Christopher Luke Tardif arrived during the summer of 2004 as part of the massive squad-building exercise by manager Graham Rix. The Guernsey-born goalkeeper was one of a number of players who had been with Rix at Portsmouth, and he arrived on the back of a successful loan spell at Bournemouth. A series of Man-of-the-Match performances saw his established as the first-choice goalkeeper, and possibly the finest custodian to appear for United since Phil Whitehead. This was confirmed when he was voted both the Player of the Year for 2004/05 by both players and supporters. However, the following season he lost his place as automatic first choice keeper to Billy Turley, but he nevertheless renewed his contract at the start of the 2006/07 season, along with Turley. After only making one substitute appearance that season before Christmas, Tardif had a transfer request accepted, although no one came in for him. He eventually left United by mutual agreement, for him to get a full-time job out of football, in September 2007, while continuing to play for a number of clubs lower down the Pyramid.