Aaron Clapham
{{short description|New Zealand footballer (born 1987)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=February 2013}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Aaron Clapham
| image = AaronClapham.jpg
| caption = Clapham warming up with New Zealand in 2013
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1987|01|15|df=y}}
| birth_place = Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand
| death_date =
| position = Midfielder
| currentclub =
| clubnumber =
| youthyears1 = 2005–2006
| youthclubs1 = Saint Francis Red Flash
| youthyears2 = 2007–2008
| youthclubs2 = Louisville Cardinals
| years1 = 2009
| clubs1 = Dandenong Thunder
| caps1 = 10
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2009–2017
| clubs2 = Canterbury United
| caps2 = 117
| goals2 = 61
| years3 = 2011
| clubs3 = → Wellington Phoenix (loan)
| caps3 = 0
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2013
| clubs4 = → APIA Leichhardt Tigers (loan)
| caps4 = 10
| goals4 = 2
| years5 = 2018–2019
| clubs5 = Team Wellington
| caps5 = 4
| goals5 = 0
| years6 = 2019–2020
| clubs6 = Canterbury United
| caps6 = 21
| goals6 = 4
| nationalyears1 = 2007
| nationalteam1 = New Zealand U-20
| nationalcaps1 = 8
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 2010–2013
| nationalteam2 = New Zealand
| nationalcaps2 = 13
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| manageryears1 = 2020–
| managerclubs1 = New Zealand U-17 (assistant)
| club-update = End of Career
| nationalteam-update =
}}
Aaron Daniel Clapham (born 15 January 1987) is a former New Zealand footballer and current Football coach.[https://www.nzfootball.co.nz/newsarticle/93177 Assistant coaches appointed for age-group teams ] Clapham spent most of his senior footballing career with ISPS Handa Premiership club Canterbury United FC.
Club career
In 2005 Clapham accepted a football scholarship at Saint Francis University, Loretto, Pennsylvania before joining the University of Louisville where he spent 2 seasons, scoring 8 times in 37 appearances. He then moved to Australia, joining Dandenong Thunder in the Victorian Premier League.
Clapham played 117 times for Canterbury United, having scored 61 goals from the centre of midfield. His first goal came in his club's 2–0 victory over Waikato FC on 8 November 2009. Having helped his side to 4th in the New Zealand Football Championship and progressing to the playoff final, he was awarded New Zealand Football Championship Player of the Year for the 2009–10 season.
Clapham has long been considered one of the top players in the New Zealand Football Championship, being named to the league's team of the month in November, December, January, and February during the 2009–10 season. Clapham captained Canterbury United to their highest league position of 2nd place in the 2011–12 season.
On 7 February 2011, he signed a one-game loan deal from Canterbury United to play for Wellington Phoenix in the A-League.[http://www.aleague.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=38754 Phoenix Make Changes]. a-league.com.au.
On 2 June 2020, he retired from football, after a final season at Canterbury United Dragons.[https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/121695225/former-all-white-aaron-clapham-hangs-up-his-boots-after-eventful-career Former All White Aaron Clapham hangs up his boots after eventful career]
International career
Clapham has earned national representation at Under-20 level, where he represented New Zealand at the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada.[https://web.archive.org/web/20090130141756/http://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/u20worldcup/canada2007/teams/team=1889463/index.html 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup New Zealand Profile] FIFA
After impressing for Canterbury United during the 2009–10 season, Clapham was selected as a part of a 15-man FIFA World Cup training camp for Australia and New Zealand-based players.{{cite web |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/world-cup/3583762/Clapham-delighted-to-join-NZ-training-squad |title=Clapham delighted to join NZ training squad |author=Smith, Tony |date=15 April 2010 |publisher=Stuff |access-date=15 September 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100518020100/http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/world-cup/3583762/Clapham-delighted-to-join-NZ-training-squad |archive-date=18 May 2010 }} Following a strong performance for New Zealand 'A' against a NZFC Select XI at the conclusion of the camp on 8 May 2010, Clapham was named as a surprise call-up by All Whites coach Ricki Herbert for New Zealand's 2010 FIFA World Cup campaign.{{cite web |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/world-cup/3676399/All-Whites-World-Cup-squad-named |title=All Whites World Cup squad named |author=Johnstone, Duncan |date=10 May 2010 |publisher=Stuff |access-date=15 September 2011}}
Clapham made his official international debut on 10 October 2010 when he came on as a late substitute in his country's 1–1 draw with Honduras.{{Cite web |url=http://www.nzfootball.co.nz/index.php?id=11&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=739&tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=10&cHash=935f40f78c |title=Woodzee nets as All Whites thrill |access-date=10 October 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725135925/http://www.nzfootball.co.nz/index.php?id=11&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=739&tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=10&cHash=935f40f78c |archive-date=25 July 2011 |url-status=dead }}
=International goals and caps=
New Zealand's goal tally first.
| class="wikitable collapsible" style="font-size:90%"
|+International appearances and goals | |||||||
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Result | Competition | Goal | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| colspan=8 align=center|2010 | |||||||
| align=center|1
| 9 October | North Harbour Stadium, Auckland | {{fb|HON}} | align=center|1–1 | | |||||||
| align=center|2
| 12 October | {{fb|PAR}} | align=center|0–2 | | | |||||||
| colspan="8" style="text-align:center;"|2011 | |||||||
| align=center|3
| 25 March | Wuhan Sports Center Stadium, Wuhan | {{fb|China}} | align=center|1–1 | | |||||||
| align=center|4
| 1 June | Invesco Field at Mile High, Denver | {{fb|MEX}} | align=center|0–3 | | |||||||
| align=center|5
| 5 June | {{fb|AUS}} | align=center|0–3 | | | |||||||
| colspan="8" style="text-align:center;"|2012 | |||||||
| align=center|6
| 26 May | {{fb|Honduras}} | align=center|1–0 | | |||||||
| align=center|7
| 4 June | Lawson Tama Stadium, Honiara | {{fb|PNG}} | align=center|2–1 | | |||||||
| align=center|8
| 6 June | Lawson Tama Stadium, Honiara | {{fb|SOL}} | align=center|1–1 | | |||||||
| align=center|9
| 10 June | Lawson Tama Stadium, Honiara | {{fb|SOL}} | align=center|4–3 | | |||||||
| colspan=8 align=center|2013 | |||||||
| align=center|10
| 26 March | Lawson Tama Stadium, Honiara | {{fb|SOL}} | align=center|2–0 | 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifier | |
=International career statistics=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan=3 | New Zealand national team | ||
| Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 2 | 0 |
| 2011 | 3 | 0 |
| 2012 | 4 | 0 |
| 2013 | 4 | 0 |
| Total||13||0 |
Coaching career
Clapham was named on 31 July 2020, as Assistant coach of the New Zealand national under-17 football team.{{cite web|url=https://boxscorenews.com/aaron-clapham-named-new-zealand-u-assistant-coach-p157238-200.htm|title=Aaron Clapham named New Zealand U-17 assistant coach|author=George Fosty|publisher=Boxscore News |date=11 May 2010}}
Personal life
His sister Sara Clapham also represented New Zealand internationally, making 3 appearances for the New Zealand senior women's team.{{cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/3678566/Claphams-off-to-the-Cup|title=Clapham's off to the cup|author=Tony Smith|publisher=Stuff|date=11 May 2010}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{FIFA player|271380}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20130208043645/http://www.nzfootball.co.nz/index.php?id=1133 NZ Football Profile]
{{Navboxes
|title = New Zealand Squads
|bg = white
|fg = black
|list1 =
{{New Zealand squad 2010 FIFA World Cup}}
{{New Zealand squad 2012 OFC Nations Cup}}
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Clapham, Aaron}}
Category:Saint Francis University alumni
Category:University of Louisville alumni
Category:Louisville Cardinals men's soccer players
Category:Canterbury United Dragons players
Category:Wellington Phoenix FC players
Category:New Zealand men's association footballers
Category:New Zealand men's international footballers
Category:2010 FIFA World Cup players
Category:2012 OFC Nations Cup players
Category:Dandenong Thunder SC players
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Team Wellington FC players
Category:New Zealand Football Championship players