Player of the Decade
We are now in a new decade, and I thought it was still a good time to look back and see who was our Player of the Decade 2000-2010.I then thought it was a bit arrogant of me to decide this unilaterally, so I created a poll on the home page of this website. I also took votes from supporters at games, and the results were announced last March.
THE CONTENDERS WERE...
Ramzi Bedj Bedj: 2008-presentIn terms of longevity there were others I could have chosen, but Ramzi's skills are incomparable with anyone else who played for the club in this decade. Has recently returned from a bit of time off and again shows real flashes of ability, from way above this level of football at times.
Appearances: 52 Goals: 15
Paul Borg: 2007-presentDave Hyatt also had a claim here, and I could have put two keepers in the list, but I believe Borgy just edges it with his regular match saving displays. How many points he has saved us each season is debatable but everyone is agreed that it is a lot.
Appearances: 167 Goals: 0
Robbie Burns: 2007-2010Robbie is in for his prolific scoring over the last three seasons, and is the ninth highest scorer in club history, hitting 37 last season, the best tally since 1984. We hope he will return one day to pass the hundred mark.
Appearances: 155 Goals: 91
Ben Forey: 1996-2001Ben was one of the quickest players we ever had at the club. He was around back in 1996 when he contributed to our 11-1 win over Tring, and was still here in 2000/01 when he scored 29 goals in 48
appearances. Just as he was looking good though, he moved to America to get married and coach.
Appearances: 77 Goals: 43
James Hall: 1998-2003James was a commanding centre-back, signed from local football and played for five solid years including our promotion season of 2001/02. Scored a hat trick in one match against Camberley and was our leading scorer in 2002/03 when we survived comfortably in mid-table of the Isthmian League Division One. Not bad for a centre half!
Appearances: 238 Goals: 45
Kyle Hough: 2007-presentKyle has been a regular ever since joining us in 2007. Although he quite rightly gets plaudits for his incredible consistency from the penalty spot with a run of 27 in a row, he has also been involved in 50 other goals from open play, and also scored two hat tricks in two matches back in February, the first time this had been done since 1984.
Appearances: 171 Goals: 81
Dale Marvell: 2000-2010Dale made his debut for the club on 15th January 2000 and in three spells for the club became a very dependable player after a slow start. In between, he played for Carshalton Athletic and is currently at Merstham. Carried the team almost single-handed through the desperate 2005/06 and 2006/07 seasons and in January 2009 scored a hat trick in the first half against North Greenford. Also scored three against Raynes Park but we still couldn't win that day, drawing 4-4!
Appearances: 235 Goals: 66
Alex Rodrigues: 2007-presentCaptain Reliable, "Rodders" has also shown he can be Captain Versatile by playing almost anywhere across the back four and also in front of it. Doesn't score many, but one thumping header against Burgess Hill was memorable. Oh yes, and he also hasn't missed a game since 1st December 2007!
Appearances: 193 Goals: 2
Barry Stevens: 1999-2003A flying winger, surprisingly released by Banstead Athletic, he joined us in August 1999 and produced a
stunning debut performance. And it kept on coming! He scored great goals against Banstead in the Vase and against Worthing in our great 3-1 League win there on the August Bank Holiday amongst others and kept going despite having lumps kicked out of him regularly, once at Great Wakering, he almost ended up over the fence after one particularly "Essex like" challenge. Currently starring at Carshalton Athletic where he was recently Captain.
Appearances: 167 Goals: 43
Adrian Toppin: 2001-2003"Tops" was a very solid central midfielder who scored on his debut against Hornchurch and then scored an identical goal in his next match. Was heavily involved in our promotion run of 2001/02 and unfortunately departed for Croydon Athletic along with James Hall and Barry Stevens in 2003. He then went on to Staines Town where he scored one of their goals in their F.A.Cup run from a couple of years back.
Appearances: 98 Goals: 15
THE WINNERCongratulations go to long-serving defender Alex Rodrigues who won the club's first ever website vote!
Alex was the clear winner in our poll with Dale Marvell in second and Barry Stevens in third. Congratulations to all three players.
RSS Feeds