:Chris Stringer (footballer)
{{short description|English footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2016}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Chris Stringer
| image =
| caption =
| fullname = Christopher Stringer{{Hugman|18974|accessdate=14 March 2018}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1983|06|02}}
| birth_place = Grimsby, England
| height = {{height|m=1.98}}{{cite web |url=https://www.11v11.com/players/chris-stringer-4187/ |title=Chris Stringer |work=11v11.com |publisher=AFS Enterprises |accessdate=14 March 2018}}
| currentclub =
| position = Goalkeeper
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 =
| years1 = 2000–2004
| clubs1 = Sheffield Wednesday
| caps1 = 9
| goals1 = 0
| club-update = 7 January 2008
}}
Christopher Stringer (born 2 June 1983) is an English former professional footballer who played for Sheffield Wednesday as a goalkeeper. He made his senior debut for the club at the age of seventeen in 2000 and made twelve appearances in all competitions before being forced to retire from football at the age of 20.
Career
Born in Grimsby,{{Cite web |url=http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/player12/chrisstringer.htm |title=Chris Stringer |website=Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Database |publisher=Neil Brown |accessdate=14 March 2018}} Stringer began his career in the youth system at Sheffield Wednesday after joining the club at the age of eleven.{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/championship/2997189/FA-Cup-Rookie-keeper-offers-Wednesday-hope.html |title=FA Cup: Rookie keeper offers Wednesday hope |newspaper=The Telegraph |author=David Miller |date=24 January 2001 |accessdate=14 March 2018}} He made his senior debut against Wolverhampton Wanderers on 13 August 2000, the opening day of the 2000–01 season, as a substitute at the age of seventeen after starting goalkeeper Kevin Pressman was sent off after just 13 seconds.{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/football-league/pressman-exits-early-but-wolves-lack-bite-696543.html |title=Pressman exits early but Wolves lack bite |newspaper=The Independent |author=Phil Shaw |date=13 August 2000 |accessdate=14 March 2018}}{{cite web |url=https://www.eurosport.co.uk/football/english-footballs-records-fastest-yellow-red-card-most-yellows-in-a-match_sto5701723/story.shtml |title=English football records: Fastest yellow, red card; most yellows in a match |publisher=Eurosport |author=Marcus Foley |date=29 July 2016 |accessdate=15 March 2018}} The sending off was the fastest red card in English football history,{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/878745.stm |title=Pressman sent for earliest ever bath |publisher=BBC Sport |date=13 August 2000 |accessdate=15 March 2018}} beating the previous record by six seconds. He conceded once during the remainder of the match as it ended in a 1–1 draw.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2000/aug/14/match.sport |title=Record red for Pressman |newspaper=The Guardian |author=Daniel Taylor |date=14 August 2000 |accessdate=14 March 2018}} Wednesday signed Paul Musselwhite to cover for the suspended Pressman but he was ineligible for their following match against Blackburn Rovers as he was not registered to play in time, handing Stringer his first senior start.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2000/aug/29/match.sport5 |title=Stringer helps to tie up Rovers |newspaper=The Guardian |author=Daniel Taylor |date=29 August 2000 |accessdate=14 March 2018}} He made five further appearances during the season and was handed a contract extension with manager Paul Jewell describing him as "enthusiastic, and has never let us down".{{cite web |url=http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11703/2202700/stringer-to-stay-at-wednesday |title=Stringer to stay at Wednesday |publisher=Sky Sports |author=Steve Bateman |accessdate=14 March 2018}}
He made five appearances over the following three seasons as persistent injuries restricted his playing time.{{cite news |url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/owls-wage-bill-slashed-by-163-2-6m-1-2544732 |title=Owls' Wage Bill Slashed by £2.6m |newspaper=Yorkshire Post |author=Ian Appleyard |date=13 May 2004 |accessdate=14 March 2018}} Stringer was one of thirteen players released by Wednesday in May 2004 as manager Chris Turner looked to reduce the club's wage bill.{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/s/sheff_wed/3711873.stm |title=Owls boss wields the axe |publisher=BBC Sport |date=13 May 2004 |accessdate=14 March 2018}} At the age of 20, after struggling with injuries and having not played a competitive match for over a year, he announced his retirement from professional football. Operations on his calf muscles had resulted in him developing blood clots and doctors had advised him against further attempts at playing. He stated, "I would carry on playing [...] but my health is more important and I have to get on with my life."
Career statistics
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" | ||||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|FA Cup !colspan="2"|League Cup !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan=4|Sheffield Wednesday
|2000–01{{Soccerbase season|21537|2000|accessdate=14 March 2018}} |5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2001–02{{Soccerbase season|21537|2001|accessdate=14 March 2018}}
|1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2002–03{{Soccerbase season|21537|2002|accessdate=14 March 2018}}
|3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2003–04{{Soccerbase season|21537|2003|accessdate=14 March 2018}}
|0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| colspan="3"|Career total
!9 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 |