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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 Aug 1998 | Derby County v Wimbledon | D | 0-0 | Premier League | |
| 09 Sep 1998 | Derby County v Sheffield Wednesday | W | 1-0 | Premier League | |
| 12 Sep 1998 | Charlton Athletic v Derby County | W | 1-2 | Premier League | |
| 19 Sep 1998 | Derby County v Leicester City | W | 2-0 | Premier League | |
| 23 Sep 1998 | Manchester City v Derby County | W |
0-1 Agg: 1-2 |
League Cup | 2nd round 2nd leg |
| 26 Sep 1998 | Aston Villa v Derby County | L | 1-0 | Premier League | |
| 03 Oct 1998 | Derby County v Tottenham Hotspur | L | 0-1 | Premier League | |
| 17 Oct 1998 | Newcastle United v Derby County | L | 2-1 | Premier League | |
| 24 Oct 1998 | Derby County v Manchester United | D | 1-1 | Premier League | |
| 28 Oct 1998 | Derby County v Arsenal | L | 1-2 | League Cup | 3rd round |
| 16 Nov 1998 | Nottingham Forest v Derby County | D | 2-2 | Premier League | |
| 22 Nov 1998 | Derby County v West Ham United | L | 0-2 | Premier League | |
| 28 Nov 1998 | Southampton v Derby County | W | 0-1 | Premier League | |
| 05 Dec 1998 | Derby County v Arsenal | D | 0-0 | Premier League | |
| 12 Dec 1998 | Derby County v Chelsea | D | 2-2 | Premier League | |
| 19 Dec 1998 | Coventry City v Derby County | D | 1-1 | Premier League | |
| 26 Dec 1998 | Everton v Derby County | D | 0-0 | Premier League | |
| 28 Dec 1998 | Derby County v Middlesbrough | W | 2-1 | Premier League | |
| 02 Jan 1999 | Plymouth Argyle v Derby County | W | 0-3 | FA Cup | 3rd round |
| 09 Jan 1999 | Wimbledon v Derby County | L | 2-1 | Premier League | |
| 16 Jan 1999 | Derby County v Blackburn Rovers | W | 1-0 | Premier League | |
| 23 Jan 1999 | Swansea City v Derby County | W | 0-1 | FA Cup | 4th round |
| 30 Jan 1999 | Sheffield Wednesday v Derby County | W | 0-1 | Premier League | |
| 03 Feb 1999 | Manchester United v Derby County | L | 1-0 | Premier League | |
| 07 Feb 1999 | Derby County v Everton | W | 2-1 | Premier League | |
| 13 Feb 1999 | Huddersfield Town v Derby County | D | 2-2 | FA Cup | 5th round |
| 20 Feb 1999 | Derby County v Charlton Athletic | L | 0-2 | Premier League | |
| 27 Feb 1999 | Tottenham Hotspur v Derby County | D | 1-1 | Premier League | |
| 06 Mar 1999 | Arsenal v Derby County | L | 1-0 | FA Cup | Quarter-final |
| 10 Mar 1999 | Derby County v Aston Villa | W | 2-1 | Premier League | |
| 13 Mar 1999 | Derby County v Liverpool | W | 3-2 | Premier League | |
| 20 Mar 1999 | Leeds United v Derby County | L | 4-1 | Premier League | |
| 03 Apr 1999 | Derby County v Newcastle United | L | 3-4 | Premier League | |
| 10 Apr 1999 | Derby County v Nottingham Forest | W | 1-0 | Premier League | |
| 17 Apr 1999 | West Ham United v Derby County | L | 5-1 | Premier League | |
| 24 Apr 1999 | Derby County v Southampton | D | 0-0 | Premier League | |
| 02 May 1999 | Arsenal v Derby County | L | 1-0 | Premier League | |
| 05 May 1999 | Leicester City v Derby County | W | 1-2 | Premier League | |
| 08 May 1999 | Derby County v Coventry City | D | 0-0 | Premier League | |
| 16 May 1999 | Chelsea v Derby County | L | 2-1 | Premier League | |
| 07 Aug 1999 | Leeds United v Derby County | D | 0-0 | Premier League | |
| 10 Aug 1999 | Derby County v Arsenal | L | 1-2 | Premier League | |
| 14 Aug 1999 | Derby County v Middlesbrough | L | 1-3 | Premier League | |
| 21 Aug 1999 | Coventry City v Derby County | L | 2-0 | Premier League | |
| 25 Aug 1999 | Sheffield Wednesday v Derby County | W | 0-2 | Premier League | |
| 28 Aug 1999 | Derby County v Everton | W | 1-0 | Premier League | |
| 11 Sep 1999 | Wimbledon v Derby County | D | 2-2 | Premier League | |
| 14 Sep 1999 | Swansea City v Derby County | D | 0-0 | League Cup | 2nd round 1st leg |
| 18 Sep 1999 | Derby County v Sunderland | L | 0-5 | Premier League | |
| 22 Sep 1999 | Derby County v Swansea City | W |
3-1 Agg: 3-1 |
League Cup | 2nd round 2nd leg |
| 25 Sep 1999 | Derby County v Bradford City | L | 0-1 | Premier League | |
| 04 Oct 1999 | Southampton v Derby County | D | 3-3 | Premier League | |
| 13 Oct 1999 | Derby County v Bolton Wanderers | L | 1-2 | League Cup | 3rd round |
| 25 Oct 1999 | Newcastle United v Derby County | L | 2-0 | Premier League | |
| 30 Oct 1999 | Derby County v Chelsea | W | 3-1 | Premier League | |
| 06 Nov 1999 | Liverpool v Derby County | L | 2-0 | Premier League | |
| 28 Nov 1999 | Arsenal v Derby County | L | 2-1 | Premier League | |
| 05 Dec 1999 | Derby County v Leeds United | L | 0-1 | Premier League | |
| 18 Dec 1999 | Leicester City v Derby County | W | 0-1 | Premier League | |
| 26 Dec 1999 | Derby County v Aston Villa | L | 0-2 | Premier League | |
| 28 Dec 1999 | West Ham United v Derby County | D | 1-1 | Premier League | |
| 03 Jan 2000 | Derby County v Watford | W | 2-0 | Premier League | |
| 12 Feb 2000 | Everton v Derby County | L | 2-1 | Premier League | |
Please note: Match history is complete for the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.