Liam Chilvers

Arsenal

Born in Chelmsford, Essex, Chilvers entered the Arsenal Academy at the age of seven and featured in their FA Youth Cup final win over Coventry City in 2000. On 22 December 2000, he joined Second Division club Northampton Town on a four-week loan. He made his debut the next day in a 2–1 win over Peterborough United at London Road. He started six further games for the "Cobblers", only one of which ended in defeat, before returning to Highbury at the end of his loan spell. Unable to extend the loan deal, Town boss Kevin Wilson was "sorry to see Liam go". Chilvers joined Notts County on a three-month loan spell in November 2001, and made eleven appearances for the club. He scored his first senior goal on 1 December, scoring a consolation goal in a 3–2 loss to Bristol City at Ashton Gate. Chilvers scored in a pre-season friendly for Arsenal against Stevenage in 2002. He then spent the first half of the 2002–03 season on loan at Belgian Pro League club K.S.K. Beveren, who had a partnership with Arsenal at the time; John Halls, Graham Stack, and Steve Sidwell also were sent on loan to the Belgian side. He was sent off on his debut – a 6–1 defeat by Sint-Truidense. He made four further appearances out of position as a full-back, before he returned to England – by that time his three Arsenal colleagues had returned to London and the Beveren manager had given up trying to speak to Chilvers in English. He later admitted he did not enjoy his experience, though he did get…

Chilvers has excellent positional play and leadership skills and is also a threat from set-pieces.

Chilvers is married and has a son named Oscar, who was born in 2012. He began working at a law office located in Southport after retiring from football in 2015, before becoming as a self-employed tradesman.

Arsenal

FA Youth Cup: 2000 Colchester United

Football League One second-place promotion: 2005–06 Port Vale

Football League Two third-place promotion: 2012–13