Chris Weale

Yeovil Town

Born in Yeovil, Somerset, Weale was a product of Yeovil Town's youth system after joining Yeovil in August 1999 from local side Gillingham Town. Weale was first choice keeper for the Youth Team that won the South-West Counties Under 18s League title in 2000 and during the same season he broke into the Reserve side. Weale made his first team debut in July 2000 having come on as a substitute against Southampton in Tony Pennock's testimonial game before making his first full competitive debut against Wellington in the Somerset Premier Cup in October of that year. Weale began to gain more experience in the first team in the 2001/02 season, during which he played 38 matches for the first team while establishing himself as a firm favourite amongst the fans. The following year he not only played an indispensable role in helping Yeovil achieve promotion to the Football League but his consistency was rewarded with a call-up to the England National XI several times during the season. It was only a matter of time before a top club such as West Ham United inquired about Weale. Alan Pardew invited the highly rated keeper to train with West Ham for a couple of days a week in March 2004 before playing in a Reserve game for the club. Throughout his career at Huish Park he has been heavily praised, not just from the home fans, but also from opposition managers such as ex-England coach Peter Taylor. Taylor acknowledged after the 0–0 draw at the KC Stadium 'The saves were…

Weale's twin brother, Sam, is a two-time former Olympic modern pentathlete, who competed for Great Britain at both the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics.

Yeovil Town

Football League Two: 2004–05 FA Trophy: 2001–02 Individual

Football Conference Team of the Year: 2002–03 PFA Team of the Year: 2003–04 Third Division, 2004–05 Football League Two