From League Two to the Premier League – Conor Chaplin’s goalscoring journey
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Conor Chaplin has scored at every level in the top four leagues in England. <i>(Image: Ross Halls/PA)</i>
Conor Chaplin has scored at every level in the top four leagues in England. (Image: Ross Halls/PA)
Ipswich Town forward Conor Chaplin scored his first ever Premier League goal against Bournemouth on Sunday, joining an exclusive club of players to have found the back of the net in each of English football’s top four divisions.
The 27-year-old became the third Town player to hit this landmark in the 2024/25 campaign after Sammie Szmodics and Sam Morsy, who joined the list with their goals against Man City and Southampton respectively.
Ross Halls takes a look at his journey from League Two to the top flight…
Conor Chaplin celebrates with Portsmouth fans after winning promotion.
Conor Chaplin celebrates with Portsmouth fans after winning promotion. (Image: PA)
LEAGUE TWO
The first goals of his senior career were for his boyhood club Portsmouth in the fourth tier, netting his first professional goal in a 3-1 defeat at Morecambe.
Chaplin went on to notch a further 16 games at that level as he helped Pompey win the League Two title in the 2016/17 season under Paul Cook.
Conor Chaplin netted 26 goals during Ipswich Town’s League One promotion campaign.
Conor Chaplin netted 26 goals during Ipswich Town’s League One promotion campaign. (Image: PA)
LEAGUE ONE
The forward scored five goals for Portsmouth at this level before moving on to Coventry, finding the net eight times during his spell with the Sky Blues.
He dropped back down to the third tier to sign for Ipswich from Barnsley in the summer of 2021, notching nine goals in his first season.
The following campaign saw him score an impressive 26 goals as Town won promotion back to the Championship in 2022/23.
Conor Chaplin helped Town win promotion back to the Premier League last season.
Conor Chaplin helped Town win promotion back to the Premier League last season. (Image: Ross Halls)
CHAMPIONSHIP
Chaplin first found the net at this level for Barnsley, scoring 15 times during his two seasons at Oakwell, where he helped them reach the play-offs in 2020/21.
He went on to score 13 goals for Town last season as they secured back-to-back promotions to return to the top flight.
Conor Chaplin celebrates his goal against AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League.
Conor Chaplin celebrates his goal against AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League. (Image: Ross Halls)
PREMIER LEAGUE
The forward completed the four-league scoring feat when he hit a trademark first time finish from the heart of the box to put the Blues ahead in the 21st minute against the Cherries, who came from behind to win late on at Portman Road.
Despite the defeat, Chaplin will remember this goal forever after so much hard work and sacrifice. It is something that nobody can take away from him.
He also follows in the footsteps of Town greats in Ted Phillips, Jimmy Leadbetter, John Elsworthy and Morsy to score in each of the top three leagues for Ipswich.
Sam Morsy joined the list after his goal against Southampton this season.
Sam Morsy joined the list after his goal against Southampton this season. (Image: Ross Halls)
The other players to have scored in all four leagues are:
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