Christopher Andrew John Hemming (born 13 April 1966) is a former footballer who played in the Football League for Stoke City and Wigan Athletic. He is known as the first professional footballer to play whilst having a pacemaker.
Career Hemming was a product of Stoke's youth system and he made his professional debut in the 1983–84 season which came in a 1–0 defeat away at Tottenham Hotspur on 3 March 1984. He played in the awful 1984–85 season which saw Stoke relegated to the Second Division with a record low points tally. Hemming became a useful member of Mick Mills' squad but he made the national sporting headlines when he was fitted with a pacemaker and still managed to continue playing professional football. He played in 106 games for Stoke before joining Wigan Athletic on loan then permanently to Hereford United in 1989. He later went on to play for non-league Merthyr Tydfil, Macclesfield Town and Stafford Rangers.
Career statistics + Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsStoke City1983–84First Division300000—301984–85First Division1610010—1711985–86Second Division2401010102701986–87Second Division2200020002401987–88Second Division2410020102711988–89Second Division4000201070Total9321080301052Wigan Athletic (loan) 1988–89Third Division4000002060Hereford United 1989–90Fourth Division3524020424541990–91Fourth Division61200020101Total413602062555Career total1385701001121667
References
External links
Chris Hemming profile at thisnorthernsoul.co.uk