Numbers 50 to 41 tonight.
Starting with a member of the current squad that some might be surprised to find so high.Dominic Knowles has steadily compiled 19 starts and 31 substitute appearances. 4 goals so far. Still under contract so will be interesting to see if he can find his touch at the higher level.
At 49 is the fastest man to two red cards. In just 22 starts and 1 sub appearance, the award goes to Guy Branston. Finished his career at the end of 2013-14 at Plymouth Argyle.
48. Scott Malone made 22 starts with 4 subs, scoring once and picking up 4 yellows along the way. One of our most successful former loanees he made 34 appearances at Championship level last season, with Millwall before earning a January window move to Cardiff City.
Bizarre 'where are they now' entry no.1 at 47 for Richard Walker. 22 starts and 18 subs for one of Peschisolido's early signings. Managed 5 goals, but each one took 388 minutes. When I saw that he was now at Beer Albion my first thought was that this was a Wikipedia wind up! But I maintained my search, and the Devon & Exeter League website not only has an entry for Beer Albion, but carries a team photo and there he is!
46. Michael Simpson. 23 starts and 4 subs. 4 yellows and 2 goals, both within five minutes of each other in an extraordinary start to a game against Northampton. His brace followed an opener from Shaun Harrad and there was still barely ten minutes on the clock. Some reference to local football in the Derby area but no firm sightings.
45. Michael Symes.23 starts and 9 subs. 7 goals including what was nearly a winner against Fulham. 284 minutes is a good enough strike rate for 10th. 2 yellows. Made a couple of sub appearances for Southport at the end of the season just ended.
44. George Taft. One for the future when he came in but soon found his feet and has 25 starts and 9 subs to his name. 1 spectacular goal to beat Shrewbury in January. 4 yellows
43.Bizarre 'where are they now' no. 2. Stuart Tomlinson. 28 starts. 1 yellow. Had to give up the game after a knee injury, but is back in professional sport as a wrestler (WWE). Goes by the ring name of 'Hugo Knox'!
42.Chris Palmer. 28 starts was a surprise to me, with 18 subs. 5 goals at just under 500 minutes each. Last sighting was at Tamworth.
And last for tonight, at 41, Tom Parkes. 29 starts, 2 subs, 1 goal and our second two-red villain.Looking forward to walking out at Wembley with Bristol Rovers in next week's Conference Play-off Final.
More tomorrow, including our first 10 goal+ striker, the backbone of our champions, and yet more goalkeepers!
The Brewers in League 2 - part 9
posted on 11/5/15
A very interesting selection tonight Steve. I can help you with one of them. It is not as it seems to begin with so stick with it until the end.
I was watching the BBC text commentary online of the Plymouth v Wycombe play off. There was comment there from Guy Branston as he was evidently a co-commentator for the game on Radio 5 Live Sports Extra. He played for both clubs (and 56 others). I thought to myself 'This I must listen to'.
I tuned in via my pc and there was Guy Branston alongside the main commentator for Radio Devon. He had another co-commentator - some bloke who had played 1 million times for Plymouth Argyle in the 1950s.
Basically Branno not only spoke more frequently than the main commentator he also ensured that the other co-commentator didn't get a word in at all ! Branno was loud, brash, brutal, very self-confident and entertainingly opinionated. He was also frequently wrong on the way he saw the decisions going and the way the game was heading.
There was something about Branno on the pitch that was quite admirable. He would run through brick walls for the cause and clearly enjoyed his football. That said, I used to wince when he severely berated his Brewers team mates as it looked excessive.
Anyway, he is not a pundit now. No, he is Chief Scout for Notts County believe it or not. He is obviously proud of his job as he mentioned it several times. A decent role it is too.
I hope he gets the second leg as well on Thursday.
posted on 11/5/15
- Richard Walker. I was aware of his Beer career. He must be the slowest professional footballer I have ever seen. He seemed to be forever towing 2 caravans.
- Simmo. Brewers Legend.
- Michael Symes. Surprised to read he was plying his trade at the lower end of the Conference.
- Dominic Knowles. I am still convinced he is not actually a striker and might be a good attacking midfielder.