Tommy Elphick

Tommy Elphick (born 7 September 1987) is an English former professional footballer who played as a centre-back and currently an assistant manager at Premier League club AFC Bournemouth.

Elphick progressed through the youth ranks at Brighton & Hove Albion, alongside his brother Gary, and in 2004, he signed his first year apprentice at the club.

Then on 25 April 2005 Tommy played along with his brother in a reserve match against Woking.

At some point during his early Brighton & Hove Albion career, Elphick was loaned out to non–league side Bognor Regis Town.

It was not until 12 December 2005 that Elphick made his Brighton debut, when he played alongside his brother, who was sent–off during the match, and came on as a substitute for Leon Knight, in a 5–1 loss against Reading.

Elphick's development at the youth ranks at the club resulted him being awarded a contract in the summer of 2006.

The 2006–07 season changed for Elphick when his brother was released by the club at the end of the 2005–06 season.

Having been told by Manager Mark McGhee that he won't be loaned out, due to defensive crisis and deemed "too inexperienced", it was not until on 7 April 2007 when Elphick made his first start in central defence, in a 2–0 loss against Doncaster Rovers.

Elphick made another start on the last game of the season, in a 1–1 draw against Cheltenham Town.

In the 2007–08 season proved to be Elphick's breakthrough season at Brighton & Hove Albion and made his first appearance of the season, where he played 120 minutes in the first round of League Cup, in a 1–0 loss against Cardiff City.

A few days later, Elphick was awarded a two–year contract extension at the club.

The day after signing a contract with the club, Elphick made his first league appearance of the season, in a 2–1 win over Northampton Town.

Elphick's impact in the first team and form earned him praise by Manager Dean Wilkins and formed a partnership throughout the season with Guy Butters and Joel Lynch.

From 29 September 2007 to 13 October 2007, Elphick helped the club keep four successive clean sheet in four league matches.

In a match against Hartlepool United on 27 October 2007, Elphick was involved in a clash with opposition striker Richie Barker and Barker accused Elphick of "besmirching the memory of" Michael Maidens, who died in a car crash weeks ago and following a conclusion to the investigation, he was cleared.

However, Elphick suffered a hernia that required a surgery and was sidelined for three weeks, which was soon delayed for another week.

Elphick made his return to the first team since returning from injury, in a 3–2 win over AFC Bournemouth, in which he stated the game left him bruised and battered.

Elphick went on to finish the 2007–08 season, making 41 appearances and scoring twice in all competition and was considered to be one of Brighton's best players, winning the 2007–08 player of the season award.

Two weeks later on 19 January 2008, Elphick scored his first professional goal (and his first for the club), in a 1–1 draw against Huddersfield Town.

Elphick then scored his second goal of the season on 4 March 2008, in a 4–2 win over Gillingham.

In a match against Nottingham Forest on 24 March 2008, Elphick was given a captaincy armband after their captain Nicky Forster was substituted, which resulted a 0–0 draw, in which he said it was honour to wear the captain armband.

Then on 11 April 2008, Elphick signed a contract with the club, keeping him until 2010.

Ahead of the 2008–09 season, Elphick vowed that he would not be a victim from second season syndrome and under the new management of Micky Adams, Elphick found himself in a centre–back partnership with new centre–back signing, Colin Hawkins following the departures of Lynch and Butters.

In the second round of the League Cup, Elphick successfully converted his third penalty in the shoot–out against Premier League side Manchester City and went throughout to the next round after beating them 5–3 in the shoot–out when the game went into extra following a 2–2 draw.

He became the first player at the club to be contracted to play at the club's new Falmer Stadium when he signed a new contract on 12 December 2008.

Despite being suspended in October and injury, which he played with an injured ankle since December, Elphick finished the 2008–09 season, making 44 appearances and scoring twice in all competitions.

Elphick then scored his first league goal, in a 1–1 draw against Northampton Town on 24 February 2009.

In the 2009–10 season, Elphick was in central–defence when the club conceded twelve goals in four matches and in a 4–2 loss against Stockport County on 22 August 2009, he was sent–off alongside Hawkins, in which newly Manager Russell Slade said Elphick's sending off was unlucky.

After serving a one match suspension, Elphick returned to the first team, where he continued to be a regular.

However, in a 3–2 loss against Southend United on 19 September 2009, Elphick was at fault when he gave away a ball to Francis Laurent, who scored a winning in the last minute.

Because of this, Elphick's first team place became under threat under Slade, but continued to remain nevertheless.

Elphick mended his mistake when he scored his first goal of the season on 19 October 2009, in a 2–0 win over Gillingham.

The 2009–10 season also saw Elphick's performance lacking, like he previously did in the previous two seasons, but soon improved under the new management of Gus Poyet after Slade's sacking.

Elphick scored in the fourth round of the FA Cup, in a 3–2 against Aston Villa and went to score two more league goals against Exeter City and Carlisle United.

Elphick finished the 2009–10, making 49 appearances and scoring four times in all competitions.

Elphick started at the Brighton & Hove Albion academy and progressed through the ranks to be named first-team captain, leading the side to promotion to the Football League Championship in 2011.

After moving to AFC Bournemouth, he was again named captain and led the club to promotions to both the Championship and Premier League.

He moved to Aston Villa in 2016, before finishing his playing career with Huddersfield Town.

Elphick also played on loan with Bognor Regis Town, Reading and Hull City.

Born in Brighton, England, as a youngster he played for the youth side of local team Woodingdean F.C. before joining Brighton & Hove Albion's youth academy.