May
Newsfile

Newsfile Archive

Thanks to the exclusive revelation on the messageboard last night I can now confirm that Richard Carpenter has agreed a three year deal with Brighton. Chippy passed a medical today and joins the Seagulls officially on July 1st.

Report coutesy of www.seagulls.co.uk
Richard Carpenter, who has won promotion from Nationwide Division Three with each of his three previous clubs, agreed to sign for the Seagulls today on a ‘Bosman free’ after passing a medical. Carpenter will join the Club on July 1st, after the expiry of his current contract with Cardiff City. Albion beat off competition from several clubs in Divisions One, Two, and Three to win his signature.

The Cardiff midfielder, aged 27, will be moving to Brighton on a three-year contract. Albion chairman Dick Knight has been in prolonged negotiations with the player’s agent Bill Jennings in recent weeks, and finally clinched the deal last Thursday.

Knight said: "I am particularly pleased that Richard, a proven winner, has chosen the Albion over the other clubs, including First Division Gillingham, who wanted to sign him. Following the acquisition of Paul Brooker it confirms that Brighton is once again becoming a force to be reckoned with in the Football League, with good players recognising the potential of the Club and wanting to be part of it."

RICHARD CARPENTER - CAREER DETAILS

Richard hails from Sheerness in Kent, and signed as a trainee with his local club Gillingham, going on to make 122 League appearances, scoring four times. He was an integral part of the Gills side that won promotion in 1995-96. He also made 20 appearances in Cup competitions, scoring once, before Micky Adams, then manager of Fulham, signed him for £15,000 in September 1996.

Fulham won promotion in that 1996-97 season, with Richard, who scored on his debut at Darlington, a regular in the side, mainly in midfield but occasionally as right wing-back. In all, he made 58 League appearances for Fulham, scoring seven times, as well as 8 Cup appearances (2 goals).

He was sold to Cardiff City for £35,000 in July 1998, and once again he won promotion in his first season, playing regularly in midfield, including in both games against Albion. In total, he made 75 League appearances for the Bluebirds, scoring twice, and appeared in 14 Cup games for them.

Total appearances and goals: Gillingham 122 League, 3 Football League Cup, 10 FA Cup, 7 others - goals 4 League, 1 other Fulham 58 League, 4 Football League Cup, 2 FA Cup, 2 others - goals 7 League, 1 League Cup, 1 FA Cup Cardiff 75 League, 9 FA Cup, 4 Football League Cup, 1 other - goals 2 League Overall 255 League, 11 Football League Cup, 21 FA Cup, 10 others - goals 13 League, 1 League Cup, 1 FA Cup, 1 other.