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Sky Commentator Factiods

last updated Friday 18th August 2000, 6:41 PM

The stat pack, prepared for SKY presentors, is available here.
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Fulham

Background - Manager - Head to Head Overall - Squad

 

Birmingham

Background - Manager - Head to Head at Birm - Squad

 















Fulham Manager

Jean Tigana was appointed Fulham manager on July 1 (Fulham announced his arrival on April 9), taking over from Karl-Heinz Riedle who had been in temporary charge for the last 6 weeks of the season. Riedle took over from Paul Bracewell who was sacked on Mar 29, just 10 months after being appointed (Fulham's play-off hopes had all but ended by this time). Fulham have now seen five managers depart in the last four years.

Tigana was wanted by the French FA to succeed Aime Jacquet as national coach after France 98, by the time Tigana left Monaco Roger Lemerre had already been appointed. Tigana spent the next year treading grapes on his French vineyard and working as a players agent (maybe at the sametime!).

Mohamed Al Fayed had originally wanted Eric Cantona as Manager, but after failing to secure his services, turned to Tigana after being recommended by Cantona. Tigana has coached players such as Petit, Henry, Barthez and Thuram.

Tigana has installed a strict training regime at the club, during the summer, players were working out as early as 6am in their training camp in France. All the players have undergone blood tests and dental checks in rigorous medicals. Some days players train three times a day.

Tigana claims to have watched all 57 Fulham games last season.

As a player Tigana won the European Championship with France in 1984. He won 52 French caps and played in two World Cup semi-finals. As a manager he guided Monaco to the French title in 1997, he also knocked Man Utd out of the Champions League quarter-final in 1998.

other sections

source=SKY StatPack - By Sven alexis









 





Fulham

Last season Fulham finished 9th, 9 points off a play-off place and 24 points 
behind Champions Charlton. Last season was their first season in this division 
in 13 years, since they were relegated from the old Div 2 in season 1985-86.

They have not played top division football for 32 years, since they were relegated in 1968.

This season Fulham are obviously looking for promotion, if they achieve this they would have won promotion from the bottom division to the top division in the space of five seasons, after finishing Div 3 runners-up in 1996-97 and then Div 2 Champions two season's ago. When Al Fayed took over the club in May 97, he went on record as saying that he is looking for Fulham to be a Premiership club within 5 years.

Their best league finish came in season 1959-60 when they finished 10th in the old Div 1.

Won 17 and lost 13 of their 46 Lge games last season.

Scored 49 goals last season, the seventh lowest scorers in Div 1.

Went on a goal drought between Dec-Jan of last season, they scored only once in an 8 game spell in the Lge, and that was an own goal!

Conceded only 41 goals last season, only Man City had a better defence last season.

Kept 23 clean sheets in their 57 games in all comps last season.

Won only 4 away games last season, losing 10 of the other 19.

Scored only 16 goals in their 23 away games last season, but conceded only 28.

Have not won in their last 8 away games (taking only two points), their last away win came at Portsmouth in Feb. Their worst away run for 4 yrs, since they went 15 away games without a win in season 1995-96.

Scored only three goals in their last 13 away Lge games of last season. The last time a Fulham striker scored an away Lge goal was Geoff Horsfield's goal v Walsall on Nov 26 (live on Sky).

Made a great start to last season, remaining unbeaten in their first 10 Lge games, winning 6 (keeping 6 clean sheets in these 10). Went as high as second in the table.

Started with a 2-0 win v Crewe last week, four players made their debuts, Collins, Boa Morte, Saha and Fernandes (as sub).

Not a great finish to last season, winning only 3 of their last 11 Lge games.

Remained in the top 10 in all of last season.


Fulham's forthcoming fixtures:

 

Aug 22
Northampton (a) WC1.1
26
Stockport (h)  
28
Norwich (a)  
Sep 2
Sheff Utd (a)  
5
Northampton (h) WC1.2
10
Barnsley (h)  
12
Burnley (h)  

Fulham summer ins and outs

Ins:                  From:             Fee:
Louis SAHA            Metz              £2.1M
John COLLINS          Everton           £2M
Luis BOA MORTE        Southampton       loan
Fabrice FERNANDES     Rennes            loan
Kieran McANESPIE      St Johnstone      £80,000

Outs:                 To:               Fee:
Geoff HORSFIELD       Birmingham        £2.25M
Paul BROOKER          Brighton          £25,000
Ian McGUCKIN          Oxford            Free
Kevin BALL            Burnley           Free
Gus UHLENBEEK         Sheffield Utd     Free
Ian SELLEY            Wimbledon         Free
Steve McANESPIE       Cambridge Utd     Free

Fulham's pre-season friendlies:

Jul 8     Tiverton          W2-0 
          (Melville, Peschisolido)
   12     Rennes            W1-0 
          (Hayles)
   19     French Select X1  W1-0 
          (Cornwall)
   22     India             W2-0 
          (Riedle 2)
   26     Barnet            D0-0   
   29     Brentford         W2-0 
          (Boa Morte 2)
Aug 2     Spurs             D0-0   
    5     Bournemouth       W1-0 
          (Symons)               

other sections

source=SKY StatPack - By Sven Alexis




































Fulham Pen-Pix

    Kevin Betsy

  • 22 yr old forward, born in the Seychelles.
  • Made two sub apps last season. Come on as sub last week, his first senior app for a year.
  • Middle names are Eddie Lewis - the name of another Fulham player!
  • Represented England at semi-professional level.
  • Had loan spells at Bournemouth and Hull last season
  • Joined from Woking for £80,000 two years ago.
  • His only Lge start for Fulham came v Millwall in April 99, he also scored.
  • His first two senior apps came at Anfield and Old Trafford in the WC and FA Cup respectively a couple of season's ago.

    Luis Boa Morte

  • Signed on season's long loan from Southampton
  • Made 14 Prem apps last season, only 6 starts. His only goal coming in 3-2 defeat at Watford last December.
  • Joined Southampton from Arsenal for £500,000 in August 1999.
  • Made 25 Prem apps for Arsenal.
  • Former Portuguese U-21 international.
  • Sent-off on full Saints debut in Middlesbrough defeat on Sept 11, 1999 for handling on the line. Served a 1-match ban at Old Trafford on Sept 25.
  • Struggled with a persistent hamstring injury last season.

    Rufus Brevett

  • Signed from QPR for £375,000 in January 1998.
  • His only goal to date for Fulham (in 101 apps) was the 1-0 winner v Stoke in September 1998.
  • Missed the second half of last season with a hamstring injury, sustained v Man City in Jan.

    Lee Clark

  • Is the club's record signing at £3m.
  • Club's top League scorer last season with 8 goals (9 all comps), all coming in his last 10 Lge games of last season.
  • Missed only 4 Lge games last season.
  • Was sent-off v Grimsby last Aug.
  • Made over 300 career Lge apps. Scored 47 career Lge goals.
  • His only away Lge goal last season came at Bolton in Mar.

    Chris Coleman

  • Signed a 4 yr extension to his contract over the summer, keeping him at the club until 2004.
  • Signed from Blackburn for £2.1M in December 1997. He dropped down two divisions.
  • Welsh international. Won his 28th cap in the 2-1 defeat v Finland in Mar.
  • Made over 450 career Lge apps.
  • Scored 5 goals last season, 3 in Lge.
  • Was sent-off in Live game v Man City in Jan for hand-ball (denying a goal-scoring opportunity), a straight red.
  • Won this division with Palace in 1994.

    John Collins

  • 32 yr old, signed from Everton over the summer for £2m.
  • Missed only 3 Prem apps last season (2 goals). Asked Walter Smith if he could leave club at the end of the season on Feb 22.
  • Made 64 apps for Everton, scoring 4 goals.
  • Sent-off at Aston Villa last Aug.
  • Won 58 caps for Scotland (12 goals). Announced his retirement from international football after play-off games v England.
  • Cost Everton £2.5m from Monaco in Aug 1998.
  • Played under Tigana at Monaco, between 1996-98, making 53 Lge apps in his two seasons there. Won the French League title under him in season 1996-97.

    Wayne Collins

  • Signed from Sheff Wed for an intial fee of £400,000 in Jan 1998.
  • Made 19 Lge apps last season, only 6 starts.
  • Previously made 31 Premiership apps for Sheff Wed, scoring 6 goals.
  • Scored 5 goals last season, only one in Lge (v Portsmouth in Nov).

    Sean Davis

  • Former club trainee, enjoyed his best run in the senior side last season, made 26 Lge apps.
  • Scored 3 goals last season, none in Lge though.
  • Has yet to score in 33 career League apps.
  • Stuggled with a groin injury last season.

    Fabrice Fernandes

  • On a 1 yr loan deal from French club Rennes
  • 20 yr old winger.
  • French U21 international
  • Former Rennes trainee, been a pro at Rennes for 2 yrs
  • Rennes finished 13th in French First Division last season, made 17 Lge apps.

    Steve Finnan

  • Started pro career at Birmingham, after signing from Welling for £100,000 in June 95 (under Barry Fry). Spent a year at St Andrew's, made 15 lge apps. Then joined Notts County.
  • Won the Div 3 title with Notts County in 98 and the Div 2 title with Fulham in 99.
  • Rep of Ireland international with 2 caps.
  • Signed from Notts County for £600,000 in November 1998.
  • Republic of Ireland 'B' and former Under-21 international with 8 caps.
  • Missed 11 games last season with knee ligament trouble. When he's been fit he's played in every game for Fulham.
  • Scored 3 goals last season, 2 Lge.
  • Made over 150 career Lge apps.
  • signed a new 4 year deal with the club earlier this year.

    Bjarne Goldbaek

  • Signed from Chelsea on Jan 14 for £650,000 (rising to £800,000).
  • Made 6 Lge apps for Chelsea last season, only 2 starts.
  • Made 29 Prem apps in total for Chelsea.
  • Joined Chelsea from FC Copenhagen for #330,000 in November 1998.
  • Spent two years with FC Copenhagen. Previously spent nine years in the German Bundesliga (with Kaiserslautern, Schalke and Cologne).
  • Played 132 league games in Germany, scoring 16 goals.
  • Won the Bundesliga title with Kaiserslautern in 1991.
  • Danish international. Played in Euro 2000 in the final group game v the Czech Republic. Was a non-playing member of their 1998 World Cup squad.
  • Scored 3 goals for Fulham.

    Marcus Hahnemann

  • Was signed from Colorado Rapids for £90,000 in the summer of 1999.
  • Yet to make a senior app.

    Barry Hayles

  • Was sent-off twice last season, v West Brom in the WC and v Sheff Utd in the Lge on Dec 28.
  • Scored in only five of his 35 Lge games last season (14 as sub).
  • Scored 9 goals last season, 5 in Lge.
  • Signed from Bristol Rovers for £2M in Nov 98.
  • Started career at Stevenage.
  • Has scored 46 career Lge goals.

    Steve Hayward

  • Started career at Derby before joining Carlisle and then Fulham in June 1997.
  • Scored only once last season, in FA Cup at Luton on Dec 21.
  • Former England youth int.
  • Now in 13th season of pro career.

    Eddie Lewis

  • USA international winger signed for £1.3m from San Jose Earthquakes in Mar.
  • Had spent his entire career at San Jose.
  • Has won 22 caps for the US. Was spotted by Fulham playing in the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
  • Ajax and Everton were also reportedly interested in signing Lewis.
  • He joins Fulham's other US international Marcus Hahnemann at Craven Cottage.
  • Can play either left back or left side of midfield.
  • Made debut as sub v Barnsley in March, started 6 of last 7 games of last season.

    Kieran McAnespie

  • Signed from St Johnstone for £80,000 over the summer.
  • Made 20 Lge apps for St Johnstone last season, who finished 5th.
  • Scotland U21 international.
  • Was taken along to France 98 as one of the Scotland squad kit-boys and played (and scored) for the team in a closed-doors match.
  • His only goal last season came v Hibernian in April.

    Andy Melville

  • Welsh international. Won his 39th cap v Portugal on Jun 2.
  • Signed from Sunderland on a free in July 99.
  • Spent 6 season's at Sunderland, winning this Division twice with them.
  • Is now in his 16th season as a pro.
  • Made over 550 career Lge apps, has also scored 53 Lge goals.
  • Has not missed a game since last Nov.
  • Scored 3 goals last season, all coming in last 13 games of last season.

    Simon Morgan

  • Club's longest serving player, now in his 11th season at the club.
  • Was rewarded with a testimonial on Aug 2 v Spurs (did not play -injured).
  • A former England U21 int.
  • Failed to score last season. His last goal was the winner at Reading in April 99.
  • Has scored 57 goals for Fulham in 421 games.
  • Is out with a knee injury.

    Alan Neilson

  • Signed from Southampton for £250,000 in November 1997.
  • Welsh international (5 caps).
  • Has previously made 20 Premiership apps for Newcastle and 55 for Southampton.
  • Missed the last 6 months of last season with a hamstring injury.
  • Scored once in 5 Lge apps last season, came v Charlton last Aug.

    Paul Peschisolido

  • Signed from Birmingham for £1.1m in October 1997, becoming Fulham's first £1m player. Had two spells at Birmingham, first joined from Toronto Blizzards in Nov 92 (under Terry Cooper) for £25,000, was relegated with Birmingham in season 1993-94, then joined Stoke in Aug 94 before Barry Fry brought Pesch back in Mar 96 for £400,000. Trevor Francis then sold him to West Brom just four months later. Scored 17 goals in 52 Lge apps for Birmingham.
  • Scored 7 goals last season, 4 Lge.
  • Canadian international with 35 caps - played in every game except the final of their Gold Cup winning run last season, injured his groin in the semi's.
  • Has scored 30 goals in 113 games for Fulham.
  • Failed to score in his last 17 Lge games, only 8 starts though.
  • Last Lge goal came v Bolton (penalty) last Nov.

    Terry Phelan

  • Signed on a free from Everton in Feb.
  • Made one sub app for Everton last season, on opening day v Man Utd.
  • Rep. of Ireland international with 42 caps - last v S Africa on Jun 11.
  • The 33 yr old has represented Rep.of Ireland at every level.
  • Spent 3 yrs at Everton, made only 25 Prem apps.
  • Won FA Cup with Wimbledon in 1988.
  • Has made over 350 career Lge apps.
  • Started career at Leeds before joining Swansea, Wimbledon, Man City, Chelsea and then Everton.
  • His goal v Walsall in Feb was his first Lge goal for over 6 yrs, since for Man City v Southampton in Dec 93.
  • Scored twice in his last 13 games, had previously scored only two Lge goals in his 15 yr career.
  • Went off with a groin strain v Crewe last week.

    Karl-Heinz Riedle

  • Signed in Sep 99 from Liverpool for £200,000.
  • Scored 15 goals in 76 apps in his time at Anfield.
  • Has also played for TSV Ellhofen, SV Weiler, Blau-Weiss Berlin, Werder Bremen, Lazio and Borussia Dortmund.
  • Capped 42 times by Germany scoring 16 goals and was a World Cup winner in 1990.
  • Scored twice to help Dortmund beat Juventus in the European Cup Final in 1997.
  • Made a scoring debut for Fulham against Norwich last October.
  • Has scored 5 goals in 22 apps for Fulham.
  • Missed a penalty v Blackburn in March.
  • Was Fulham's caretaker-manager for the last 6 weeks of last season.

    Louis Saha

  • 22 yr old, signed over the summer from Metz for £2.1M
  • Metz finished 11th in the French First division last season, scored 4 goals in 23 Lge games last season.
  • Former French U21 international.
  • Joined Newcastle on-loan in Jan 1999 from Metz until the end of season 1998-99. Made 11 Prem apps (1 goal).
  • 1997-8 was his first in the senior side at Metz. He scored once in 21 league appearances. Metz finished runners-up in the French championship in 1997-98, so qualifying for the Champions League.
  • Made his debut in English football as a sub v Chelsea in Jan 99.

    Kit Symons

  • Signed from Man City on a free transfer in July 1998.
  • Scored only twice last season, scored 11 in previous season.
  • Wales international with 32 caps, last v Qatar in Feb.
  • Was out of favour towards the end of last season.
  • Made over 350 career Lge apps.

    Maik Taylor

  • Signed from Southampton for an initial fee of £800,000 in November 1997. He dropped down two divisions.
  • Northern Ireland international with 11 caps, prior to Yugoslavia game on Wed.
  • Kept 6 consecutive clean sheets in all comps between Aug 30-Sep 25 of last season.
  • Kept 23 clean sheets in 57 games last season.
  • Club's only ever present last season.
  • Has played in the last 104 consecutive Lge games for Fulham.
  • Has kept 55 clean sheets in 121 Lge games for Fulham.
  • Making his 150th app for Fulham tonight.

    Glyn Thompson

  • 19 yr old reserve keeper
  • Signed from Shrewsbury for £50,000 last October.
  • Was on the bench for three games at end of last season.
  • Was on-loan at Mansfield last season, made 16 apps.

    Paul Trollope

  • Signed from Derby for £600,000 in November 1997.
  • Welsh international (5 caps).
  • Last Lge start came v Tranmere on Jan 3.
  • Made 24 Premiership apps for Derby within seasons 1996-97 and 1997-98.
  • Hasn't scored for over a year, since at Bristol Rovers in March 1999.
  • Made over 250 career Lge apps.



other sections

source=SKY StatPack - By Sven Alexis























Head to Head (League overall)


Played         58
Birmingham     22
Fulham         18
Drawn          18
Both games ended in draws last season.

They drew 2-2 on the opening day of last season at St Andrew's, Fulham's Geoff Horsfield scored twice and got himself sent-off for two yellow cards. Birmingham hit back through a Stephen Hughes own goal and a late Stan Lazaridis equaliser.

The game at Craven Cottage last December ended 0-0. Last season's meetings was the first time in eight seasons that both clubs were in the same division, since season 1991-92.

Birmingham are unbeaten in their last 11 League games against Fulham, winning six.

Birmingham's last win came at St Andrews in Dec 1991, winning 3-1 in an old Div 3 fixture, Ian Rodgerson (2) and Nigel Gleghorn the Birmingham scorers, Gary Brazil scored for Fulham. Birmingham were promoted in this season, finishing second behind Brentford.

Fulham's last win came at St Andrew's exactly 21 years ago, winning 4-3 in an opening day (old) Div 2 fixture. Gordon Davies scored a hat-trick for Fulham, Chris Guthrie also scored. Birmingham scorers were Tony Evans, Kevin Dillon and Keith Bertschin, and they were 3-0 in this opening day fixture. In this season of 1979-80, Birmingham were promoted to the top division and Fulham were relegated.

other sections

source=SKY StatPack - By Sven Alexis














Head to Head (at St Andrew's)


Played         29
Birmingham     14
Fulham          6
Drawn           9

Drew 2-2 on the opening day here last season.

Birmingham have lost only one of their last 13 League games here against Fulham, winning seven of the other 12. Fulham's only win coming exactly 21 years ago, winning 4-3.

There have been 40 goals scored here between the two clubs in the last nine League meetings, an average of four goals a game.



other sections

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Birmingham

Birmingham finished 5th last season, 12 points behind runners-up Man City, they were to then lose 5-2 to Barnsley on aggregate in the play-off semi-finals. This was the second successive season that they had lost in the play-off semi-finals.

Have now finished in the top 10 of this division for the last four seasons.

Scored 65 Lge goals last season, the lowest scorers from the top six.

Conceded only 44 Lge goals last season, only Man City, Ipswich and Fulham had a better defence.

Now in their sixth successive season in this division after winning the Div 2 title in season 1994-95. Only Steve Robinson and Ian Bennett remain from that title winning side five years ago.

Their fourth place finish a couple of seasons ago is the closest that the club has come to reaching the top division in the last 14 seasons, since they were relegated from the old Div 1 in season 1985-86. This is their longest ever spell outside the top division.

Won 15 and lost only three of their 23 home games last season, losing to Man City, Sheff Utd and Nott'm Forest.

Conceded only 16 goals at home last season, only Fulham had a better home defence.

Won 9 and lost only one of their last 12 home Lge games, conceding only 5 goals in this time.

Remained in a play-off spot for the majority of last season, not bad considering they had key players out at the same time throughout the season. At times Francis could pick only four players out of his first choice 11.

Players with long lay-offs last season

McCarthy missed half of last season with a broken leg (broke it again towards the end of the season).
Furlong missed 6 months with a knee injury.
A Johnson missed four months with a knee injury.
Charlton missed three months of the season recovering from a groin op (now at
Bolton).
Lazaridis missed 16 games with a knee injury.
Ndlovu was out for the best part of seven months with an ankle injury.
Robinson was out for the majority of the season with ankle and knee problems.
Marsh was out all season with a back injury.
Poole missed the last 6 weeks of the season with a groin injury.
Bennett missed the last 6 weeks of the season with a broken hand.
Grainger missed two months last season with a broken fibula.

Attendances at St Andrew's last season averaged almost 22,000, an increase of 5% on the previous season. Only Man City averaged higher crowds in Div 1 last season.

Started the season with a 0-0 draw at QPR last Saturday, three players made their Birmingham debuts, Horsfield, Sonner and Eaden.

Will be looking to make the same sort of start as they made at the start of last season, going top after 9 games, after losing only once in those 9 games.


Birmingham's forthcoming fixtures:
Aug 22    Southend       (a)  WC1.1
    26    Nott'm Forest  (a)
    28    Barnsley       (h)
Sep  2    Norwich        (a)
     5    Southend       (h)  WC1.2
     9    Sheff Utd      (h)
    12    Preston        (h)
Birmingham summer ins and outs

Ins: From: Fee: Nicky EADEN Barnsley Free Geoff HORSFIELD Fulham £2.25m (CR) David BURROWS Coventry Free Danny SONNER Sheff Wed Free Christophe GRONDIN Toulouse Free Mickael SABATHIER Toulouse Free Outs: To: Fee: Gary ROWETT Leicester £3m Simon CHARLTON Bolton Free Paul FURLONG QPR loan

Birmingham's Pre-season friendlies: Jul 21 Cheltenham (a) W4-0 25 Oxford U (a) W3-0 29 Tottenham (h) L0-1 Aug 1 Stoke (a) L1-2 5 Walsall (h) W1-0 7 Hednesford (a) W3-1


other sections

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Birmingham Manager

Manager Trevor Francis took charge at St Andrew's in May 1996, following the departure of Barry Fry.

Francis spent six years as a player at Birmingham, scoring 119 goals in 280 League apps, began his career there and made his debut at 16 years of age. Won promotion to the top division with Birmingham back in 1971-72, finished old Div 2 runner's up that year. He was just 18 at the time. Was capped 52 times by England.

 



other sections

source=SKY StatPack - By Sven Alexis

























Birmingham Pen-Pix

    Dele Adebola

  • Almost joined Spanish club Las Palmas over the summer in a £1.2m deal, he passed the medical and agreed terms, but then Las Palmas just suddenly lost interest!
  • Made 42 Lge apps last season, but half of them as sub, scored 5 Lge goals.
  • Signed from Crewe for £1m in Feb 98.

    Jonathan Bass

  • Had a loan spell at Gillingham towards the end of the season, made 7 apps.
  • Made 8 Lge apps for Birmingham last season. His last Birmingham app came v Forest last Dec.
  • Former England schoolboy. Now in seventh season at the club.
  • Out of contract.

    Ian Bennett

  • Missed the end of last season with a broken finger sustained in training.
  • Made 21 Lge apps last season.
  • Now in eighth season at the club. Signed from Peterborough in Dec 93, made 260 apps for Birmingham.
  • Started career at Newcastle.

    David Burrows

  • Signed on a free from Coventry over the summer.
  • Failed to score in 129 games for Coventry. Not scored for 7 years, since for West Ham v Man City in Nov 1993.
  • Was sent-off twice last season - at Leicester on Aug 11 and at Tranmere in the Worthington Cup on Sept 14.
  • Missed a total of 7 games last season through suspension.
  • Has now made over 350 career Lge apps (only 5 Lge goals).
  • Started career at West Brom, before joining Liverpool in 1988, won the League title with them in 1990, also won the FA Cup with them in 1992.
  • Then moved onto West Ham, Everton and then Coventry for £1.1m in 1995.
  • Former England 'B' and U21 international.
  • Currently struggling with a hamstring injury.

    James Dyson

  • 21 year old defender who made his debut as sub in the WC win at Exeter last Aug.
  • Made a further two sub Lge apps last season. Former club trainee.
  • Out with a broken leg.

    Nicky Eaden

  • Signed on a free from Barnsley over the summer.
  • Spent nine seasons at Oakwell, making over 300 apps. Scored 3 goals last season.
  • Rejected two contract offers by Barnsley last season. Former Barnsley captain.

    Paul Furlong

  • On a 3-month loan spell at QPR.
  • He no longer figures in Francis's plans.
  • Was the club's top scorer with 11 goals last season.

    Jerry Gill

  • Made 11 Lge apps last season, only 2 starts.
  • Signed from Yeovil for £30,000 in July 97.
  • Represented England at semi-pro level.

    Martin Grainger

  • Suffered in pre-season with an achilles tendon injury, but played last week in midfield v QPR.
  • Scored 6 goals last season, 5 at home.
  • Started career at Colchester before joining Brentford and then Birmingham in Mar 96 for £400,000.
  • Made over 250 career Lge apps.
  • Club's Player of the year for last season.
  • Recently signed a new 6 yr contract at the club.

    Jimmy Haarhoff

  • 19 yr old midfielder.
  • His only app last season came v Palace as sub in Oct.
  • Born in Zambia, former club trainee.

    David Holdsworth

  • Scored 6 goals last season, 5 Lge - his best ever goalscoring season.
  • Has missed only 2 Lge games since his arrival from Sheffield Utd in March 99, for £1.2M.
  • Former England U21 int. Spent over 10 yrs at Watford before joining Sheffield Utd in 96. Has made 484 career apps.
  • Now in fifteenth season of his career.
  • Recently signed a 2 yr extension to his contract, which keeps him at the club until 2004.
  • This follows Hughes, Bennett, M Johnson and Grainger all signing extended contracts.

    Geoff Horsfield

  • Signed for a club record from Fulham for £2.25m over the summer.
  • It was reported that Tigana was looking for a more skilful and less physical striker! (Enter Saha)
  • Spent two years at Craven Cottage, signing from Halifax for £325,000 in October 1998.
  • Was Fulham's top scorer last season with 14 goals, 7 in Lge.
  • Scored both goals for Fulham at St Andrews in the opening day draw last season.
  • Scored only twice in his last 17 apps for Fulham, however he did score 31 goals in 74 games for Fulham.
  • Suffered with ankle and calf injuries last season. Former brick-layer.

    Bryan Hughes

  • Started his career at Wrexham before joining Birmingham for £700,000 in Mar 97.
  • Was the club's second top scorer last season with 9 goals (all Lge).
  • Was used up front at times in the absence of Furlong, Adebola, Ndlovu and Andrew Johnson.
  • Broke a toe in the win at Swindon in Feb but played on despite the injury.
  • Was sent-off against Wolves in April but referee Eddie Wolstenholme changed his decision in his match report and Hughes was given just a yellow.
  • Missed only one Lge game last season.

    Graham Hyde

  • Sustained a knee injury in the final day game v Grimsby and is still out with the injury. Hopes to return in Sep.
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