Zema Abbey
FullnameZema Abbey[1]
Birth date17 April 1977 (age 49)[1]
Birth placeLuton, England
Height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[1]
PositionForward
Years 11998–1999
Clubs 1Baldock Town
Years 21999–2000
Clubs 2Hitchin Town
Years 32000
Clubs 3Cambridge United
Caps 322
Goals 35
Years 42000
Clubs 4→ Hitchin Town (loan)
Years 52000–2004
Clubs 5Norwich City
Caps 559
Goals 57
Years 62004
Clubs 6→ Boston United (loan)
Caps 65
Goals 61
Years 72004
Clubs 7Wycombe Wanderers
Caps 75
Goals 70
Years 82004–2005
Clubs 8Bradford City
Caps 86
Goals 81
Years 92005
Clubs 9Torquay United
Caps 96
Goals 91
Years 102005–2006
Clubs 10Forest Green Rovers
Caps 1026
Goals 102
Years 112006
Clubs 11Kettering Town
Years 122007
Clubs 12Barton Rovers
Years 132007–2009
Clubs 13Halesowen Town
Caps 1342
Goals 138
Years 142009–2013
Clubs 14Arlesey Town
Manageryears 12011–2013
Managerclubs 1Arlesey Town
Manageryears 22013–2014
Managerclubs 2St Neots Town (joint)
Manageryears 32015–2018
Managerclubs 3Arlesey Town (joint)

Zema Abbey (born 17 April 1977) is an English former professional footballer who played as a striker.

He has a degree in Sports Science and Leisure Management from the University of Bedfordshire.[2] His younger brother, Nathan, was also a professional footballer. He also owns a Luton-based company that sell footwear.

Playing career

Born in Luton to parents from St. Vincent, Abbey began his career with Arlesey Town, before spending a season each at both Baldock Town and Hitchin Town, before joining Cambridge United in February 2000. He soon established himself in the Cambridge side, earning a £350,000 move to Norwich City in December 2000.[3] However his time at Carrow Road was marred by two career threatening knee injuries, causing him to miss most of the 2003–04 promotion season, though he was given a championship medal at the end of the season. He was given a three-month contract to prove his fitness at the start of the following season.[4] He spent September 2004 on loan at Boston United, playing alongside Paul Gascoigne and scoring once against Chester City.[5] He then moved to Wycombe Wanderers on a free transfer the following month. In November 2004 he moved to Bradford City on a short-term deal.[6] He made his debut for Bradford on 20 November against Brentford when he scored after just two minutes but received the first red card of his career for violent conduct after a clash with Deon Burton.[7][8] His second game did not come for nearly a month because of suspension and he played a total of only six games before he was released by manager Colin Todd.[9] Abbey joined Stoke City on a month trial in January 2005 playing in the club's reserve side. Despite scoring against Sheffield United Reserves Abbey was not offered a contract.[10] In March 2005 he moved to Torquay United, but was released at the end of the 2004–05 season after one goal against MK Dons.[11]

He joined Forest Green Rovers in August 2005, playing 26 times before being released in April 2006.[12]

He joined Kettering Town in August 2006 in time for the start of the 2006–07 Conference North season,[13] but was released in November 2006.

In January 2007 he signed for Barton Rovers[14] He signed for Halesowen Town in November 2007.[15][16] He was linked with a move to Corby Town in December 2008,[17] but remained with Halesowen.[18] At the start of the 2009–10 season, he returned to Arlesey Town where he was appointed player/assistant manager.

Management career

In June 2011, Abbey was appointed as the first team manager at Arlesey.[19]

In November 2013, Abbey moved with his brother Nathan Abbey to St Neots as joint manager with Gary King. [20]

Abbey was re-appointed Arlesey Town manager in February 2015 as the replacement for Nick Ironton. He took on the title of joint manager alongside his brother Nathan Abbey. The brothers left the club at the end of the 2017–18 season.

Honours

References

  1. ^ Hugman, Barry J. (ed.) (2002). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2002–03. Harpenden: Queen Anne Press. p. 13. ISBN 978-1-85291-648-0.
  2. ^ Slater, Gary (21 January 2001). "Abbey makes up for lost time". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 24 May 2007. Retrieved 20 May 2007.
  3. ^ "Abbey striking changes". BBC News. 20 December 2000. Retrieved 20 May 2007.
  4. ^ "Abbey offered short deal". BBC News. 23 May 2004. Retrieved 20 May 2007.
  5. ^ "Boston 3-1 Chester". BBC Sport. 30 August 2004. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  6. ^ "Bantams sign Abbey from Chairboys". BBC Sport. 16 November 2004. Retrieved 22 February 2008.
  7. ^ "Brentford 1–2 Bradford". BBC Sport. 20 November 2004. Retrieved 22 February 2008.
  8. ^ "Abbey stunned after sending off". BBC Sport. 23 November 2004. Retrieved 22 February 2008.
  9. ^ "Bantams boss keen to loan striker". BBC Sport. 17 January 2005. Retrieved 22 February 2008.
  10. ^ "Stoke City 2 Sheffield United 0". stokecityfc.com. Retrieved 19 June 2010.
  11. ^ "Torquay 1-0 MK Dons". BBC Sport. 9 April 2005. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  12. ^ "A few surprises in Forest Green Rovers' retained list". Archived from the original on 6 September 2012. Retrieved 20 May 2007.
  13. ^ "Zema signs". Archived 27 April 2007 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 20 May 2007.
  14. ^ "Abbey coup for Rovers". Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 20 May 2007.
  15. ^ "12/11/2007 – w/c 05/11/2007". Archived 26 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 18 November 2007.
  16. ^ "Former Hatters' team-mates re-unite at Barton". Archived from the original on 11 August 2009. Retrieved 18 November 2007.
  17. ^ "Corby reveal new signing". Evening Telegraph. 12 October 2008. Archived from the original on 11 August 2009. Retrieved 10 December 2008.
  18. ^ "Halesowen Town v Merthyr Tydfil". Halesowen Town Official Website. 20 January 2009. Archived from the original on 26 December 2008. Retrieved 29 January 2009.
  19. ^ "Abbey in charge at Arlesey". Non League Daily. 24 June 2011. Archived from the original on 3 October 2012. Retrieved 24 June 2011.
  20. ^ "Abbey brothers leave Arlesey Town for St Neots". The Comet. 13 November 2013. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2013.