Maxime Blanchard

Maxime Blanchard began his career in Alençon, a commune in Normandy, before joining his first professional club – Laval.

Blanchard made his senior debut in Championnat National the following season and went on to appear in another 25 league matches for Laval over the next two years.

[13] Blanchard signed a new two-year contract in May,[14][15] and won the club's Player of the Year award for the 2011–12 season.

[16][17] He made 28 league appearances, in which he scored two goals and, according to The Herald, had a "formidable partnership" with Darren Purse.

He left the club in July 2016 and joined the UK League Two side Newport County on a game-by-game contract.