Wade Elliott

Wade Patrick Elliott (born 14 December 1978) is an English former professional footballer who was most recently head coach of EFL League One club Cheltenham Town.

Having achieved promotion from League One to the Championship with Bristol City in the 2014–15 season, Elliott retired from playing in June 2015 in order to take up a coaching role at the club.

After leaving Bristol City in June 2016 Elliott played in several pre-season Friendlies for National League side Forest Green Rovers, reportedly in advance of taking a joint role of player and youth team coach.

[5][6][4] Elliot carried on playing football at non-League Bashley while studying at university – he did two years of a degree course in communications and sociology at Goldsmiths' College and completed the degree via the Open University[7][6]  – and was spotted by former AFC Bournemouth player Jimmy Case who organised a trial match for him at the League One club.

[11] Elliot scored two important goals in the FA Cup matches against Swansea City and Nuneaton Borough to help the club reach all the way to the third round.

[12] However, he received a straight red card for elbowing John Dreyer, in a 2–0 win against Cambridge United on 23 January 2001; and served a three match suspension as a result.

[27] A week later against Bury, however, he received a straight red card at half time for giving away a penalty, resulting in AFC Bournemouth losing 2–1.

[57] After the match, his performance was praised by the Lancashire Telegraph, saying: "The number of debutants at Crewe, the pick of them being Wade Elliott - good pace, tricky feet and the ability to beat a man.

[70] After missing one match due to suspension, he scored on his return and set up the opening goal of the game, in a 4–0 win against Plymouth Argyle on 3 April 2007.

"[79] Elliott then made his 100th appearance for Burnley against Preston North End on 15 December 2007 and set up the opening goal of the game, in a 3–2 loss.

[80] His performance led the club opened a contract talks with the player, as local newspaper the Lancashire Telegraph described him as "the wing wizard", who's "enjoying one of this best ever seasons at Turf Moor.

[82] On 27 March 2008, Elliott committed his future to Burnley by signing a three-year contract extension, keeping him at the club until the end of the 2011 season.

[85] Ahead of the 2008–09 season, Burnley's assistant manager Sandy Stewart believed that Elliott will get more better, due to setting "very high standards for himself" during the club's pre–season.

The 25-yard (23 m) curling shot captured much media attention with multiple references to him scoring the goal that had the potential to earn Burnley up to £60 million in the Premier League.

In the opening game of the 2009–10 season, Elliott made his Premier League debut against Stoke City and started the match, in a 2–0 loss.

[107] In the East Lancashire derby against Blackburn Rovers on 18 October 2009, he set up the opening goal of the game for Robbie Blake once again, in a 3–2 loss.

[111] On his 200th League appearance for Burnley, Elliott scored the final goal in a 4–1 defeat of Hull City from an inswinging free kick on the far left at the KC Stadium.

Ahead of the 2010–11 season, Elliott was linked a move away from Burnley, as Bolton Wanderers were interested in signing him and a chance to be reunited with Owen Coyle.

[127] Elliott joined Championship club Birmingham City on 31 August 2011, the last day of the summer transfer window; he signed a two-year contract for an undisclosed fee.

[128] Upon joining the club, Elliott said it was time to leave Burnley and refuted claims that he had a fallen out with manager Eddie Howe, pointing out that they were teammates at Bournemouth.

[133] Amid to his first team opportunities, Elliott scored two FA Cup goals in January against Wolverhampton Wanderers and Sheffield United that send the club through to the fifth round.

[135] Elliott's first league goal came on 13 March 2012 in a 3–1 defeat away to Leicester City, scored from the penalty spot after Sol Bamba brought down Nikola Žigić.

[141] Elliott scored a winning goal against Middlesbrough on 30 November 2012 when he "chested down a defensive clearance on the edge of the penalty area and hit a dipping volley above the goalkeeper's hands".

[152] Elliott returned from the resulting three-match suspension to make his 100th appearance for Birmingham City, as a second-half substitute in a 3–0 win at Barnsley on 30 November.

[154][155] After not featuring regularly in Birmingham's starting eleven, Elliott joined League One club Bristol City on 28 January 2014 on a one-month loan.

[163] Cotterill appointed him the club's captain, describing him as "a stand-out candidate" who "offers a great deal of honesty, integrity and leadership.

[166] However, in a match against Swindon Town on 15 November 2014, Elliott received a straight red card in the 3rd minute after he "clashed with Jack Stephens in a heated opening", as Bristol City loss 1–0.

[184] He led the club to their first ever EFL Trophy semi-final, beating Salford City before bowing out to Plymouth Argyle 3–2 on penalties.

[185] Having helped Cheltenham Town collect eleven points from five games in March, Elliott was nominated for Sky Bet League One Manager of the Month Award.

[189] Growing up supporting Southampton, Elliott idolised Matt Le Tissier and joked about his playing similarity when compared the two.

Elliott warming up in 2009.