Chris Hussey


Christopher Ian Hussey is an English footballer who plays as a defender for club Cheltenham Town.

Career

AFC Wimbledon

Hussey started his career at Woking's youth team before moving to AFC Wimbledon in 2006. After some impressive performances for AFC Wimbledon's under 19 and reserve teams, Hussey continued to remain at the club by signing a contract at the end of the 2006–07 season. But during the club's pre–season tour of summer 2007, he suffered a twisted ankle that saw him sidelined briefly.
He had a brief stint on loan to Windsor & Eton, where he made 11 league appearances. After returning from a loan spell at Windsor & Eton, Hussey played in a 4–0 win over Tonbridge Angels on 14 January 2008. Since then, Manager Terry Brown called Hussey up to the first team, initially to provide cover for injuries and later as first choice left-back. It wasn't until on 8 March 2008 when he scored his first AFC Wimbledon goal, in a 2–0 win over Hendon. He then scored again on 29 March 2008, in a 4–2 win over Horsham. At the end of the 2007–08 season, which saw Wimbledon promoted to Conference South, Hussey went on to make the total of 15 appearances and scoring 2 times.
In the 2008–09 season, Hussey started the season well when he scored in a 1–0 win over Braintree Town on 2 September 2008. He continued to be in the first team regular in the wing back position and saw the club promoted to the Conference Premier. At the end of the 2008–09 season, Hussey went on to make the total of 47 appearances and scoring once in all competitions. In addition of winning AFC Wimbledon Young Player of the Year Award for the 2008–09 season, he was named All Star Team of the Year.
In the 2009–10 season, Hussey continued to feature in the first team for AFC Wimbledon and started every matches until his departure from October. He made a total of 84 appearances in all competitions for "The Dons", with his consistent good performances earning him the AFC Wimbledon Young Player of the Year Award for both the 2007–08 and the 2008–09 seasons.

Coventry City

On 16 October 2009, Hussey signed a loan deal with Championship side Coventry City until January 2010. It came after when he passed the medical and beating off competitions of other Championship clubs.
Hussey made his Football League debut on 20 October 2009, for Coventry City, in a 2–0 defeat to Cardiff City, replacing Patrick van Aanholt as a substitute in the 68th minute. After the match, Manager Chris Coleman praised Hussey's debut. On 1 January 2010 Hussey made the move permanent, signing until 2013 for an undisclosed fee, reported as £120,000. Despite making 8 appearances for the side, he spent the most of the season on the substitute bench.
However, at the start of the 2010–11 season, Hussey suffered a foot injury during a friendly match against West Bromwich Albion, which resulted in a 1–1 draw. He remained on the sidelined until he returned to training in late–October. After returning from a foot injury, he joined Crewe Alexandra on loan until 1 January 2011. However, he suffered a metatarsal injury during a training session at Crewe Alexandra, leading him to return to his parent club and was sidelined for three months. After returning from injury, he made his first appearance on 5 March 2011, in a 4–1 loss against Bristol City. Hussey then was given a handful of first team appearances towards the end of the season. On the last game of the season, he set up two goals, in a 2–2 draw against Norwich City. At the end of the 2010–11 season, Hussey went on to make a total of twelve appearances.
In the 2011–12 season, Hussey began to receive more playing time since the start of the season under the management of Andy Thorn and played his first match of the season in the left–back position despite losing 1–0 to Leicester City. However, in a 2–0 against Barnsley on 1 October 2011, Hussey was penalised for handball, which was successfully converted and was substituted in the first half as a result. Despite this, Hussey managed to regain his first team place until he suffered a foot injury again. After being sidelined on two occasions during the 2011–12 season, due to injuries, Hussey was featured from an injury in a friendly match in February, though he remained short of fitness. After returning to the first team, Hussey then set up one of the goals, in a 2–0 win over Portsmouth on 24 March 2012. Since returning to the first team from injury, Hussey was featured in every matches towards the end of the season that saw the club relegated to League One next season. Despite this, Hussey finished the 2011–12 season, making 31 appearances in all competitions.
Ahead of the 2012–13 season, Hussey was a subjected of a transfer move from the club. He then continued to established himself in the first team since the start of the season. However, under the new management of Mark Robins, Hussey soon lost his first team place and was demoted to the substitute bench. His first, and only, goal for Coventry City was in a 4–0 win against York City in the Football League Trophy on 9 October 2012. He scored the fourth goal in the game in the ninetieth minute. His last appearance for the club came on 23 October 2012, where he set up one of the goals, in a 2–1 loss against Brentford. With a hint that he could be leaving in January, his departure was confirmed on 8 January 2013, as he left the club by mutual consent.

AFC Wimbledon

On 10 January 2013, Hussey returned to AFC Wimbledon on a free transfer following his release from Coventry.
Hussey made his second debut for AFC Wimbledon on 12 January 2013, where he came on as a second–half substitute, in a 2–2 draw against Wycombe Wanderers. Since making his debut for the club, he established himself in the starting eleven for the side.
After making the total of 19 appearances in his second spell, Hussey was released by AFC Wimbledon in May 2013 after helping the club retain its football league status. Shortly after his departure, Hussey said that he was released by the club for " footballing reasons."

Burton Albion

On 27 June 2013, Hussey joined League Two side Burton Albion.
Hussey made his Burton Albion debut, starting the whole game, in a 2–2 draw against Cheltenham Town in the opening game of the season. He scored his first goals for Burton when he scored twice in a 2–1 League Cup win over Sheffield United. Eleven days later, on 17 August 2013, he scored again in a 3–2 win over Fleetwood Town. In a match against Fulham on 27 August 2013 in the second round of the League Cup, Hussey played a played during the match when he set up two goals, which led to penalty–shootout and lost 5–4; Hussey, himself, successfully converted the shootout. Since making his debut for the club, Hussey began to established himself in the starting eleven for Burton Albion. However, as the season progressed, he soon lost his first team place, as well as, his own injury concern. After being recalled, he made his return on the last game of the season, in a 1–0 loss against Southend United. He was featured in the play–offs, playing three times in the club's unsuccessful attempt to reach League One, losing 1–0 to Fleetwood Town.
At the end of the season, making the total of 36 appearances and scoring 3 times in all competitions, Hussey was released by the club.

Bury

On 13 March 2014, Hussey joined League Two side Bury on loan for the remainder of the 2013–14 season and was given the no. 11 shirt number for his time with the Shakers. He made his Bury debut, two days on 15 March 2014, in a 0–0 draw against Southend United. It wasn't until on 22 March 2014 when he scored his first Bury goal, in a 1–1 draw against Dagenham & Redbridge. After setting up one of the goals in a 2–1 win over Bristol Rovers on 1 April 2014, he scored again four days later, in a 2–0 win over Exeter City. Hussey established himself in the starting eleven at Bury until he was recalled by the end of April.
Having previously hinted of a long-term contract for Hussey, he signed for Bury on a free transfer following his release from Burton Albion, signing a two–year contract. Hussey's first game after signing for the club on a permanent basis came in the opening game of the season with a 1–0 loss against Cheltenham Town. He then began to play in the left–back position, although he found himself in a competition in the first half of the season. But he soon managed his first team place around December and was featured in the left–back position for the rest of the season. Having assisted 10 times this season, Hussey went on to help the club reach promotion to League at the end of the season. In his first season at Bury, Hussey went on to make the total of 42 appearances in all competitions.
In the 2015–16 season, Hussey started the season when he continued to regain his first team place in the left–back position. He then set up two goals during the match, in a 3–3 draw against Crewe Alexandra on 22 August 2015. His contribution and performance was praised by Manager David Flitcroft in the first half of the season. He started every matches since the start of the season until he was suspended for two bookings this season. After returning from suspension, Hussey scored his first goal of the season, in a 4–3 win over Blackpool on 31 October 2015. In addition of playing in defence, Flitcroft began to put Hussey more into attacking calibre. As a result, he signed a contract extension with Bury, keeping him until 2018. In both match against Wigan Athletic in the League Cup and FA Cup matches, Hussey played a role when he set up goals in separate matches, with a victories for Bury. He remained in the left–back position throughout the 2015–16 season despite "struggling for form and confidence." Despite being sidelined on two occasions later in the season, Hussey went on to make the total of 50 appearances and scoring once in all competitions.

Sheffield United

After two years playing for the Greater Manchester side, Hussey joined then fellow League One outfit Sheffield United on 2 June 2016 for an undisclosed fee. Upon joining the club, Hussey said the move was difficult to turn down.
Hussey made his Sheffield United debut in the opening game of the season, in a 1–0 loss against Bolton Wanderers. In a follow match against Rochdale, he set up a goal for Billy Sharp, in a 1–1 draw to give the club their first point of the season. After starting the season in the left–back, Hussey, however, lost his place in the left–back position in favour of Daniel Lafferty, as well as, his own injury concern. In his first season however, the defender only played 7 games and was rarely in the match day squad.
After being placed on a transfer list by Sheffield United, it was announced on 7 July 2017, Hussey joined League Two side Swindon Town on a season-long loan. The move saw him reunited Manager David Flitcroft.
Hussey started the opening game of the season against Carlisle United when he set up one of the goals, in a 2–1 win. He then scored his first goal for the club, in a 3–0 win over Luton Town on 9 September 2017. As a result, his goal was nominated Sky Bet League Two Goal of the Month for September but lost out to Shaun Miller of Coventry City. Since making his debut for the club, Hussey was an ever-present for the side until he suffered a groin during a 2–0 win over Forest Green Rovers on 22 September 2017.
On 3 May 2018, following an alleged altercation with a fan, Hussey's loan spell at Swindon was terminated early. He was fined £4,000 by the FA and given a five-match suspension.
He was released by Sheffield United at the end of the 2017–18 season.

Cheltenham Town

Hussey signed for Cheltenham Town on a two year-deal on 29 May 2018. Cheltenham manager Gary Johnson said that Hussey had 'good age, good experience' and 'he's a good defender'. In October 2019 he extended his contract until 2021.

International career

In February 2009, Hussey was called up by England C team as a standby.

Career statistics

Personal life

Local newspaper The Coventry Telegraph reported to describe Hussey as "a shy character at the best of times – declined an interview afterwards, presumably keen to let his football do the talking."
Chris has a very tight knit bond with his immediate family and has a similarly close bond with his fiancé's family. He values family highly and when he is not playing football he centres his free time around recreational family activities.