A View from Afar 15/10/02: Striker Light!

By Albatross
October 15 2002

Sometimes you need to look at the past to realise that you've never had it so good. That's why Albatross presents some of the worst strikers to wear the Blue and White over the last decade. Be warned though - this isn't pretty!

In my time watching Pools, we've had more than our fair share of useless forwards. When I first started going to games, I was lucky enough to be seeing the partnership that the following season would fire us to promotion: Paul Baker and Joe Allon. Soon after, we were seeing the likes of Lenny Johnrose - one of the most popular players of his time, although more prone to falling over than scoring goals - and Andy Saville.

At the moment we seem to be as well off for decent forwards as we've ever been. Watson, Williams, Boyd, even Hendo are all galaxies beyond some of the people who've appeared up front (I can't say starred) for Pools over the last ten years or so. So for our younger readers, who may not remember, and with apologies to those who remember but have been trying to forget, here's ten of our most useless forwards since 1992, in the order that I happen to remember them in.

1) Scott Sloan. He joined us at the end of the 1993/4 season, and left at the end of the 95/6 season. A former Newcastle player, he came to us from Falkirk on a free transfer. Sadly not blessed with either pace or an eye for goal, he managed precisely three goals for us in 31 starts and three sub appearances. Pretty awful.

2) Colin West. The thing I best remember is the slight confusion when he signed in 1993; when you said "Colin West" everyone assumed you meant the former West Brom, Sunderland and Sheffield Wednesday striker who is now the No.2 at Pools; this however was the guy cursed to be known as "the other Colin West". Not reknowned for his physical prescence, he suffered from playing for a very poor side and scored just 6 goals in over 40 appearances before leaving at the end of the season.

3) Nicky Peverell. He joined us late in 1992, arriving from Middlesbrough together with Phil Gilchrist. Gilchrist turned out to be by far the better player, but at the time it was Peverell that was big news: he'd scored for fun in Boro's youth and reserve sides and big things were expected of him. It never materialised, he scored just four goals in 16 starts and 25 sub appearances before leaving for Hong Kong in 1994. Incredibly, we re-signed him when he returned a few months later, but he only played once before leaving for York a couple of months later. He's now plying his trade at Barrow.

4) Kona Hislop. A little cruel as he was more of a midfielder, but he lives in the dark corners of my mind. He would collect the ball, skillfully take it past a couple of players, and then not shoot or pass, but instead paint himself into a corner and get muscled off the ball. I remember after one away game shouting to him that he shouldn't be afraid to shoot; however when he did try a few shots, we soon saw why he didn't... 30 appearances without a goal to show for it in 1996/7 saw him leave at the end of the season.

5) John Thomas. He joined us for a short spell towards the end of a season in the early 90s, and scored once in seven appearances. By that time, he was pretty much at the end of a long career as a journeyman striker in the lower leagues, wasn't actually too bad but an unambitious signing that summed up the club at the time. The main thing I remember though is a match away at Wigan a year previously; his name was announced for the home team, and after a moment of stunned disbelief almost every Poolie started laughing!

6) Damien Henderson. Initially arriving on loan from Scunny at the end of 95/6, he scored three in twelve - prolific for a Pools Striker at the time - leading to a permanent deal the following season. A big lad, also capable of playing in defence, he scored just three in more than 40 appearances before disappearing in the direction of Scarborough. Last known playing at Farsley Celtic in Unibond Division 1 last season, and from one match report nothing seems to have changed..... "Farsley continued to press for a leveller, only for Damian Henderson to make a mess of a gilt edged chance" runs the report from their game against Ossett Town!

7) Lee Ellison. He was supposed to be the bright young star at Darlington, which made it even more bizarre that he joined us on loan in March 1993. Scored once in four games without really impressing; did score past Prudhoe in a friendly between Pools and Darlo close season, and Prudhoe joked with the Poolies that he had to do it so we'd take him off their hands! When he did leave them a year later, he signed for Leicester before departing to Crewe, Hereford, and back to Darlington. At none of these was he a regular. Was at Bishop Auckland last season.

8) Chris Freestone. Started like a rocket, left with barely a whimper, he seemed the ultimate confidence player. Helped us avoid relegation and great things were expected of the Jones/Freestone partnership - but by the end of the season he was going out on loan to Cheltenham and then joined Shrewsbury on a free, having scored 7 in over 40 appearances for Pools. Managed just two goals for the Shrews and was last seen at Forest Green.

9) Ricardo Gabbiadini. Marco's younger brother was nowhere near as good, and joined us in 1991. Actually scored twice for us, but possibly best remembered for cruelly being put up for the Sprint Challenge that saw John Williams crowned the fastest footballer in England. Was he really supposed to be the fastest player at the club? After a nomadic existence, I think he is now in York again, and unless there is more than one (and let's face it, it's not a common name) is running the Limes Hotel there!

10) Paul Beavers. Signed on loan from Oldham at the end of 99/00, I saw him play at Rochdale and couldn't understand how someone as tall as him could be so useless in the air. I remember saying at the time, ' "White Men can't jump" - well this one certainly couldn't!' This made it even more comical when Darlo signed him the following season, after showing the same to them he vanished without trace....

Dishonourable mentions go to: Paul Connor - now knocking them in for Rochdale, but had an awful loan spell at Pools, including two glaring misses at Shrewsbury; Lawrence Davies - a mate of Midge's from Bradford who was awful; Adie Mike; and David Rush (second spell) who managed to not score AND abuse the fans.

After that little lot, the current set of strikers don't seem so bad, do they!

Are there any Pools Forwards that still haunt your nightmares? Why not Confess all on the Message Board.....