Walsall
Legends XI Squad : Central Defence Elections.
By Neil Ravenscroft & 4two
May 22 2003
Who are our best Central Defenders of all time? Which ones we have listed here will make it in to the Legends XI Squad? Viveash, Hart, Crutchley, Foulkes, Ryder....
| The Legends XI | |
| Poll | Central Defenders |
| Nominees | 19 |
| Squad Places | 4 |
| Votes | Up to 4 per person |
| Closing Date | 29th May 2003 |
This
may prove to be one of the more contentious areas to choose the squad from. A
large proportion of Walsall’s record appearance makers have been defenders and
there are several players who could have received nominations who didn’t.
However, a choice has to be made in the end!
The
Current Squad Members up for Re-Election.
Reg
Foulkes (CD): Called
Walsall's greatest ever half back in the book 100 greats, a powerful, commanding
defender.
Stan
Bennett (D/MC): played
over 400 times between 1963-1975, famed for solid displays which endeared him to
the Walsall crowd, and drew praise from opposition managers.
His nephew, unfortunately, chose to play for Albion!
Ron
Crutchley (D/MC): A hard
working defensive wing half and a favourite with the fans between 1945-1949.
Bill
Guteridge (CD) Nicknamed
Chopper, spent 9 seasons or so at Fellows Park, one of the greatest ball winners
ever to play for Walsall, and a folk hero with the crowds.
Adrian
Viveash (CD) Cost Walsall
nothing, having played at the highest level with his local club, Swindon.
Won two player of the season awards, captained the side on a number of
occasions and made a name for himself as a goal scorer.
Peter
Hart (CD/MC) A Yorkshireman, played for 4th Division
rivals Huddersfield before joining us. Spent
10 years at the heart of Walsall's side. Was the captain 84 team that reached
the semis of the Milk Cup and skippered the side to play off glory in 88. The
Captain of the Legends Squad). Now
a vicar, he was always a deeply religious man and was a leading light in the
Christians in Sport movement.
TheSaddlersFC
Nominates……
Frank Gregg (DR). Held down that position for a long time during the sixties. A tough tackler, he was another very under rated footballer, making almost 400 appearances for the Saddlers.
Nick Atthey (DR, C, MC). Short, he had an amazing ability to out jump forwards much taller then himself. One of the Walsall men to have made over 500 appearances for the club, over a period of 14 seasons.
Ian Roper (CD) Is the only new nominee from the current squad up for a defensive slot. He won the player of the season ballot this season He has been the main stay of the Walsall defence during their most successful period ever. He is one of the best ball winners ever to play for us.
Colin Brazier (CD). An ex Wolves stalwart, formed a great partnership with Peter Hart at the center of the Walsall defence. After being forced to retire from professional football through injury, was still good enough to represent England as an amateur.
Stuart Ryder (CD) Broke in to the Walsall side in 1992 as a teenager. He went on to play for the England U21s in the Toulon Tournament. Those who saw him play could see he was going on to bigger and better things, but he damaged his cruciates in a reserve game and never came back the same player. .
Albert McPherson (CD). 367 appearances for the Saddlers, a tough, uncompromising center half and a key member of the promotion winning sides of the late fifties/early sixties.
Nominations from the fans…..
· Andy Tilson – Important member of the Play Off Winning team.
· Derek Mountfield – Played at the highest level, worked his way down to us.
· Roger Hynd – Played at the highest level before joining us in 1975.
· Richard Green – No nonsense defender signed by Graydon.
· Graham Forbes- 4 years of service 86-90, also skipperd the side.
· Ricky Sbragia – Key figure in 79-80-promotion season.
· David Serella – Long serving and popular central defender from late 70s.
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