Introduction
Graham Stephen Potter (born 20 May 1975) is an English former footballer who is head coach of Swedish Allsvenskan club Östersunds FK. In a 13-year playing career, he made 307 appearances in the Football League, mainly as a full back, and also played in the Premier League for Southampton. At international level, he was capped once for England at under-21 level. He took over as Östersunds FK ahead of the 2011 season.
Playing career
Born in Solihull, Potter began his career as a trainee at Birmingham City. After a loan spell at Wycombe Wanderers, he moved on to Stoke City, then to Southampton, where he played in the 6–3 win over Manchester United in 1996. While a Southampton player, he was capped for England U21s in a European Championships qualifier against Moldova.
He joined West Bromwich Albion in 1997, and after three-and-a-half years, which included loan spells at Northampton Town and Reading, he signed for York City.
Potter moved from York City to Boston United in the summer of 2003. He joined Shrewsbury Town on loan in November 2003. In 2004 he moved on a free transfer to Macclesfield Town, where he finished his senior playing career.
Coaching career
With support from the Professional Footballers' Association, Potter graduated from the Open University in December 2005 with a degree in Social Sciences. He worked as a football development manager for the University of Hull and as assistant coach for the England Universities Squad, before joining Leeds Metropolitan University in a similar role; while at Leeds, he completed a master's in leadership and emotional intelligence.
In December 2010, Potter signed a three-year contract as coach of Östersunds FK, who were then playing in the fourth tier of Swedish football. In 2013, after two successive promotions, he prolonged his contract with the club for another three years. On 27 October 2015, Östersunds FK secured promotion to the Swedish top flight, Allsvenskan, for the first time in their history.
Career statistics
- Sourced from Graham Potter profile at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other[A] | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Birmingham City | 1992–93 | First Division | 18 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 23 | 2 |
| 1993–94 | First Division | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 0 | |
| Wycombe Wanderers (loan) | 1993–94 | Third Division | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Stoke City | 1993–94 | First Division | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 1994–95 | First Division | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| 1995–96 | First Division | 41 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 51 | 1 | |
| Southampton | 1996–97 | Premier League | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| West Bromwich Albion | 1996–97 | First Division | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| 1997–98 | First Division | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
| 1998–99 | First Division | 22 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 0 | |
| 1999–2000 | First Division | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | |
| Northampton Town (loan) | 1997–98 | Second Division | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Reading (loan) | 1999–2000 | Second Division | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| York City | 2000–01 | Third Division | 38 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 44 | 3 |
| 2001–02 | Third Division | 37 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 44 | 4 | |
| 2002–03 | Third Division | 39 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 43 | 1 | |
| Boston United | 2003–04 | Third Division | 12 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 15 | 0 |
| Macclesfield Town | 2003–04 | Third Division | 16 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 2 |
| 2004–05 | League Two | 41 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 48 | 6 | |
| Career total | 315 | 16 | 22 | 3 | 16 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 372 | 19 | ||
- A. ^ The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals in the Anglo-Italian Cup, Football League Trophy.