5. Chris Westwood

The Saddlers secured the signing of Chris Westwood on July 1^st 2005, where he joined the club on a free transfer from Hartlepool United.

The 29 year-old who hails from Dudley, has developed into a solid, no-nonsense centre half during his six-year stay at Hartlepool and he was a well-respected figure both on and off-the-field and made almost 300 appearances in all competitions for The Pools.

He started his career with Wolverhampton Wanderers where he came through the Molineux ranks and signed his first professional contract with the club at the start of the 1995/96 season, but he found his first-team opportunities where hard to come by, and was released by The Wolves at the end of his first season. 

Westwood then had a brief, unsuccessful spell at Reading before he was signed by Hartlepool on a free transfer in March 1999, and it was at Victoria Park where his career started to take off.  He helped the club reach the play-offs at the end of each of his first three seasons with the club, before they won automatic promotion to League 1 in the 2002/03 season.

He took the step up in divisions with complete ease and his impressive form continued to develop in leaps and bounds and he was a key figure in helping The Pool reach the play-offs at the end of their first two seasons at League 1 level.

Despite Harltlepool’s efforts to keep the defender and with plenty of interest elsewhere he joined The Saddlers I the Summer 2005, he had a very poor start to life at Bescot Stadium in his first season at the club.

Bookmark or share this story with:

• Digg
• Delicious
• Facebook
• Reddit
• Stumbleupon

SPORTNETWORK SPECIALS