Tommy Langley
Encyclopedia
Tommy Langley is a retired English
footballer who played in the 1970s and 1980s as a striker. He is currently one of the hosts of Matchnight Live on Chelsea TV
.
, making his debut in 1975 against Leicester City
. The club were relegated the same season and for the remainder of Langley's time there they bounced between the top two divisions. He first established himself in the side during Chelsea's first season back in the First Division
in 1977–78
, during which he scored 13 goals, making him the club's top scorer. The following year, Chelsea were near the bottom of the league all season and relegated by March, with Langley's 16 goals – more than three times the total managed by any of his team mates – a rare bright spot, for which he was voted club player of the year. During his career with Chelsea, he scored 43 goals in 152 games.
, Langley joined Queens Park Rangers
in August 1980. During his brief stint with QPR, he appeared in 25 games and scored 8 goals.
in 1981 where went on to play until 1983. During his time at Crystal Palace he appeared in 59 games and scored 8 goals.
club and returned to England to play for Coventry City
halfway into the season. Langley appeared in two games for Coventy. During his seven combined appearances with the two sides during the 1983–84 season, he did not manage to score any goals.
in 1984 where he managed to score four goals in 23 appearances for the Wanderers. He finished the '84–'85 season at Aldershot Town
where he scored another four goals in 16 games for The Shots.
in 1985 to play for Hong Kong
based South China.
, Langley returned to England and rejoined Aldershot
in 1986. He spent two more years with the club appearing in 81 matches and scoring 21 goals.
where he appeared in 21 matches scoring two goals during the 1988–89 season with the club.
to play for the now defunct, Tampa Bay Rowdies in the American Soccer League
.
when it launched, as a regular guest on the 'Live From Stamford Bridge' phone-in show. He is currently one of the semi-regular presenters on the show, Matchnight Live. He is also used as a co-commentator for Chelsea TV and is known to celebrate when Chelsea score important goals live on air. One such noted time was in Chelsea's 4–4 draw with Tottenham Hotspur, when Chelsea got the goal that gave them a 4–3 lead with three minutes to go, Langley let out a loud "YES". But when Spurs got the equaliser in stoppage time, a loud "NO" could be heard.
Immediately after leaving football, he joined Nashua in Bracknell where he was in dealer sales for copiers and fax machines. His colleague was his ex Aldershot team-mate, Graham Cox.
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...
footballer who played in the 1970s and 1980s as a striker. He is currently one of the hosts of Matchnight Live on Chelsea TV
Chelsea TV
Chelsea TV is a British subscription based sports television channel, dedicated to the fans of the English Premier League football club, Chelsea. The channel first launched in August 2001 on Sky Digital. The station is registered with Ofcom as Chelsea Digital Media Ltd. It broadcasts daily from...
.
Chelsea
Langley began his career with ChelseaChelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
, making his debut in 1975 against Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
. The club were relegated the same season and for the remainder of Langley's time there they bounced between the top two divisions. He first established himself in the side during Chelsea's first season back in the First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
in 1977–78
1977-78 in English football
The 1977–1978 season was the 98th season of competitive football in England, from August 1977 to May 1978:-First Division:Brian Clough's Nottingham Forest side took on the First Division by storm, by winning the League Cup on 22 March and confirming themselves as league champions the following month...
, during which he scored 13 goals, making him the club's top scorer. The following year, Chelsea were near the bottom of the league all season and relegated by March, with Langley's 16 goals – more than three times the total managed by any of his team mates – a rare bright spot, for which he was voted club player of the year. During his career with Chelsea, he scored 43 goals in 152 games.
Queens Park Rangers
After Chelsea's failure to gain instant promotion in 1979–801979-80 in English football
The 1979–80 season was the 100th season of competitive football in England.- FA Cup :Second Division West Ham United, managed by John Lyall, won the FA Cup, beating Arsenal 1–0 with a Trevor Brooking goal...
, Langley joined Queens Park Rangers
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
in August 1980. During his brief stint with QPR, he appeared in 25 games and scored 8 goals.
Crystal Palace
Following his brief stay at QPR, Langley joined Crystal PalaceCrystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
in 1981 where went on to play until 1983. During his time at Crystal Palace he appeared in 59 games and scored 8 goals.
AEK Athens and Coventry City
In 1983, Langley left English football for a brief stint with AEK Athens. Langley only managed to appear in five matches for the GreekGreece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
club and returned to England to play for Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
halfway into the season. Langley appeared in two games for Coventy. During his seven combined appearances with the two sides during the 1983–84 season, he did not manage to score any goals.
Wolverhampton Wanderers
After a somewhat disappointing '83–'84 season, Langley joined Wolverhampton WanderersWolverhampton 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...
in 1984 where he managed to score four goals in 23 appearances for the Wanderers. He finished the '84–'85 season at Aldershot Town
Aldershot Town F.C.
Aldershot Town Football Club is an association football club based in Aldershot, Hampshire, England, founded in the spring of 1992 just after the closure of debt-ridden Fourth Division club Aldershot Football Club...
where he scored another four goals in 16 games for The Shots.
South China AA
After his stint with the Wanderers and Aldershot, Langley left EuropeEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
in 1985 to play for Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
based South China.
Aldershot F.C.
After spending a year in AsiaAsia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
, Langley returned to England and rejoined Aldershot
Aldershot F.C.
Aldershot Football Club was an English Football League club, which was wound up in the High Court in March 1992. They became the first Football League club since Accrington Stanley to resign from the League during the course of a season. The club was nicknamed the Shots for both the last syllable...
in 1986. He spent two more years with the club appearing in 81 matches and scoring 21 goals.
Exeter City
Langley then went on to finish his English career with Exeter CityExeter City F.C.
Exeter City Football Club is an English football club, based in Exeter, which is owned by its fans through the Exeter City Supporters Trust.The club was a member of the Football League from 1920 to 2003...
where he appeared in 21 matches scoring two goals during the 1988–89 season with the club.
Tampa Bay Rowdies
He left Europe for the second time in 1989 this time going to the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to play for the now defunct, Tampa Bay Rowdies in the American Soccer League
American Soccer League
The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
.
After football
After Langley's playing days were over, he has still been a part of the game with a career in sport media. Tommy took on his first presenting role as a commentator on Chelsea Radio in 1997. After the radio show, Langley went on to his role as Football Reporter on Channel 5's Breakfast News. Langley joined Chelsea TVChelsea TV
Chelsea TV is a British subscription based sports television channel, dedicated to the fans of the English Premier League football club, Chelsea. The channel first launched in August 2001 on Sky Digital. The station is registered with Ofcom as Chelsea Digital Media Ltd. It broadcasts daily from...
when it launched, as a regular guest on the 'Live From Stamford Bridge' phone-in show. He is currently one of the semi-regular presenters on the show, Matchnight Live. He is also used as a co-commentator for Chelsea TV and is known to celebrate when Chelsea score important goals live on air. One such noted time was in Chelsea's 4–4 draw with Tottenham Hotspur, when Chelsea got the goal that gave them a 4–3 lead with three minutes to go, Langley let out a loud "YES". But when Spurs got the equaliser in stoppage time, a loud "NO" could be heard.
Immediately after leaving football, he joined Nashua in Bracknell where he was in dealer sales for copiers and fax machines. His colleague was his ex Aldershot team-mate, Graham Cox.
External links
- Tommy Langley on the Chelsea in America Celebrity Podcast (2009).