Best City Player You've Seen?

[Simon]

Who is the best Gloucester City player you have seen whilst watching the Club?

It will be interesting what the more 'experienced' supporters will say.

[Neil]

Andy Adebowale, Marcus Phillips or Chris Townsend!

[SHANDY LOVE MACHINE]

Stan Myers

[badsy]

showing my age but does anyone remember kim casey? i was very young but remember him as being special!
funny how strikers are always the ones you remember:)

[SHANDY LOVE MACHINE]

48 goals in a relegation season. A right robert dazzler.

[badsy]

thats the one, when i was really young micky burford ,was my hero along with doug foxwell
shame we have not got a 48 goal a season striker now!
looking at the team sheet for tonight any striker would be good

[bobcarolgees]

Andy Adebowale (thunderbolt at Cambridge City)
Stevie Portway (scoring machine)
Marcus Philips (easily too good for this level)
Dale Watkins (before he sold his soul and became scum)

[Clark_Griswald]

showing my age but does anyone remember kim casey? i was very young but remember him as being special!
funny how strikers are always the ones you remember:)

I remember Kim, a tremendous centre-forward. Caped Crusader was a big fan!

For me, it has to be Nigel Green - an outstanding centre-back.

[Smudge]

Being one of the 'old un's' I too thought that Stan Myers was a bit special, also a little later Mike Malpass?

[SHANDY LOVE MACHINE]

Anyone remember Jimmy Snodgrass?

[NI-Branch]

We have been very fortunate in this club to have such great goalkeepers over the years, I was struggling to name a bad one that has been a regular for us Bath, Mogg, Compton, Oakes and even Baldy himself (Shaw).

For sheer class in midfield, the ability to find that superb pass, it has to be Ade Adebowale, he really should have played football at a much higher standard.

Ricky Chandler was one of my personal favourates though, because when not suspended he harried and challenged for every ball.

I better also name Dougie Foxwell, because I played skittles with him for the Stadium Men (initially at Horton Rd and then St Peter's Club). He was a pretty good midfielder for us as well.

Over the years we have had some good strikers too. Karl Bayliss must rank high up the list as a preditor of a goal scorer. Andy Hoskins I think has found his level but scored many goals for us and we also cannot exclude our little Jimmy (Cox) who is still adding to his goal tally for us.

There are just so many names you could mention, it's nearly endless.

[Pablo]

Dale Watkins (before he sold his soul and became scum)

He would definately be mine!

[Clark_Griswald]

An unsung Carthorse was Jeff Meacham. I'll never forget his first game as a centre-forward - utterly useless...me and the Caped one just spent the entire match shaking our heads.

As I recall, Meach then played a handful more matches up front and never looked like hitting a bulls a1rse with a banjo, but then suddenly one day he turns out as a full back....:confused:

- Success! Talk about transformation - the guy never looked back. He became a quality player for us over the course of the next few seasons.

[NI-Branch]

Hancocks - He was solid and reliable at the back, except for hoofing it anywhere, wasn't the best passer of the ball.

[spandau_wirral]

Alan Bird

[badsy]

flash of insperation over breafast, what about martin lander, used to be so hard in the tackle and would bring them down if he missed the ball.
fond memories of shouting "youve been martin landered!" as players were stretchered off.

[Cyclops]

Dusty Miller, Archie Proudfoot, Phil Friel

[Clifty]

You'll never beat the kempy!!

[Spraggy]

John Stevens

[Noah]

Dusty Miller, Archie Proudfoot, Phil Friel

Gosh, there's some quality there ! All three were Scots.

I like Scots ball-players too, so I'd have Jimmy Weston, Maurice Milne (grandfather of Ralph, Shandy) and Johnny Gallagher in my list. But it would be a list. I think it's an impossible task this, but fascinating. I can see merit in every single selection that others have made.

Johnny Gallagher lived in Matson, and had a son. There may still be family connections in the area. I'm not being smart in listing him, of whom most won't ever have heard. In fact, I'll tell you that he couldn't head a ball or kick it with his left foot. But as a right-footed passer of the ball and a (one footed) dribbler he was marvellous.

I could probably think of a few special players from most eras, but similarly I think there were some fallow years at Horton Road when very few took the eye. Conversely, I think we have seen some wonderful players over the past fifteen years or so and I like to think that a few of the present team may earn their places in the ranks of the good and the great.

[Graham]

To me the best that we have seen at City was Steve Talboys, if I am not correct in recent history he was the only one to make it continously in the Pro ranks.


Before him was Rod Thomas but that was a little before my time (only just)

Maybe that is a question for the stat boys, name all the City players who then went on to play for their country, (Syko excluded)

[Neil]

Gareth Taylor played two games for City on loan from Bristol Rovers in 1991, he went on to captain Wales.

[Neil]

All these names are virtually meaningless unless the club has kept records of it's history. Or, is it as I suspect, they haven't?

[Lee]

For me it was easily Dale Watkins, although ive only been watching the club since about 1994.

It would be more interesting to gauge who people think has been our best player since were relegated to the western division a number of years ago, that might put our experiences on a more even footing.

Answering my own question I think it has to be Jimmy Cox. For a couple of seasons he was a goal machine. His partnership with Hosk was our most productive since Watkins and Holmes (sounds like a solicitors) and it nearly won us the championship.

[Noah]

[QUOTE=Lee;289]For me it was easily Dale Watkins, although ive only been watching the club since about 1994.

I am pleased to see you benefiting from your education, Lee. You've chosen a top man there. Though he let himself down a little in the Trophy semi-final replay, he did a great deal to get us there in the first place (with his mate, the great Dave Johnson)

[Lee]

with his mate, the great Dave Johnson

2 former Rushden and Diamonds players I believe. Were they part of the all conquering team that we managed to beat at home?

[Neil]

2-1? Dave Johnson got the last touch on our second that day.

[Neil]

It would be more interesting to gauge who people think has been our best player since were relegated to the western division a number of years ago, that might put our experiences on a more even footing.Jimmy has been the best for me but I think it's also important to look at the players who came in one by one to really help transform Burnsy's first squad from sunday league to Southern League. In that first season both Luke Prince and Karl Bayliss were very important signings at the right times. Then Chris Thompson was also very important as we started to add quality footballers to our bunch of try'ers...

[T-end Barmy]

It has to be Dale Watkins!
And then it would be Kemp and Phillips! As mentioned earlier in this thread, Phillips was way too good a player for our level and I believe ended up at a Dutch 1st Division club.

[Spraggy]

John Stevens

[SHANDY LOVE MACHINE]

Lance Morrison, Chris Townsend, Wayne Noble, Steve Talboys

[deano]

Has to be the Grey Legend, Jody Bevan :o

[Neil]

Has to be the Grey Legend, Jody Bevan :oHello Jody :D

[deano]

Hello Jody :D

Sorry - just a fan:p

[RegCubit]

Got to be the goal machine from way back in the 70s, memory going again, Stephenson, think it was John. Was like lighting over three yards, had this knack of being in the right place to bang in the goals, usually because he couldn't move too far from the opposition penalty area, he was a tad portly.

Andy Adebowale was a class player, especially when he played with Shearer in midfield.

[Dommotyger]

Jethro, Sticksy, Hoskie, Coxy, Baylo, Malpas, Lander, Nige Green, Portway, Watkins, Lancey Lancey Lancey Lancey Morrison!

[bobcarolgees]

It has to be Dale Watkins!
And then it would be Kemp and Phillips! As mentioned earlier in this thread, Phillips was way too good a player for our level and I believe ended up at a Dutch 1st Division club.

Utrecht if my memory serves me right

[MaxiJazz]

Chris Burns

[Lee]

Was like lighting over three yards

What happened thereafter?

[Spraggy]

"Got to be the goal machine from way back in the 70s, memory going again, Stephenson, think it was John. Was like lighting over three yards, had this knack of being in the right place to bang in the goals, usually because he couldn't move too far from the opposition penalty area, he was a tad portly."


For the third time

John Stevens

[badsy]

another one from days go by was Dave Lewis who had and still has connections with the minor club in Gloucestershire, was not the greatest player in terms of skill but for comedy value he is a legend, he was a striker at the end of his career and used to run on to keepers for a 50/50 ball and just not stop if the keeper got there first, i remember always looking forward to seeing him play.
Can someone help me out with Marcus phillips cant recall him at all what era was that

[Neil]

Can someone help me out with Marcus phillips cant recall him at all what era was thatHe only had about half a season around 1994 I think but he was incredibly skillful. The kind of player Mike Fowler could've been if we were a better team!

[Noah]

another one from days go by was Dave Lewis who had and still has connections with the minor club in Gloucestershire, was not the greatest player in terms of skill but for comedy value he is a legend, he was a striker at the end of his career and used to run on to keepers for a 50/50 ball and just not stop if the keeper got there first, i remember always looking forward to seeing him play.
Can someone help me out with Marcus phillips cant recall him at all what era was that


Don't forget that Dave Lewis was our leading scorer in both of the seasons he was with us and scored just fewer than 30 goals both times round. To be fair, he had a reputation that stretched across the non-league scene.

I think everyone's right to remember Marcus Phillips' talent, but Dave Lewis' record is in the book for all to see. Page 205 of the Official Southern League Centenary History includes a picture of him receiving a special trophy from Bobby Campbell and the Mayor of Gloucester to mark his scoring the 300th goal of his career whilst he was with us.

Others of ours who are in that book : Phil Basey (who remembers him ?), George Beattie, Bobby Brown, Kim Casey, Ricky Chandler, Tom Cobbley, Rob Coldray, Steve Fergusson, Neil Hards, Brian Hughes, Joe Hyde, Tony Jacques, Bobby McCool, Ian McIntosh, Jeff Meacham, Stan Myers, Wayne Noble, Tommy Northcott, Steve Portway, Selwyn Rice, John Stevens, Steve Talboys, Barry Vassallo and Russell Wilton.

I bet Russell Wilton would be surprised to be included in such a list, particularly when it excludes Rod Thomas.

[Neil]

Tom Cobbley? Did he have any nieces or nephews?

[Noah]

Well done, Neil. Prize for proof reading the deliberate mistake.

[darrenb]

I would go for Ferguson & Kemp at the back and Watkins, Holmes & Baylo upfront.

[SHANDY LOVE MACHINE]

might leave us a bit exposed in the middle Darren

[darrenb]

Ok lets have Adebowale & Harris in the middle and before you start on not having a keeper I would say Mokler :p

[SHANDY LOVE MACHINE]

They must be good if they only need 8 in their team..............

[darrenb]

How did I not see that coming :confused: ;) :confused:

[Dommotyger]

Steve Scarott lol

[bobcarolgees]

David Holmes...
"Welcome Holmes, welcome.Come on in and score a goal"
Could have been good. But sadly,given the price we paid, a waste of money in the end :(

[Neil]

KG always claimed that we paid £8k for him but the quoted price was always £25k. I wonder who was right?

Personally I thought Holmesey was a superb player with oodles of skill that I happilly pay money to watch. Just like my other hero Dave Porter, the best player we've ever signed from Swindon Supermarine!

[bobcarolgees]

Don't get me wrong he had ability, and scored some fantastic golas. It was just a case of which Holmes bothered to turn up. I think his days were over when he came back down here when he was on loan at Burton Albion from us and made quite a few gestures towards the T-End

Mitchell is one player who I dont think has been mentioned yet, was a player I always rated

[Dommotyger]

Mitchell who BOB lol

[bobcarolgees]

Dave, not Phil or Grant!

[Dommotyger]

when did he play for us bob

[Neil]

Of course, you do realise that profiles of all of these stars of past and present are available online at TR!!!

http://www.tigerroar.co.uk/davemitchell.php

I wish I could be bothered to finish them :(

[Dommotyger]

I seem to remember Ian Hedges was quite good or am I just being stupid

[bobcarolgees]

when did he play for us bob

It was during the Murphy years, was a midfielder who weighed in with a fair few goals.

Can anyone remember Simon Ullathorne? No he was frustrating, had the ability to beat everyone on the pitch and then somehow either sky it or hit the corner flag when it came to shooting!

[weston branch]

I thought Ullathorne was a total waste of space, best player(s) for me Morrison, Meacham, Kempy, Portway or Bywater

[Neil]

To his credit Willie Thorne did have a rare commodity - the ability to cross with his left foot. He was Stevie Portway's strike partner at Gravesend, which is where he lived (apparently). Thats a long way to come to play for City....

[SHANDY LOVE MACHINE]

Simon Cooper

[Noah]

[QUOTE
Can anyone remember Simon Ullathorne? No he was frustrating, had the ability to beat everyone on the pitch and then somehow either sky it or hit the corner flag when it came to shooting![/QUOTE]


I think he signed for us from Sittingbourne and one reason always cited for his over-hitting the ball was that he had come from a club with a very wide pitch to one that was quite narrow. As you say, he was a real mix - you could love him one minute and want to scream at him the next.

[Noah]

Simon Cooper

He looked very little like Tommy Cooper, but he could make you laugh.

[darrenb]

I always thought Tony Hemmings was a decent player - think that takes my team up to 9 players now Shandy :D

[Simon]

I always liked Gary Thorne, a typical no nonsense defender. When I was a young Footballer I modelled my game on him, almost resulting in me breaking the leg of Chris Burns' son Jake :D

I have his autograph somewhere :)

I think in about 5 or 6 years, if he is still playing at City, that Tom Webb could be considered for this thread. By then he would've played 500+ games for City.

[Matt]

Wayne Noble was always entertaining and one of the most skillfull players I can remember seeing at City. Steve Talboys was one of my favourites tho. Think he went on to play for Watford in the Premiership (as is now) didn't he? That must make him one of the best we have ever had.

[gloucester4life]

how about andy hoskins and gary marshall matt bath yeah tom webb lee smith that kind of era

[Noah]

Steve Talboys was one of my favourites tho. Think he went on to play for Watford in the Premiership (as is now) didn't he? That must make him one of the best we have ever had.

'Twas Wimbledon, in their heyday.

[SHANDY LOVE MACHINE]

He made the most of the talent he had, although I'm glad I didn't see him play in his second spell down here as I hear he was disappointing, and it would have sullied my memory of the goalscoring manicured midfielder

[Neil]

He played in one game when we were being relegated. He had a terrible game.

[Don Caster]

Wayne Stokes....centre back from way back in Horton Road days

[Cyclops]

Derek, "the Dude," Dawkins; Marshall helping to set up a free kick a speciality; Kwaisy Cairns, especially when lashing sixes; Underhill, when agreeing to marry under pressure, on leap year day; the chap who played alongside George Best, who had a trial allowing us to be slaughtered at home by Chelmsford, all skidding happily along on the Moreton-in the Marsh free-transferred chairman's pie-in the sky ice-rink.

[Neil]

Justin Lee is the kid I believe, he came from Abingdon and even scored a goal direct from a corner.

Other than that those are some other name worthy of a place in the Tiger's Nightmare XI, especially the Dude, who legend has it "Imported Boats"!

[weston branch]

Steve Talboys was one of my favourites tho. Think he went on to play for Wimbledon in the Premiership (as is now) didn't he? That must make him one of the best we have ever had.

Only goal he ever scored in the Top flight was a header against Spurs, think it was the only goal of the game. Went off him as a player from that day on:rolleyes: