Chris Lines

Sheffield Wednesday

In August 2011, Lines joined League One club Sheffield Wednesday on a three-year contract for a £50,000 fee. He went on to score four goals in 47 appearances in the 2011–12 campaign as Wednesday secured promotion with a second-place finish and was twice named on the League One Team of the Week. He made 12 assists in the campaign, just two fewer than divisional assist leader Stephen Quinn.

He picked up a groin injury at the start of the 2012–13 season. He was out of action for three months. Manager Dave Jones played Lines in six Championship games in the buildup to Christmas, though did not play him in the new year. On 22 January 2013, Lines joined League One Milton Keynes Dons on loan for the remainder of the season after manager Karl Robinson admitted that Lines was "a player I have admired for a number of years now". Robinson was in search of midfield options after Luke Chadwick and Stephen Gleeson both picked up injuries. After returning from Stadium mk, Lines had his contract at Hillsborough cancelled by mutual consent in July 2013.

Port Vale Lines signed a one-year contract with newly promoted League One side Port Vale in July 2013. In the first part of the 2013–14 season he began tracking back to help his defence whilst also being the key playmaker in central midfield, after a discussion with manager Micky Adams. He scored his first goal for the "Valiants" with a "superb free-kick" from in a 1–0 win over Tranmere Rovers at Prenton Park on 29 September. He went on to build a partnership in midfield with Anthony Griffith, who provided tough-tackling skills whilst Lines played as a creative playmaker. He signed a new two-year contract in June 2014. He said that the good team spirit at the club was a major factor in him signing the contract.

He remained a key first-team player in the first half of the 2014–15 season, being named on the Football League Team of the Week after he "pulled the strings" in a 4–1 win over Yeovil Town at Vale Park. However, he was sent off for violent conduct after thrusting his head towards Dele Alli in a 1–0 defeat to Milton Keynes Dons at Stadium mk on 22 November; manager Rob Page stated that he was disappointed in Lines. After returning from suspension he lost his midfield spot to Michael O'Connor and Michael Brown.

Return to Bristol Rovers On 9 March 2015, he rejoined his first professional club, Bristol Rovers, on loan until the end of the 2014–15 season. They ended the Conference Premier campaign in second place, but Lines scored a goal in a 3–0 aggregate victory over Forest Green Rovers in the play-off semi-finals to help Rovers to reach the play-off final at Wembley Stadium. He played in the 1–1 draw with Grimsby Town in the play-off final and converted the first penalty of the shoot-out, which Rovers won to regain their place in the English Football League. He was signed by Rovers manager Darrell Clarke on a permanent basis in June 2015, after his contract with Port Vale was cancelled by mutual consent. Lines made 36 appearances as Rovers won promotion with a third-place finish in 2015–16 and he would sign a new contract in June 2016.

Lines scored his first goal since his full return to Bristol Rovers with a strike from in a 1–0 victory over Cardiff City in the first round of the EFL Cup on 11 August 2016. The goal secured Rovers a trip to Stamford Bridge and a second round tie against Chelsea, which they ultimately lost 3–2. He scored his first league goal since his return in a late 2–1 comeback victory over Gillingham on 15 October as he embarked on a run from deep before calmly tucking the ball beyond opposition goalkeeper Jonathan Bond. His consistently good performances were rewarded with a new undisclosed-length contract in March 2017.

Speaking as the oldest member of the squad at the age of 32 in September 2017, he admitted to becoming a vegetarian as he restricted his diet in an attempt to extend his playing career. On 2 April 2018, he was sent off during a 2–0 defeat at Fleetwood Town and was subsequently abused by some of the club's supporters on social media. He ended the 2017–18 season with five goals in 47 appearances as Rovers posted a 13th-place finish in League One. On 21 August 2018, he scored a 76th-minute penalty in a 2–1 home defeat to Portsmouth, only to get sent off two minutes later for a studs up challenge on Brett Pitman. However, he lost his first-team place after Graham Coughlan replaced Clarke as manager in December; the player and new manager would have a strained relationship, which led Lines to call Coughlan "embarrassing".

On 8 May 2019, Lines was announced to be one of nine players leaving the club at the end of their contract. Lines ended his second spell with his boyhood club having made over 350 appearances and having achieved three promotions during his two spells at the club.

Northampton Town On 15 May 2019, Lines signed a two-year deal with League Two side Northampton Town; manager Keith Curle said that "I think his attributes will really help us". Darrell Clarke had tried to tempt him to join him at Walsall, but was unsuccessful. He quickly established himself as a key first-team player under Curle, starting nine of Northampton's first ten league games of the 2019–20 season. On 18 January, he scored a volleyed finish in a 4–1 victory over Morecambe, which was later voted as goal of the season (so far) by readers of the Northampton Chronicle & Echo during the COVID-19 pandemic in England. The season was curtailed and Northampton went on to qualify for the play-offs, though Lines was an unused substitute in the behind closed doors Wembley final as Northampton recorded a 4–0 victory over Exeter City to secure promotion into League One, the fifth promotion of Lines' career. However, he featured in just four League One and six cup games in the first half of the 2020–21 campaign and decided to leave Sixfields in search of regular game-time elsewhere.

Stevenage Lines joined League Two club Stevenage on a six-month contract on 5 January 2021. He played 21 games in the second half of the 2020–21 season, helping Stevenage finish in 14th-place, and signed a new contract with the club. Lines opened his account in the second match of the 2021–22 season, opening the scoring in the 88th minute of an eventual 2–0 win over Lines' two-time former and boyhood club Bristol Rovers. Despite this however, Lines gave a lap of the pitch after the match, receiving applause from both sets of fans having walked out onto the pitch with his daughters before the match. Manager Alex Revell said that it was "a great goal from Chris, he deserves it. He was a key part of us last year". Lines was one of 15 players to be released by new manager Steve Evans at the end of the 2021–22 season, having made 36 appearances as Stevenage posted a 21st-place finish.

Non-League On 19 June 2022, Lines agreed to join National League South club Bath City upon the expiration of his contract with Stevenage. This transfer saw Lines return to Twerton Park, as he had watched Bristol Rovers matches there as a child. He made 38 appearances in the 2022–23 season, whilst also working in insurance.

In March 2024, Lines joined Southern League Division One South club Yate Town on loan until the end of the 2023–24 season. He played six games and then returned to Bath City, where he was released upon the expiry of his contract.

In July 2024, he joined Hellenic Premier Division club Roman Glass St George, making his debut and scoring the first goal in a 6–1 opening day win over Cirencester Town. He made 35 league appearances for the club during the 2024-25 season, scoring six goals.

On 2 June 2025, Lines joined Hellenic Premier Division side Corsham Town. On 1 October 2025, following a short spell as interim player-manager, Lines was appointed first-team player-manager. He was sacked in March 2026, much to his surprise.

Following his sacking from Corsham Town, he returned to Roman Glass St George, before being appointed player-manager on 29 May 2026.

Style of play Lines has strong technical passing attributes and vision. He has been described by the Sheffield Stars Paul Thompson as being a "cultured, creative, passing midfielder who gets on the ball and likes to dictate play... he's also very mobile and has decent vision". He was described as a set piece specialist by The Sentinel correspondent Dave Johnson. He worked in insurance after leaving full-time professional football.

Career statistics

+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals

2004–05 League Two

2005–06 League Two

2006–07 League Two

League One

League One

2009–10 League One

2010–11 League One

2011–12 League Two

2011–12 Championship

47!!3!!5!!1!!1!!0!!0!!0!!53!!4 Milton Keynes Dons (loan) 2012–13 League One

2014–15 League One

61!!3!!5!!1!!3!!0!!2!!0!!71!!4 Bristol Rovers (loan) 2014–15 League Two

2016–17 League One

League One

2018–19 League One

314!!30!!16!!1!!10!!2!!17!!1!!357!!35

2019–20 League Two

2020–21 League One

35!!3!!5!!0!!3!!0!!6!!0!!49!!3

2020–21 League Two

51!!3!!3!!0!!1!!0!!3!!0!!58!!3

2022–23 National League South

2023–24 Southern LeagueDivision One South

Roman Glass St George 2024–25 Hellenic LeaguePremier Division

Corsham Town 2025–26 Hellenic LeaguePremier Division

2025–26 Football League Trophy runner-up: 2006–07 Sheffield WednesdayFootball League One second-place promotion: 2011–12 Northampton Town' EFL League Two play-offs: 2020