20 replies to this topic

[Warsaw Fan]

Having had our usual summer clear-out, coupled with the fact we seem to be signing up plenty of youngsters on 1 year deals, it got me thinking, who's the longest serving player at your club and can you see them sticking around for much longer?

Looking at the Walsall squad, ours is Richard Taundry who's been with us since 2006. Still only 23 but if he doesn't perform well enough this season, I reckon he'll be gone next year. Jimmy Walker's also still playing for us after joining the club in 1993. However, he did make moves to West Ham and Tottenham between then.

[JJ1532]

Well, we have a few academy lads who have been with us since they were 9/10 years old. Byron Moore has probably been with us the longest. He's certainly made the most appearances for us out of our current squad.

[jacobncfc]

Neal Bishop, who has had three full seasons with the last one as captain. Was Edwards who was coming into his tenth year I think.

[Ben_7_CUFC]

Peter Murphy. This will be his 11th season at the club.

[Warsaw Fan]

Well, we have a few academy lads who have been with us since they were 9/10 years old.

I forgot about Crewe. They're still in nappies when you lot poach them.

Peter Murphy. This will be his 11th season at the club.

That's pretty good going. I assume he's had a testimonial match then?

Since I've been supporting Walsall, I can remember Darren Wrack, Jimmy Walker and Ian Roper having testimonials. I wonder when we'll see a fourth, if ever?

[saddlerrad]

I doubt we'l ever see it again. Not only does modern day football not really allow for long serving players, attedances and the credit crunch are decreasing budgets and so on - any player that's not immediately effective and so on, just gets moved on and shorter deals are given to players - see us this summer as an example.

[White Army]

Ian Goodison, been with us for eight seasons now. Probably be his last this season. Sad times

[Ben_7_CUFC]

Peter Murphy. This will be his 11th season at the club.

That's pretty good going. I assume he's had a testimonial match then?

Since I've been supporting Walsall, I can remember Darren Wrack, Jimmy Walker and Ian Roper having testimonials. I wonder when we'll see a fourth, if ever?

He's having it either September or October time. Not sure why he didn't have it last season really, but yeah it's happening soon.

[SF]

Out of the ones I expect to be here when the season kicks off, Bailey Wright has been with us since signing in 2009 as a youth player.

After that Will Hayhurst has come through our youth set up, he's only 18 so has probably been round since 2010.

Then past them two, we have Thorsten Stuckmann who has been here since November.

Edited by SF, 03 August 2012 - 04:52 PM.

[Scumarmy.]

Dean Lewington.

Wimbledon/MK Dons since 2001. Five seasons as captain. 11 years as a professional here and longer as he joined Wimbledon FC as a teen. Can I see him staying much longer? Yes. He has turned down numerous attempts by Championship clubs wanting him and at one point had Fulham and Norwich City interested but turned them down/had bids rejected. Seems settled here so unless he gets a career ending injury or is shipped out for not being good enough anymore, I can see him having his whole career here which would be decent considering the amount players move around in the modern game, nice to be consistent!

Edited by Scumarmy., 03 August 2012 - 10:06 PM.

[Mark_AFCB]

Steve Fletcher, only 20 years last month. Just turned 40 now, but still pumpin' those guns.

[This Charming Mike]

Nathan Thompson I think.

[Don Tonberry]

Tal Ben-Haim

[Scumarmy.]

Tal Ben-Haim

I knew when I saw you had commented it would be him. That is really sad but funny

[RoversAlias]

James Coppinger - Signed 2004
Brian Stock - Signed 2006
Neil Sullivan - Signed on loan 2006/Permanently 2007

They're the only long-serving players here now and I expect the first two to leave in the next few weeks, whilst Neil Sullivan is 41 and is an injured spare part these days. After them it's Martin '3 games in 2 years' Woods who signed in 2007 and then after him it's Shelton Martis, which is highly depressing.

[dedwardp]

Technically Kem Izzet would be the longest serving having been here for 11 years now. Club captain and just signed another new deal, can't envisage him ever leaving.

That said, Karl Duguid started with us 17 years ago and, aside from a 3 year spell with Plymouth between 2008-2011, is still going strong. Feels like he never really left so would be inclined to include him in this.

[Ross_boro]

Before his release it would have been Ronnie Henry who signed for the club in January 2005, for a little while after he left it was Lawrie Wilson who was signed by Mark Stimson in August 2007. Although neither were ever technically the longest serving player at the club we also lost Scott Laird and Michael Bostwick who both joined the club in 2008 (Laird in Jan, Bossie in May)

Our current longest serving player is Chris Day who signed for the club in August 2008.

Edited by Ross_boro, 04 August 2012 - 02:14 PM.

[Travelling Blade]

Nick Montgommery

Made his debut for the 1st team on 21st October 2000, after coming through the Youth system (cannot find exactly when he first signed for the Blades, but it definitely was LAST CENTURY).

He played in the 2-0 victory over Morecambe yesterday.

[The Terminator]

Our current longest serving player is goalkeeper Jamie Jones who signed from Everton in the summer of 2008. Ben Chorley is next after that, he's been here since the summer of 2009.

The longest serving player in my time was Matt Lockwood 1998-2007. The club was going to offer him a testemonial and coaching role, but he opted in the end to sign for Nottingham Forest after they bid for him and we accepted it. Two weeks after signing a new contract as well!

[!Dan]

Kevin O'Connor.

[mk dons tom]

Dean Lewington