Non-League and Academy football writer

As a professional footballer Brian Statham played over 25 times for Spurs’ first team, before going on to have a fine career in the game, away from Spurs. A former England Under 21 international, the talented and tenacious right-back came through the youth system at Spurs, before progressing to the reserves and later the first team, making his debut for them at 18, during the 1987/88 season. Statham was also a talented cricketer during his youth, representing the Essex County Schools side, however, he would opt to join Spurs full-time instead of pursuing a career in cricket. Playing with some top players at Spurs, as well as getting a really good footballing education at the club, would have stood Brian in really good stead for his later career in the game. After spending some time away from Spurs on loan, Brian would sign for Brentford on a permanent basis, a club that he had a good time at, before later playing for Gillingham in the professional game. Brian Statham would later have a long career in non-League football, where he played for the likes of Chelmsford City, Welling United and Heybridge Swifts, prior to going into football management.

Brian had a fine career in non-League as a player, and he would of course also go on to manage teams in non-League. His first job in management was at Heybridge Swfits, where Brian would play his part in helping the club reach the play-offs of the Isthmian League Premier Division during the 2005/06 season (Brian’s first full season in charge of the club), when they finished in second place in the league. After leaving Heybridge Swifts in 2008, Brian would later manage Billericay Town for a while, and although he hasn’t returned to management since, in non-League, Brian is often seen at non-League matches supporting his son Maxwell Statham. Maxwell followed in his father’s footsteps by joining Spurs as a youth/academy player. A versatile defender who can very comfortably play at full-back (on either side) or in central defence, Maxwell was a player who impressed me whenever I saw him play in academy football for Spurs. A fine reader of the game and a player who has good pace, Maxwell Statham is very good in the air and strong in the challenge. After progressing up to Under 23 level at Spurs (during his time at Spurs, Maxwell was teammates of Noni Madueke, Oliver Skipp and Dennis Cirkin), Maxwell would later join Watford’s Academy set-up for a season.

After leaving Watford at the end of the 2020/21 season, Maxwell joined non-League side Hornchurch during the 2021/22 season. This was Maxwell Statham’s first experience of playing senior football, and he has really been playing well in non-League, since getting that opportunity for then Hornchurch manager Mark Stimson’s side. The former Spurs Academy player has been doing really well at a really good level of non-League football, often playing at full-back for subsequent sides Welling United (Maxwell joined Welling after a short spell with Hornchurch) and now Dartford, of the National League South. On the occasions that I have seen Maxwell play for Welling United as well as his current side Dartford, I have been impressed, just as I was when he was at Spurs, with how good he is as a defender, and also with his leadership qualities and confidence in his ability on the ball (he also scores a good number of goals as a defender). Great at making blocks and at winning headers, Statham is very good at making long passes, but he also has a good balance to his game as a full-back.

At 23 Maxwell Statham still has a long career in football, like his father Brian did. Maxwell is a player who I believe can and will move further up the leagues, as he certainly has the quality to do so. Having met both Brian and Maxwell in the past, I must say that they are both great people, and I’m sure that I’ll see them at a non-League game soon. I wish Maxwell all the very best for the remainder of this season with Dartford. I really do think that they will reach the play-offs this season, in the National League South. They are currently just two points off of the play-off positions.