IRVINE, Calif. (October 2, 2018) – Orange County Soccer Club announced today that veteran midfielder Richard David “Chappy” Chaplow has decided to retire after a distinguished 15-year professional soccer career. Chaplow will play his 400th professional soccer match on October 6th, which is the regular season home finale for Orange County SC. He will be recognized for this extraordinary milestone during a pre-game ceremony at Championship Soccer Stadium. Chaplow recently informed his teammates of his decision to retire as a professional player after this year’s USL Cup playoffs.



“I’m delighted to have made 400 professional appearances,” said Orange County SC Midfielder Richard Chaplow. “It’s a target I’ve had in my sights all season, and really happy I’ve done it. But all good things must come to end, and it’s also on this note that I announce that this season will be my last. It’s been difficult to say the least, coming to terms with my decision, but I feel it’s the right time. I’m still healthy and have a long life in-front of me. I want to enjoy my days and be as pain free as possible.”



“It’s been incredible, from start to finish,” Chaplow continued. “To have played in the Premier League against the world’s elite was fairytale stuff, and winning promotions with my teammates are moments I’ll never ever forget. I now look forward to taking these experiences, and applying the knowledge I have from my time working under some of world’s best coaches, to try and influence the next crop of players as they work to be the best they can be.”



Chaplow’s commitment to Orange County goes far beyond the pitch, having served as a dedicated mentor to his younger teammates and aspiring players in the community—sharing his experiences, and being a leader both vocally in the clubhouse and by example on the pitch.



“Richard’s credentials and resume speak for themselves,” said Orange County SC Head Coach Braeden Cloutier. “He’s had a fantastic career, and I’m privileged to have been part of it. What Richard has brought to Orange County these past three seasons goes farther than his performances on the field. The professionalism that he has brought to training and in the locker room has been second to none. He’s a great leader and ambassador to the team, club and community. Richard will be missed on the field next season, but I’m sure one way or another he will still be around and part of the organization in some capacity. I want to personally thank Richard for his support, dedication and being the player and person that he is.”



Chaplow, 32, began his career with Burnley FC in 2003 when he was only 18. After scoring seven goals in sixty-six appearances in the Championship, he was then signed by Premier League Club West Bromwich Albion in 2005. Chaplow would make forty-four appearances for the Baggies before being loaned by the club to Southampton FC. He would move to Championship’s Preston North End FC, making sixty-eight appearances and contributing eight goals, before returning to Premier League football’s Southampton. Chaplow helped propel the Saints on to victory in 2010 and would play alongside topnotch players such as Adam Lallana (Liverpool FC), Morgan Schneiderlin, Luke Shaw (Manchester United FC), and Gareth Bale (Real Madrid FC) during his tenure.



“Richard’s talent, influence and leadership were evident from the first minute when he put on an Orange County jersey back in 2016,” said General Manager & EVP Oliver Wyss. “I am sure our fans will come out and support Richard in this special game, as we are pushing for a Western Conference and USL Championship. It’s been a privilege to have Richard and his family be part of our club, and his legacy will continue to impact our community for years to come.”



In 2015, he went to play for Ipswich Town FC in the Championship before heading to Doncaster Rovers FC in League One. It was amidst the 2016 season when a determined Orange County SC, then looking to build on its momentum toward returning to the USL Playoffs for the second consecutive year, would acquire the driven Chaplow. He would contribute two assists in the crucial season finale, helping Orange County SC win the game and move into the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.



Tickets for Chaplow’s 400th game and the Orange County SC 2018 regular season home finale on Saturday, October 6th are available at https://www.orangecountysoccer.com/tickets. Then, Orange County SC will host the first round playoff game at Championship Soccer Stadium on Saturday, October 20th. Tickets for the first round match and other playoff ticket packages will go on sale for the general public beginning at 10am PT on Wednesday, October 3rd, here: https://www.orangecountysoccer.com/2018playoffs.



UPDATE: Read Richard's farewell letter on LinkedIn, which he posted earlier today: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/time-say-goodbye-richard-chaplow/.



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ABOUT ORANGE COUNTY SOCCER CLUB



Orange County Soccer Club is Orange County’s only professional soccer team that is part of the United Soccer League (USL), the fastest growing Division II professional soccer league in the world. The USL is comprised of 34 teams across the United States. The team plays its home games at the Orange County Great Park’s Championship Soccer Stadium, located in Irvine, CA. Nestled in the heart of the Great Park, Championship Soccer Stadium has a capacity of over 5,000 for Orange County SC matches. Orange County SC is also the official affiliate partner of the Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC), a new Major League Soccer (MLS) franchise. Orange County SC was one of 12 founding members of the USL during its inaugural 2011 season. The preceding club, Orange County Blues, won the 2015 Western Conference Regular Season Championship and reached the Western Conference Semi-Finals of the USL Playoffs in back-to-back seasons. Team owner and Chief Investment Officer of LARO Properties, James Keston, purchased and re-branded the team in 2017. Keston, who actively oversees all operations of the team, is dedicated to providing a pathway to professional soccer and a world-class soccer organization that focuses on the fans, players and youth clubs of Orange County.



For more information about Orange County Soccer Club, and to experience professional soccer in the OC, visit: http://www.orangecountysoccer.com. For more information about the United Soccer League, visit: http://www.uslsoccer.com.