Stephen Purches
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Stephen Robert Purches | ||
| Date of birth | 14 January 1980 | ||
| Place of birth | Ilford, London, England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||
| Playing position | Defender | ||
| Club information | |||
Current team | AFC Bournemouth (Development Coach) | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1998–2000 | West Ham United | 0 | (0) |
| 2000–2007 | AFC Bournemouth | 238 | (10) |
| 2007–2010 | Leyton Orient | 110 | (5) |
| 2010–2014 | AFC Bournemouth | 33 | (5) |
| Total | 381 | (20) | |
| Teams managed | |||
| 2013– | AFC Bournemouth Development Team | ||
|
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. | |||
Stephen Robert Purches (born 14 January 1980 in Ilford, England) is a retired English footballer who played mostly for Bournemouth over two spells. He also made over 100 appearances for Leyton Orient. When he retired from football he became the development coach at Bournemouth.
Club career
Purches is a defender who can play at centre back, midfield or full back on either side. He was previously a trainee at West Ham United but left in 2000 after failing to make a single appearance for the first team. He joined Bournemouth where he spent seven years and missed only three league games in his time at the club.
In summer 2007, he rejected a new contract at Bournemouth and left on a free transfer to join Leyton Orient. Purches watched his first football matches at Orient and described his move as being "like coming home". He was also handed the team captaincy when he arrived. After 132 games in all competitions, he was released by manager Russell Slade on 9 May 2010.[1] On 7 June 2010, Purches re-signed for Bournemouth.[2] On 18 February 2012, Purches broke his leg playing in a match against Rochdale.
On 19 May 2014, he formally retired from playing football due to injury, but will continue to work as part of Bournemouth's coaching staff.[3]
References
- ↑ "O's release seven". LeytonOrient.com. 9 May 2010.
- ↑ AFC Bournemouth go on signing spree
- ↑ "Stephen Purches says retirement is tough". BBC Football. 19 May 2014. Retrieved 20 May 2014.