Spencer Prior
| Date of birth | 22 April 1971 |
| Place of birth | Southend |
| Nationality | English |
| Weight | 84 kg |
| Height | 1.91 m |
| Position | Defender |
After four years at home town club Southend United, Spencer signed for Norwich City and shortly followed manager Martin O'Neill to Leicester City where he formed a formidable defensive partnership with Matt Elliott.
After an early season move to Derby County in 1998, he fell foul of Jim Smith's regime after publicly criticising tactics and training methods eventually resulting in a transfer deadline day move to Manchester City in March 2000 for £500,000.
A brave uncompromising player, Spencer epitomises the bulldog character of the traditional centre half.
An ever dangerous presence in the opposing area on set pieces, he hit the back of the net three times in quick succession during the latter stages of 1999-2000.
A player of extensive Premiership experience, Spencer rejoined Southend United in July 2004 with a two-year contract.
Club history
| Team | Joined | Left | Loan / Trialist |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southend United | 22 May 1989 | 24 Jun 1993 | |
| Norwich City | 24 Jun 1993 | 17 Aug 1996 | |
| Leicester City | 17 Aug 1996 | 22 Aug 1998 | |
| Derby County | 22 Aug 1998 | 23 Mar 2000 | |
| Manchester City | 23 Mar 2000 | 28 Jun 2001 | |
| Cardiff City | 28 Jun 2001 | 30 Jun 2004 | |
| Colchester United | 05 Jul 2004 | 16 Jul 2004 | T |
| Southend United | 28 Jul 2004 | 30 Jun 2007 |
Club stats
| Season | Team | Competition | Apps | Subs | Goals | Y | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993-94 | Norwich City | League Cup | 1 | ||||
| 1993-94 | Norwich City | Premier League | 13 |
1
|
|||
| 1994-95 | Norwich City | FA Cup | 1 |
||||
| 1994-95 | Norwich City | League Cup | 3 | 1 |
|||
| 1994-95 | Norwich City | Premier League | 12 | 5 |
2
|
||
| 1995-96 | Norwich City | League Cup | 3 | ||||
| 1996-97 | Leicester City | FA Cup | 4 | ||||
| 1996-97 | Leicester City | League Cup | 7 |
2
|
|||
| 1996-97 | Leicester City | Premier League | 33 | 1 |
3
|
||
| 1997-98 | Leicester City | FA Cup | 1 | ||||
| 1997-98 | Leicester City | Premier League | 28 | 2 |
2
|
||
| 1997-98 | Leicester City | UEFA Cup | 2 | ||||
| 1998-99 | Derby County | FA Cup | 4 | ||||
| 1998-99 | Derby County | League Cup | 2 | ||||
| 1998-99 | Derby County | Premier League | 33 | 1 |
1 |
4
|
|
| 1999-00 | Derby County | League Cup | 3 | ||||
| 1999-00 | Derby County | Premier League | 15 | 5 |
6
|
||
| 2000-01 | Manchester City | FA Cup | 2 | 1 |
|||
| 2000-01 | Manchester City | League Cup | 4 | ||||
| 2000-01 | Manchester City | Premier League | 18 | 3 |
1 |
3
|
|
| 2001-02 | Cardiff City | FA Cup | 3 | ||||
| 2001-02 | Cardiff City | League Division 2 | 33 | 4 |
2 |
8
|
|
| 2001-02 | Cardiff City | League Division 2 Play-Offs | 2 |
1
|
|||
| 2002-03 | Cardiff City | FA Cup | 4 |
2
|
|||
| 2002-03 | Cardiff City | League Cup | 2 |
1
|
|||
| 2002-03 | Cardiff City | League Division 2 | 35 | 2 |
4
|
||
| 2002-03 | Cardiff City | League Division 2 Play-Offs | 3 | ||||
| 2003-04 | Cardiff City | FA Cup | 1 | ||||
| 2003-04 | Cardiff City | League Division 1 | 4 | 3 |
|||
| 2004-05 | Southend United | FA Cup | 1 | ||||
| 2004-05 | Southend United | LDV Vans Trophy | 5 | ||||
| 2004-05 | Southend United | League Two | 41 | 2 |
6
|
||
| 2004-05 | Southend United | League Two Play-Offs | 3 | ||||
| 2005-06 | Southend United | FA Cup | 1 | ||||
| 2005-06 | Southend United | LDV Vans Trophy | 1 | ||||
| 2005-06 | Southend United | League Cup | 1 | ||||
| 2005-06 | Southend United | League One | 15 | 2 |
3
|
||
| 2006-07 | Southend United | League Championship | 15 | 2 |
1
|
||
| 2006-07 | Southend United | League Cup | 2 |
Please note: Career stats are based on performances in the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.
Club matches
| Date | Match | Result | Competition | Round | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 Aug 2001 | Cardiff City v AFC Bournemouth | D | 2-2 | League Division 2 | |
| 08 Sep 2001 | Reading v Cardiff City | W | 1-2 | League Division 2 | |
| 15 Sep 2001 | Cambridge United v Cardiff City | L | 2-1 | League Division 2 | |
| 18 Sep 2001 | Cardiff City v Northampton Town | W | 2-0 | League Division 2 | |
| 22 Sep 2001 | Cardiff City v Huddersfield Town | L | 1-2 | League Division 2 | |
| 25 Sep 2001 | Queens Park Rangers v Cardiff City | L | 2-1 | League Division 2 | |
| 29 Sep 2001 | Cardiff City v Brighton and Hove Albion | D | 1-1 | League Division 2 | |
| 09 Oct 2001 | Bristol City v Cardiff City | D | 1-1 | League Division 2 | |
| 12 Oct 2001 | Cardiff City v Wigan Athletic | D | 2-2 | League Division 2 | |
| 21 Oct 2001 | Swindon Town v Cardiff City | W | 0-3 | League Division 2 | |
| 24 Oct 2001 | Port Vale v Cardiff City | W | 0-2 | League Division 2 | |
| 27 Oct 2001 | Cardiff City v Tranmere Rovers | D | 1-1 | League Division 2 | |
| 04 Nov 2001 | Wrexham v Cardiff City | W | 1-3 | League Division 2 | |
| 07 Nov 2001 | Bury v Cardiff City | L | 3-0 | League Division 2 | |
| 10 Nov 2001 | Cardiff City v Chesterfield | W | 2-1 | League Division 2 | |
| 17 Nov 2001 | Tiverton Town v Cardiff City | W | 1-3 | FA Cup | 1st round |
| 20 Nov 2001 | Cardiff City v Colchester United | D | 1-1 | League Division 2 | |
| 24 Nov 2001 | Notts County v Cardiff City | D | 0-0 | League Division 2 | |
| 01 Dec 2001 | Cardiff City v Oldham Athletic | W | 3-1 | League Division 2 | |
| 04 Dec 2001 | Cardiff City v Brentford | W | 3-1 | League Division 2 | |
| 08 Dec 2001 | Cardiff City v Port Vale | W | 3-0 | FA Cup | 2nd round |
| 15 Dec 2001 | Blackpool v Cardiff City | D | 1-1 | League Division 2 | |
| 19 Dec 2001 | Stoke City v Cardiff City | D | 1-1 | League Division 2 | |
| 26 Dec 2001 | Cardiff City v Reading | D | 2-2 | League Division 2 | |
| 29 Dec 2001 | Cardiff City v Bristol City | L | 1-3 | League Division 2 | |
| 06 Jan 2002 | Cardiff City v Leeds United | W | 2-1 | FA Cup | 3rd round |
| 12 Jan 2002 | Cardiff City v Peterborough United | L | 0-2 | League Division 2 | |
| 09 Feb 2002 | Cardiff City v Swindon Town | W | 3-0 | League Division 2 | |
| 16 Feb 2002 | Wigan Athletic v Cardiff City | L | 4-0 | League Division 2 | |
| 02 Mar 2002 | Northampton Town v Cardiff City | W | 1-2 | League Division 2 | |
| 05 Mar 2002 | Cardiff City v Queens Park Rangers | D | 1-1 | League Division 2 | |
| 09 Mar 2002 | Cardiff City v Blackpool | D | 2-2 | League Division 2 | |
| 16 Mar 2002 | Oldham Athletic v Cardiff City | W | 1-7 | League Division 2 | |
| 22 Mar 2002 | Cardiff City v Wrexham | W | 3-2 | League Division 2 | |
| 30 Mar 2002 | Chesterfield v Cardiff City | W | 0-2 | League Division 2 | |
| 01 Apr 2002 | Cardiff City v Port Vale | W | 1-0 | League Division 2 | |
| 06 Apr 2002 | Colchester United v Cardiff City | W | 0-1 | League Division 2 | |
| 09 Apr 2002 | Huddersfield Town v Cardiff City | D | 2-2 | League Division 2 | |
| 13 Apr 2002 | Cardiff City v Notts County | W | 2-1 | League Division 2 | |
| 20 Apr 2002 | Tranmere Rovers v Cardiff City | W | 0-1 | League Division 2 | |
| 28 Apr 2002 | Stoke City v Cardiff City | W | 1-2 | League Division 2 Play-Offs | Semi-final 1st leg |
| 01 May 2002 | Cardiff City v Stoke City | L |
0-2 Agg: 2-3 |
League Division 2 Play-Offs | Semi-final 2nd leg |
| 17 Aug 2002 | Cardiff City v Northampton Town | L | 1-2 | League Division 2 | |
| 24 Aug 2002 | Swindon Town v Cardiff City | W | 0-1 | League Division 2 | |
| 26 Aug 2002 | Cardiff City v Luton Town | D | 0-0 | League Division 2 | |
| 31 Aug 2002 | Cheltenham Town v Cardiff City | D | 1-1 | League Division 2 | |
| 11 Sep 2002 | Boston United v Cardiff City | W | 1-5 | League Cup | 1st round |
| 14 Sep 2002 | Cardiff City v Stockport County | W | 2-1 | League Division 2 | |
| 17 Sep 2002 | Cardiff City v Brentford | W | 2-0 | League Division 2 | |
| 21 Sep 2002 | Notts County v Cardiff City | W | 0-1 | League Division 2 | |
| 24 Sep 2002 | Plymouth Argyle v Cardiff City | D | 2-2 | League Division 2 | |
| 28 Sep 2002 | Cardiff City v Crewe Alexandra | W | 2-1 | League Division 2 | |
| 01 Oct 2002 | Tottenham Hotspur v Cardiff City | L | 1-0 | League Cup | 2nd round |
| 05 Oct 2002 | Wigan Athletic v Cardiff City | D | 2-2 | League Division 2 | |
| 12 Oct 2002 | Cardiff City v Wycombe Wanderers | W | 1-0 | League Division 2 | |
| 19 Oct 2002 | Blackpool v Cardiff City | L | 1-0 | League Division 2 | |
| 26 Oct 2002 | Cardiff City v Tranmere Rovers | W | 4-0 | League Division 2 | |
| 29 Oct 2002 | Mansfield Town v Cardiff City | W | 0-1 | League Division 2 | |
| 02 Nov 2002 | Cardiff City v Peterborough United | W | 3-0 | League Division 2 | |
| 09 Nov 2002 | Barnsley v Cardiff City | L | 3-2 | League Division 2 | |
| 16 Nov 2002 | Tranmere Rovers v Cardiff City | D | 2-2 | FA Cup | 1st round |
| 24 Nov 2002 | Cardiff City v Chesterfield | W | 1-0 | League Division 2 | |
| 26 Nov 2002 | Cardiff City v Tranmere Rovers | W | 2-1 | FA Cup | 1st round replay |
| 29 Nov 2002 | Queens Park Rangers v Cardiff City | W | 0-4 | League Division 2 | |
| 07 Dec 2002 | Margate v Cardiff City | W | 0-3 | FA Cup | 2nd round |
| 14 Dec 2002 | Cardiff City v Bristol City | L | 0-2 | League Division 2 | |
| 20 Dec 2002 | Colchester United v Cardiff City | W | 1-2 | League Division 2 | |
| 26 Dec 2002 | Luton Town v Cardiff City | L | 2-0 | League Division 2 | |
| 29 Dec 2002 | Cardiff City v Huddersfield Town | W | 4-0 | League Division 2 | |
| 01 Jan 2003 | Cardiff City v Swindon Town | D | 1-1 | League Division 2 | |
| 04 Jan 2003 | Cardiff City v Coventry City | D | 2-2 | FA Cup | 3rd round |
| 18 Jan 2003 | Cardiff City v Cheltenham Town | W | 2-1 | League Division 2 | |
| 25 Jan 2003 | Huddersfield Town v Cardiff City | L | 1-0 | League Division 2 | |
| 21 Feb 2003 | Cardiff City v Plymouth Argyle | D | 1-1 | League Division 2 | |
| 04 Mar 2003 | Brentford v Cardiff City | W | 0-2 | League Division 2 | |
| 08 Mar 2003 | Cardiff City v Notts County | L | 0-2 | League Division 2 | |
| 14 Mar 2003 | Tranmere Rovers v Cardiff City | D | 3-3 | League Division 2 | |
| 18 Mar 2003 | Cardiff City v Blackpool | W | 2-1 | League Division 2 | |
| 21 Mar 2003 | Cardiff City v Mansfield Town | W | 1-0 | League Division 2 | |
| 05 Apr 2003 | Cardiff City v Queens Park Rangers | L | 1-2 | League Division 2 | |
| 08 Apr 2003 | Wycombe Wanderers v Cardiff City | W | 0-4 | League Division 2 | |
| 13 Apr 2003 | Chesterfield v Cardiff City | W | 0-3 | League Division 2 | |
| 22 Apr 2003 | Bristol City v Cardiff City | L | 2-0 | League Division 2 | |
| 26 Apr 2003 | Cardiff City v Wigan Athletic | D | 0-0 | League Division 2 | |
| 03 May 2003 | Crewe Alexandra v Cardiff City | D | 1-1 | League Division 2 | |
| 10 May 2003 | Cardiff City v Bristol City | W | 1-0 | League Division 2 Play-Offs | Semi-final 1st leg |
| 13 May 2003 | Bristol City v Cardiff City | D |
0-0 Agg: 0-1 |
League Division 2 Play-Offs | Semi-final 2nd leg |
| 25 May 2003 | Cardiff City v Queens Park Rangers | W | 1-0 | League Division 2 Play-Offs | Final |
| 01 Nov 2003 | Burnley v Cardiff City | D | 1-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 06 Dec 2003 | Stoke City v Cardiff City | W | 2-3 | League Division 1 | |
| 26 Dec 2003 | Cardiff City v Walsall | L | 0-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 28 Dec 2003 | Watford v Cardiff City | L | 2-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 03 Jan 2004 | Cardiff City v Sheffield United | L | 0-1 | FA Cup | 3rd round |
| 10 Jan 2004 | Cardiff City v Rotherham United | W | 3-2 | League Division 1 | |
| 28 Feb 2004 | West Ham United v Cardiff City | L | 1-0 | League Division 1 | |
| 13 Mar 2004 | Cardiff City v Norwich City | W | 2-1 | League Division 1 | |
Please note: Match history is complete for the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.