Alex Tapp
Encyclopedia
Alexander Nicholas "Alex" Tapp (born 7 June 1982) is an English
football (soccer) player. He is a midfielder
, who has played in the English Football League
for Wimbledon
and their successor Milton Keynes Dons
.
, England, Tapp started his football career with Wimbledon
in 1994 and represented England Schoolboys in 1998 at the age of 15. He made his professional debut for Wimbledon in the First Division on 31 August 2002 in a 3–2 victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers
and scored his first goal two weeks later in a 4–1 League Cup
win against Southend United
. Less than two months after his debut, Tapp suffered a hamstring injury which kept him out of the Wimbledon side for three months. He played in Wimbledon's final two seasons in The Football League
, playing 43 games and scoring four goals, although his second season was cut short in January following a serious knee injury.
Wimbledon were relegated at the end of the season and finished bottom of the First Division table. The club had moved to Milton Keynes in 2003 and at the start of the 2004–05
season, the club was relaunched under the name of Milton Keynes Dons
, now playing in the renamed third tier League One
. Tapp suffered more injury problems and played only a further 15 games in his final season in The Football League. In August 2006, when Milton Keynes decided not to extend his contract, Tapp left after 12 years with the club.
and Oxford United
, and played in one Conference South
game for Lewes
, before he joined Isthmian League Premier Division side Tonbridge Angels
in February 2007. Tapp made his debut for Tonbridge against Margate
on 20 February but was substituted during the first half after he picked up an injury. During the 2007–08 season, he appeared for Chipstead
, who played in the Isthmian League Division One South.
and after seven months during which he acclimatised to the Texan
weather and astroturf
pitches, he joined the Austin Aztex ahead of their first season in the United Soccer Leagues First Division
. He was the club's second English signing, following Gifton Noel-Williams
, and joined another expatriate Adrian Heath
, the manager of the side.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
football (soccer) player. He is a midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
, who has played in the English Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
for Wimbledon
Wimbledon F.C.
Wimbledon Football Club was an English professional association football club from Wimbledon, south-west London. Founded in 1889 as Wimbledon Old Central Football Club, the club spent most of its history in amateur and semi-professional non-League football before being elected to the Football...
and their successor Milton Keynes Dons
Milton Keynes Dons F.C.
.Milton Keynes Dons Football Club is an English professional football club founded in 2004 and based since 2007 at Stadium mk, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire...
.
Wimbledon/Milton Keynes Dons
Born in RedhillRedhill, Surrey
Redhill is a town in the borough of Reigate and Banstead, Surrey, England and is part of the London commuter belt. Redhill and the adjacent town of Reigate form a single urban area.-History:...
, England, Tapp started his football career with Wimbledon
Wimbledon F.C.
Wimbledon Football Club was an English professional association football club from Wimbledon, south-west London. Founded in 1889 as Wimbledon Old Central Football Club, the club spent most of its history in amateur and semi-professional non-League football before being elected to the Football...
in 1994 and represented England Schoolboys in 1998 at the age of 15. He made his professional debut for Wimbledon in the First Division on 31 August 2002 in a 3–2 victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
and scored his first goal two weeks later in a 4–1 League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
win against Southend United
Southend United F.C.
Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had...
. Less than two months after his debut, Tapp suffered a hamstring injury which kept him out of the Wimbledon side for three months. He played in Wimbledon's final two seasons in The Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
, playing 43 games and scoring four goals, although his second season was cut short in January following a serious knee injury.
Wimbledon were relegated at the end of the season and finished bottom of the First Division table. The club had moved to Milton Keynes in 2003 and at the start of the 2004–05
2004-05 in English football
The 2004–05 season was the 125th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:*2004–05 was the first season to feature the rebranded Football League. The First Division, Second Division and Third Division were renamed the Football League Championship, Football League One and Football League...
season, the club was relaunched under the name of Milton Keynes Dons
Milton Keynes Dons F.C.
.Milton Keynes Dons Football Club is an English professional football club founded in 2004 and based since 2007 at Stadium mk, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire...
, now playing in the renamed third tier League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
. Tapp suffered more injury problems and played only a further 15 games in his final season in The Football League. In August 2006, when Milton Keynes decided not to extend his contract, Tapp left after 12 years with the club.
English non-League
After leaving Milton Keynes, he had several unsuccessful trials with other league clubs, including BrentfordBrentford F.C.
Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One....
and Oxford United
Oxford United F.C.
Oxford United Football Club is an English association football club based in Oxford, Oxfordshire. The club play in League Two, following promotion from the Conference National in May 2010. The club had been a non-League side since their relegation from the Football League in the 2005–06 season. The...
, and played in one Conference South
Conference South
Conference South is one of the second divisions of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National...
game for Lewes
Lewes F.C.
Lewes Football Club is an English football team based in Lewes, East Sussex. The club are currently members of the Isthmian League Premier Division and play at the Dripping Pan.-History:...
, before he joined Isthmian League Premier Division side Tonbridge Angels
Tonbridge Angels F.C.
Tonbridge Angels Football Club is an English football club who play at Longmead Stadium in Tonbridge, Kent, since moving from the Angel Ground in 1980....
in February 2007. Tapp made his debut for Tonbridge against Margate
Margate F.C.
Margate Football Club is an English football team based in the seaside resort of Margate, Kent, currently playing in the Isthmian League Premier Division. The club was known for a number of years during the 1980s as Thanet United....
on 20 February but was substituted during the first half after he picked up an injury. During the 2007–08 season, he appeared for Chipstead
Chipstead F.C.
Chipstead F.C. are an English football club based in Chipstead, near Banstead, in Surrey. They were established in 1906 and were founding members of the Surrey County Premier League in 1982, moving to the Combined Counties League in 1986, and then the Isthmian League in 2007...
, who played in the Isthmian League Division One South.
Austin Aztex
In the late summer of 2008, Tapp moved to the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and after seven months during which he acclimatised to the Texan
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
weather and astroturf
Artificial turf
Artificial turf is a surface manufactured from synthetic fibers made to look like natural grass. It is most often used in arenas for sports that were originally or are normally played on grass. However, it is now being used on residential lawns and commercial applications as well...
pitches, he joined the Austin Aztex ahead of their first season in the United Soccer Leagues First Division
USL First Division
The United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico....
. He was the club's second English signing, following Gifton Noel-Williams
Gifton Noel-Williams
Gifton Noel-Williams is an English footballer.-England:Noel-Williams started his professional career at Watford where he spent a seven year spell playing 127 games and scoring 43 goals. Aged 19, he was Watford's top goalscorer in the 1998–99 season, at the end of which they were promoted to the...
, and joined another expatriate Adrian Heath
Adrian Heath
Adrian Paul Heath is an English football manager and former player. He manages American USL Pro Orlando franchise. As a player he is remembered as part of the Everton side of the 1980s, where he won several trophies...
, the manager of the side.