cardiff City. He then scored his first league goal for West Bromwich Albion, in a 2–1 defeat at Derby County. However, his appearances in the first team was marred by substitute bench and injuries. Soon, under the new management of Tony Mowbray, Chaplow managed to regain his first team place for the rest of the season, eventually making thirty–five appearances and scoring once in all competitions.
At the start of the 2007–08 season, Chaplow continued to be in the first team regular, but was plagued with a foot injury and find his first team opportunities limited, with good forms from Robert Koren and Filipe Teixeira. As a result, Chaplow was linked a move away from the club, with his former club, Burnley keen on re-signing him. But this was denied by Manager Owen Coyle. After the announcement of his departure was made, Chaplow left West Brom in 2008 after spending three years at the club.

Preston North End

On 9 January 2008, Chaplow signed for Championship team Preston North End on a three-year contract for £800,000 with a further £550,000 payable based on various performance-related criteria. West Bromwich Albion also inserted a 20% sell-on clause on any future sale.
Three days after signing for the club, Chaplow made his Preston North End debut, making his first start and played for 75 minutes, in a 1–0 win over Watford. Chaplow then scored his first goals for the club on 26 February 2008, in a 2–0 win over Stoke City. However, during the match, he suffered an injury in the second half and was substituted, leaving him out of action for weeks. After returning to the first team from injury, Chaplow then scored his first goal for the club on 19 April 2008, in a 2–2 draw against Plymouth Argyle. He went on to make thirteen appearances and scoring three times in all competitions.
At the start of 2008–09 season, Chaplow started well when he scored two goals against Crystal Palace and Sheffield Wednesday in four league appearances by August. However, throughout September and October, Chaplow was plagued by injuries. He returned to the first team, where he came on as a second-half substitute, setting up one of the goals, in a 2–2 draw against Norwich City on 8 November 2008. Two weeks later, on 22 November 2008, Chaplow scored again, in a 2–1 win over Barnsley. However, as the 2008–09 season progressed, he continued to have a handful of first team appearance despite suffering injuries. Despite this, Chaplow went on to make twenty–seven appearances and scoring three times in all competitions.
In the 2009–10 season, Chaplow continued to be a first team regular and then scored his first goal of the season on 26 September 2009, in a 2–1 win over Leicester City. His second goal then came on 12 December 2009, in a 2–0 win over Plymouth Argyle. As the 2009–10 season progressed, Chaplow remained in the first team despite suffering injuries and suspension. As a result, his appearances was restricted to thirty–five times and scoring two times in all competitions.
With the club facing financial troubles, Chaplow was among eight players to place on a transfer list by Manager Darren Ferguson. In the summer, he was linked a move to newly Premier League promoted side Blackpool.

Southampton

Having made no appearances for Preston North End in the 2010–11 season, Chaplow joined Southampton once again for an initial one month's loan on 30 September 2010. This was then extended to the end of December.
Three days later after signing for the club, Chaplow made his Southampton debut for the second time, coming on as a second-half substitute and subsequently picked up a yellow card, in a 2–0 win over AFC Bournemouth. Chaplow then scored his first Southampton goal since 2006, in a 4–1 victory over Peterborough United on 20 November 2010. After suffering an achilles injury that kept him out for weeks, he scored on his return in another 4–1 victory, this time over Huddersfield Town on 28 December 2010. On 30 December 2010, it was announced Chaplow had agreed a -year deal for an undisclosed fee. Weeks after signing for the club on a permanent basis, Chaplow scored again on 11 January 2011, in a 6–0 win over Oldham Athletic. He then scored, as well as, setting up one of the goals, in a 4–4 draw against Peterborough United on 5 February 2011. During the match, Chaplow was fouled in the penalty box, giving Southampton a penalty, leading the opposition manager Darren Ferguson accusing him of diving. Later in the 2010–11 season, Chaplow helped the club secure promotion to The Championship after a two years absence, as he made thirty–five appearances and scoring five times in all competitions.
In the 2011–12 season, Chaplow started off his season with a good start when he scored, as well as, setting up two goals, in a 3–1 win over Torquay United in the first round of the League Cup. However, three days later, he was sent–off, in a match against Barnsley after a straight red card, just coming on as a substitute in the 70th minute, which saw Saints 1–0. After serving a three match suspension, Chaplow then scored on 16 September 2011, in a 4–1 win over Birmingham City. By the end of 2011, Chaplow scored two more goals against Peterborough United and Coventry City. However, in a match against Bristol City on 26 November 2011, Chaplow suffered a knee injury early in the first half and was substituted, in a 2–0 loss and was subsequently out for months. Despite making his return, Chaplow continued to be dropped from the first team on three occasions and saw Southampton promoted to the Premier League after a seven years absence. As a result, his appearance was restricted to twenty–eight appearances and scoring four times in all competitions.
With his first team opportunities increasingly limited in the 2012–13 season, Chaplow announced his intention to stay at the club. It wasn't until on 28 August 2012 when he made his first appearance of the season, setting up one of the goals, in a 4–1 win over Stevenage in the second round of League Cup. On 29 September 2012, Chaplow made his first Premier League appearance in six years, coming on as a late substitute, in a 3–1 loss against Everton. For most of the season, Chaplow fell out of favour of the club's first team and was expected to leave the club in January, but it wasn't materialised. It wasn't until on 16 January 2013 when he made his first team return in months, coming on a second-half substitute, in a 2–2 draw against Chelsea.
On 11 July 2013, Southampton Football Club agreed to terminate Chaplow's contract.