Richard Chaplow

Burnley

Chaplow joined Burnley at the age of eight, before earning a scholarship at the club in 2001 as part of the YTS Apprenticeships, turning down offers from Blackburn Rovers and Manchester City. In 2002–03, part of his season in the reserves was blighted by glandular fever, although he returned to action in January. After being included as an unused substitute against Preston North End on 8 April 2003, Chaplow made his Burnley debut, coming on as a second-half substitute, in 2–0 loss against Norwich City four days later on 12 April 2003. Chaplow then made his first start and played the whole game despite losing, 2–0, against Nottingham Forest on 21 April 2003. He went on to make five appearances for the side in the 2002–03 season. However, ahead of the 2003–04 season, Chaplow suffered from alopecia during 2003, returning to pre-season training having lost all his hair. Despite this, Chaplow continued to a handful of first-team appearances at the start of the season, playing in the midfielder position, and scored his first goal for the club on 30 August 2003, in a 1–0 win over Crewe Alexandra. As a result, Chaplow signed his first professional contract with the club. By the rest of 2003, Chaplow scored two more goals, which came against Cardiff City and Reading. Chaplow's performance throughout December earned him PFA First Division Player of the Month award. Later in the 2003–04 season, Chaplow scored two more goals, which came against Ipswich Town and…

Chaplow has represented England internationally at a number of age groups including at under-19 level, as well as at under-20 level. On 22 January 2004, Chaplow was called up by England under-19 for the first time. Chaplow made his only England U19 appearance on 30 March 2004, in a 1–1 draw against Germany U19. Chaplow has also made one appearance for England under-21s. He became Burnley's first ever England under-21 international in February 2004, when he came off the bench on his debut against the Netherlands at the KC Stadium. After being in training for the England U20 side in August 2004, Chaplow was called up by the side for the first time on 11 October 2004. Chaplow then scored his first England U20 goal, in a friendly match against Netherlands U20 side. In October 2005 he captained the England under-20 side to a 2–2 draw with the Netherlands, in a match played at his former club Burnley's Turf Moor ground.

In August 2021, after three seasons as an assistant coach with Orange County SC, Chaplow was named interim head coach of the club. On 9 November 2021, Orange County removed the interim tag and made Chaplow the permanent head coach. Chaplow would lead OCSC to finish second in the Pacific Division, and advance to the USL Championship Final defeating Tampa Bay Rowdies at home, 3–1 in regulation. Chaplow was dismissed on 1 May 2023 after picking up just six points from the opening eight matches of the season.

Growing up, Chaplow attended Mount Carmel Roman Catholic High School and supported Burnley. Like Chaplow, his family are also Burnley supporters. Chaplow is married to Emily Chaplow and the couple has two sons. In 2013, Chaplow suffered a tragedy when they lost a baby boy.