Dean John Hammond (born 7 March 1983) is an English retired footballer. He previously played in the Football League for Brighton & Hove Albion, Leyton Orient, Colchester United, Leicester City and Southampton. Football career Brighton & Hove Albion Born in Hastings, England, Hammond began his career at Brighton & Hove Albion when he was eleven years and then started in 1998 on YTS forms and started to progress at the club's development squad. Hammond made his Brighton & Hove Albion debut on 6 December 2000, in the first round of the Southern Section of Football League Trophy, in a 2–0 win over Cardiff City. This turned out to be his only appearance in the 2000–01 season. Following this, Hammond returned to the club's reserve for the next two seasons before signing his first professional contract on 11 May 2002. Following this, Hammond was promoted to the first team at the start of the 2002–03 season. Hammond made his league debut for the club on 14 September 2002, coming on as a late substitute, in a 4–2 loss against Gillingham. Ten days later, on 24 September 2002, he scored his first Brighton & Hove Albion goal, in a 3–1 loss against Ipswich Town in the second round of League Cup. After the match, Manager Martin Hinshelwood praised Hammond's performance, including his first goal for the side. Under the new management of Steve Coppell, Hammond struggled to regain his first team place and never played again for the rest of the 2002–03 season. In the 2003–04 season, Hammond was loaned out to lower league teams, starting with Aldershot Town during September. After making seven appearances at Aldershot Town, he returned to his parent club despite intending to extend his loan spell at the club. Following this, Hammond was loaned out to Leyton Orient shortly after. After extending his loan spell for another month with Leyton Orient, and went on to make nine appearances for the side. At the end of the 2003–04 season, Hammond was offered a new contract. He was given a six-month ultimatum at the start of the 2004–05 season by then manager Mark McGhee. However, Hammond suffered an injury in the pre–season friendly that saw him sidelined at the start of the 2004–05 season. After returning to the first team from injury, Hammond was given a handful of first team appearances and making a huge impression, resulting him signing