Dean Wells (English footballer)

Dean Wells
Personal information
Full name Dean Thomas Wells[1]
Date of birth (1985-03-25) 25 March 1985[2]
Place of birth Twickenham, England[1]
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[2]
Playing position Defender
Youth career
0000–2003 Brentford
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2003–2004 Brentford 1 (0)
2004–2011 Hampton & Richmond Borough 257 (14)
2011 Staines Town 4 (0)
2011–2014 Braintree Town 110 (6)
2014–2017 Stevenage 85 (7)
2017–2018 Boreham Wood 16 (0)
Total 473 (27)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Dean Thomas Wells (born 25 May 1985) is an English retired football defender, who played in the Football League for Stevenage and Brentford. He spent the majority of his career in non-league football and made over 330 appearances for Hampton & Richmond Borough and Braintree Town.

Career

Brentford

Wells began his career as a youth at Brentford and he embarked on a scholarship at the beginning of the 2001–02 season.[3] His first involvement with the first team came on 20 September 2003, when he was named as a substitute for a 2–1 Second Division win over Hartlepool United.[4] He was an unused substitute for the next two games and made his debut in a 3–0 league defeat to Sheffield Wednesday on 4 October 2003.[5] With the game already lost, Wells replaced Leo Roget after 81 minutes.[6] He made no further appearances and was released by manager Martin Allen at the end of the 2003–04 season.[7][8]

Hampton & Richmond Borough

Wells signed for Isthmian League Premier Division side Hampton & Richmond Borough in 2004. In the 2004–05 season, the club missed out on a playoff place on goal difference.[9] Wells' season ended on a sour note after being sent off in the Isthmian League Cup final, which Hampton lost 3–1 to Slough Town.[10] He managed 41 appearances.[11] In 2005–06, Wells made 35 appearances and scored two goals as Hampton finished fifth and suffered a playoff final defeat to Fisher Athletic.[12] Wells made 40 appearances and scored two goals during the 2006–07 season and won the first silverware of his career as Hampton were promoted to the Conference South as Isthmian League Premier Division champions.[9][13] He was also made captain of the club.[14]

Wells enjoyed a good 2007–08 season in the Conference South, making 41 appearances and scoring one goal as Hampton qualified for the playoffs with a third-place finish,[15] though he again suffered playoff heartache as Hampton succumbed to a 2–0 defeat in the final to Eastbourne Borough.[16] Wells had a solid 2008–09 season, making 42 appearances and scoring three goals,[15] helping Hampton to a second-place finish.[9] He could bring them no luck in the playoffs, as Hampton lost 3–2 in the final to Hayes & Yeading United.[17] Wells made 32 appearances during the 2010–11 season and scored three goals.[15] He made over 260 appearances during his Hampton career.[18][19]

Prison sentence

Wells' career came to a halt on 27 April 2011 when he was one of a group of Brentford supporters charged with affray and sentenced to 12 months in prison for his involvement in a fight between Brentford and Leyton Orient supporters outside London's Liverpool Street station in May 2010.[14] He also received a banning order from football grounds for seven years.[20] He was released on 6 October 2011.[18]

Staines Town

Wells signed for Conference South side Staines Town on 14 October 2011.[18] He made only five appearances for the club before leaving the following month.[21][22]

Braintree Town

Wells signed for Conference Premier side Braintree Town in November 2011,[22] linking up with manager Alan Devonshire, who signed him for Hampton & Richmond Borough.[23] Wells stated that he was able to make the step up to the Conference Premier because of the gym work he had done in prison.[24] He made 26 appearances during the 2011–12 season and scored no goals.[25] He was a virtual ever-present during the 2012–13 season, making 43 appearances and scoring three goals.[26] He scored his first goal of the 2013–14 season in a 3–2 league victory at Wrexham on 24 September 2013.[27] He finished the season with 48 appearances and three goals and was named in the Conference Premier Team of the Year,[15][28] as the Iron narrowly failed to claim a playoff place.[29] Wells departed the club after the season,[30] after making 116 appearances and scoring six goals during his three seasons with the Iron.[21]

Stevenage

On 20 June 2014, Wells signed for League Two side Stevenage for a reported fee of £25,000, amid competition for the defender's signature from other League Two sides.[30] After signing, he said "I started at Brentford and through my stupidity I threw it away. Now I'm older and wiser and I think I still I have a lot to offer".[31] Wells made his debut for Stevenage and his first-ever starting appearance in the Football League on the opening day of the 2014–15 season, in a 1–0 win over Hartlepool United.[32] He went on to become a regular during the 2014–15 and 2015–16 seasons,[32][33] before falling out of favour during 2016–17.[34] Wells made 97 appearances and scored seven goals for the club before being released at the end of the 2016–17 season.[7][35]

Boreham Wood

On 9 June 2017, Wells joined National League club Boreham Wood on a one-year contract, with the option of a further year,[36] combined with a coaching role in the club's academy.[37] He made 21 appearances before being forced into retirement after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament tear during an FA Trophy first round match versus Dartford on 19 December 2017.[21][38]

Personal life

Wells is a Brentford supporter.[39] He gave up a part-time job as a school caretaker in order to return to professional football with Stevenage.[40] His son Joe is also a footballer.[41]

Honours

As a player

Hampton & Richmond Borough

As an individual

Career statistics

Club statistics
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Brentford 2003–04[6] Second Division 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Hampton & Richmond Borough 2004–05[11] Isthmian League Premier Division 41 0 0 0 — 0 0 41 0
2005–06[12] 33 2 0 0 — 2[lower-alpha 1] 0 35 2
2006–07[13] 39 2 0 0 — 1[lower-alpha 1] 0 40 2
2007–08[15] Conference South 41 1 0 0 — 0 0 41 1
2008–09[15] 42 3 0 0 — 0 0 42 3
2009–10[21] 33 3 0 0 — 1[lower-alpha 2] 0 34 3
2010–11[15] 28 3 2 0 — 2[lower-alpha 2] 0 32 3
Total 257142 0—6026514
Staines Town 2011–12[21] Conference South 4 0 1 0 — — 5 0
Braintree Town 2011–12[21] Conference Premier 26 0 — — 3[lower-alpha 2] 1 29 1
2012–13[21] 42 3 1 0 — 1[lower-alpha 2] 0 44 3
2013–14[21] 42 3 3 0 — 2[lower-alpha 2] 0 47 3
Total 11064 0—611207
Stevenage 2014–15[32] League Two 43 4 2 0 1 0 3[lower-alpha 3] 0 49 4
2015–16[33] 28 2 2 0 1 0 1[lower-alpha 4] 0 32 2
2016–17[34] 14 1 0 0 1 0 1[lower-alpha 4] 0 16 1
Total 8574 03 050977
Boreham Wood 2017–18[21] National League 16 0 3 0 — 2[lower-alpha 2] 0 21 0
Career total 473271403018150828
  1. 1 2 Appearances in Isthmian League Cup.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Appearances in FA Trophy.
  3. ↑ 2 appearances in League Two play-offs, 1 appearance in EFL Trophy.
  4. 1 2 Appearance in EFL Trophy.

References

  1. 1 2 "Dean Wells". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
  2. 1 2 "Dean Wells". 11v11. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  3. ↑ "Brentford Football Club". Archived from the original on 16 September 2002. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
  4. ↑ "Match: Brentford v Hartlepool United – English League One". Espn Fc. 20 September 2003. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  5. ↑ "Match: Brentford v Sheffield Wednesday – English League One". Espn Fc. 4 October 2003. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  6. 1 2 "Games played by Dean Wells in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  7. 1 2 Dean Wells at Soccerbase
  8. ↑ "Bees to release quartet | Football News". Sky Sports. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  9. 1 2 3 "Football Club History Database – Hampton & Richmond Borough". fchd.info. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  10. ↑ Les Rance. "FOOTBALL: Bryco Cup Final – Hampton & Richmond 1 Slough Town 3". News Shopper. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  11. 1 2 "SoccerFacts UK Player Details". soccerfactsuk.co.uk. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  12. 1 2 "football.mitoo". Football.mitoo.co. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  13. 1 2 3 "football.mitoo". Football.mitoo.co. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  14. 1 2 Kilvington, Joanna (1 May 2011). "Club captain jailed for football fight (From Richmond and Twickenham Times)". Richmondandtwickenhamtimes.co.uk. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Dean Wells Profile". Aylesbury United FC. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  16. ↑ "Blue Square North/South play-offs". BBC. 11 May 2008. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  17. ↑ Limited, Footymad. "Cup Competitions 2008–2009 Conference South Playoffs". www.sunderland-mad.co.uk. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  18. 1 2 3 "Wells Handed Staines Chance | Pitchero Non League". Nonleague.pitchero.com. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  19. ↑ "Blue Square Conference South guide – Hampton and Richmond Borough". Archived from the original on 25 November 2010. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
  20. ↑ Paul Cheston (20 April 2011). "Far-Right youth leader is jailed over football brawl at station – News – London Evening Standard". Standard.co.uk. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  21. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Dean Wells at Soccerway. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  22. 1 2 "New signing Dean Wells likely to be Braintree sub – Non-league – Green Un". Greenun24.co.uk. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  23. ↑ "Dean Wells aiming for FA Cup first with Braintree Town at Newport County – Home – Green Un". Greenun24.co.uk. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  24. ↑ "Refocused Dean Back From The Wells Of DespairThe Non League Football Paper – Daily football news | The Non League Football Paper – Daily football news". The Non League Football Paper. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  25. ↑ "Games played by Dean Wells in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  26. ↑ "Games played by Dean Wells in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  27. ↑ "BBC Sport – Wrexham 2–3 Braintree Town". Bbc.co.uk. 24 September 2013. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  28. 1 2 "Football Conference AGM & Awards Weekend". www.gateshead-fc.com. Archived from the original on 29 December 2015. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  29. ↑ "Football Club History Database – Braintree Town". fchd.info. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  30. 1 2 Toyn, Dave. "Stevenage complete Dean Wells signing". Stevenage F.C Website. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
  31. ↑ "Stevenage's new signing full of optimism three years after jail term". Hertfordshire Mercury. Archived from the original on 3 September 2014. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  32. 1 2 3 "Games played by Dean Wells in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  33. 1 2 "Games played by Dean Wells in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  34. 1 2 "Games played by Dean Wells in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
  35. ↑ "Stevenage FC 2016/2017 Released List". Retrieved 21 May 2017.
  36. ↑ "EXPERIENCED DEFENDER JOINS WOOD ARMY « BWFC". www.borehamwoodfootballclub.co.uk. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
  37. ↑ "Dean Wells « BWFC". www.borehamwoodfootballclub.co.uk. Retrieved 17 August 2017.
  38. ↑ "WELLSY, IT WAS GREAT WHILE IT LASTED". Boreham Wood Football Club. 26 January 2018. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  39. ↑ "BBC Sport – Braintree Town: Dean Wells' marathon week in the Conference". Bbc.co.uk. 4 April 2014. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  40. ↑ "Wells in line to start against team whose fans he fought in 2010". Mail Online. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  41. ↑ "Mark Chapman on Twitter". Twitter. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  42. ↑ "Player of the Season 2014–2015 | Stevenage FC History". stevenagefchistory.com. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
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