Name: Chris Basham
Date of Birth: 20/07/1988
Position: Defender
Club: Blackpool
Previous clubs: Bolton, Stafford Rangers, Rochdale
International caps: None
Chris Basham recently became Blackpool’s record signing, in a deal
which could rise to £1million, doubling the £500k they paid for
Charlie Adam just over a year ago. Basham is a Defender who can also
play in Midfield, and came through Bolton’s youth ranks. In total
Basham made 19 appearances for Bolton, as well as enjoying loan spells
at Stafford Rangers in 2006 and Rochdale in 2008, helping them to
qualify for the League 2 playoffs.
Basham made his senior debut for Bolton as a late substitute against
Sunderland in November 2008 and scored his first senior goal against
Chelsea in April 2008. Basham was highly regarded at Bolton and
signed a contract extension to keep him at the club until 2012 in
November 2009, but manager Owen Coyle decided the time was right to
sell Basham to newly promoted Blackpool, saying that “"He's a player
we value, but I had to be fair to him because his chances have been
limited here. Morally, I felt I had to give him the opportunity if he
wanted to play week-in week-out."
Basham made his debut for Blackpool days after signing, in their 4-0
victory at Wigan and was an unused substitute for the 6-0 defeat to
Arsenal. Basham looks set to enjoy a full season of first team
football with Blackpool and will be hoping to live up to being the
clubs first 'Million pound player'.