Adam Chapman
# Adam Chapman

Adam Henry Chapman (born 29 November 1989) is a Northern Irish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Retford United.

Born in Doncaster, he started his career with Sheffield United but failed to break into the first team and was loaned to Oxford United before joining them on a permanent basis in 2009. Chapman served a prison sentence in 2010 after being found guilty of causing a death by dangerous driving but rejoined Oxford on his release. He was subsequently loaned to Newport County and Mansfield Town before joining Newport on a permanent basis in 2013. He signed for Mansfield Town on a permanent basis for the 2015–16 season, playing for one season before moving into non-league football.

## Career

Scouted by Sheffield United as a youngster, he went on to sign a professional deal with the club in the summer of 2007. He established himself as a regular in the reserve side, while also captaining the team. In January 2009, he joined Oxford United of the Conference Premier on a month's loan, which was later extended to the end of the 2008–09 season. He scored a 68th-minute free-kick in the 1–0 victory over Burton Albion in the penultimate game of the season, which prevented Burton winning the league until the final day. In March 2009 Chapman indicated that his future could lie away from Sheffield United, and that it was up to them to decide his future at the end of the season.

After failing to break into the Blades' first team he signed for Oxford United at the end of the 2008–09 season for a fee of £15,000 with a 50% sell-on clause. Chapman was named Man of the Match in Oxford's Football Conference play-off victory at Wembley on 16 May 2010, while awaiting sentencing for causing death by dangerous driving.

Shortly after his return to Oxford United in September 2011, he sustained an ankle injury in a friendly game. He made his first first-team appearance in the Football League as a late substitute against Morecambe on 10 December 2011. In January 2012 he went on trial with Blue Square Premier side Mansfield Town, with a view to a loan move, which did not materialise. At the end of the month he joined Newport County on a month's loan. Oxford agreed to extend the loan, but then recalled him after an injury to Jake Wright. Chapman made 13 League appearances for Oxford following his recall, scoring once, directly from a corner against Torquay on 9 April 2012. In July 2012 he signed a further two-year deal with the club, having turned down two earlier contract offers.

On 6 March 2013 he was loaned to Mansfield Town to the end of the season with a view to a permanent move. In his second appearance for Mansfield, and on his home debut, he scored a hat-trick against Stockport County. Mansfield were promoted to League Two at the end of the 2012–13 season but Chapman chose to sign for Newport County, who had also been promoted to League Two as Conference Premier play-off winners, for an undisclosed transfer fee. He was offered a new contract by Newport in May 2015 but chose to move on, signing a permanent one-year deal with Mansfield on 14 May. Chapman left Mansfield by mutual consent in September 2016.

On 22 November 2016 Chapman signed for Gainsborough Trinity of the National League North. In January 2017 he moved to Gainsborough's Lincolnshire neighbours Boston United, and in November the same year he moved on to Sheffield FC. In July 2020, he signed for Northern Counties East Football League Premier Division side Handsworth. In August 2021, he signed for Northern Premier League Premier Division side Grantham Town. In October 2021, he dropped down a division to sign for Northern Premier League Division One East side Ilkeston Town. Following a spell with Basford United, in February 2023, Chapman joined Central Midlands League North Division club Retford United in order to be closer to his home.

## Personal life

Adam Chapman pleaded guilty to causing the death of Tom Bryan by driving dangerously in his Vauxhall Corsa on 9 May 2009. On 4 June 2010 he was sentenced to 30 months in a Young Offenders Institute. Upon his release on 2 September 2011, Chapman rejoined Oxford on a contract to the end of the 2011–12 season.

In October 2012, while shaking his baby's milk, he left the cap off the bottle and the boiling milk spilled onto his chest, scalding his nipple. He went to A&E, but recovered to play in Oxford's 3–1 away win against Wycombe Wanderers the following day.

## Honours

Oxford United

* Conference Premier play-offs: 2009–10

## Career statistics

    As of match played 16 December 2017

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :

| Club | Season | League | League | League | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Oxford United | 2008–09 | Conference Premier | 20 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 20 | 2 |
| Oxford United | 2009–10 | Conference Premier | 37 | 3 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 5 | 0 | 45 | 3 |
| Oxford United | 2011–12 | League Two | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 1 |
| Oxford United | 2012–13 | League Two | 26 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 34 | 1 |
| Oxford United | Total | Total | 97 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 113 | 7 |
| Newport County (loan) | 2011–12 | Conference Premier | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Mansfield Town (loan) | 2012–13 | Conference Premier | 11 | 4 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 11 | 4 |
| Newport County | 2013–14 | League Two | 39 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 46 | 3 |
| Newport County | 2014–15 | League Two | 36 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 38 | 3 |
| Newport County | Total | Total | 75 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 84 | 6 |
| Mansfield Town | 2015–16 | League Two | 37 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 41 | 2 |
| Mansfield Town | 2016–17 | League Two | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| Mansfield Town | Total | Total | 42 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 48 | 2 |
| Gainsborough Trinity | 2016–17 | National League North | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Boston United | 2016–17 | National League North | 14 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 14 | 3 |
| Boston United | 2017–18 | National League North | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 11 | 1 |
| Boston United | Total | Total | 25 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 4 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 258 | 22 | 11 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 13 | 1 | 289 | 23 |

* ↑ Two appearances in the FA Trophy and three in the Conference Premier play-offs
