Hartlepool United Player Profiles - 15 to 19
By Albatross
May 22 2003
More Hartlepool United Player Profiles - and this time it's the turn of Tommy Widdrington, Adam Boyd, Jon Bass and Jermaine Easter.
Tommy Widdrington Squad No: 15
Newcastle-born, Widds had to go a long way to get his start in Football: he was a Trainee at Southampton, making 89 appearances for the Saints in six seasons before joining Grimsby in a £300K deal in the summer of 1996. He made more than 100 appearances for the Mariners, but at the end of 1998/9 found himself on loan to Port Vale before joining them permanently at the end of the season on a free. 80 more appearances in two seasons followed, before he joined Pools on a free during the summer of 2001.
It's fair to say that Widds didn't set the world alight when he first arrived at the Vic. Following the departure of Tommy Miller, the new midfield trio of Widds, Tinkler and Stepho just didn't work - and it was Widds that was coming in for much of the criticism. A penalty miss against Scunthorpe didn't help his case either. Eventually he found his feet, and his ability to play the simple ball, act as an outlet for defenders, and keep possession was soon recognised to be an important factor as Pools turned things around. It was therefore a real blow when a back injury that forced him to be substitued early on in the home fixture against Scunny in late January turned out to be serious enough to keep him out for the rest of the season.
Widds returned to the team in August, making his first start of the season in the victory over Darlo, and has been a regular for most of the season. His calmness and control in midfield may not always catch the eye, but he's been a big part of our success this season.
Surprisingly, he has been released by the club in the close season, a decision that Mike Newell described as "the hardest I've had to make."
Adam Boyd first came to the attention of many Pools fans when he scored a spectacular goal against Shrewsbury from an impossible angle, back in February 2000. That goal kept our playoff bid on the right track, and signalled to many Poolies that we had a bright talent here. He had to wait until the following season for his first start though, and was used only sparingly in 2000/1, making just three starts and three sub appearances and failing to get on the scoresheet.Last season though was a different matter. He scored on his first appearance of the season - as a sub against Carlisle - and at one point scored four in three games as he got a run in the team. Overall he managed 9 goals during the campaign, although he did lose out somewhat following the arrival of Eifion Williams.
Following the injury to Gordon Watson, Boyd found himself starting once more, and initially took the chance with both hands as he scored in three successive games - against Lincoln, Bury, and Rushden. However, he soon found himself back on the bench as Marcus Richardson impressed following his arrival. Since then he's been in and out of the side, but the local lad has agreed a new deal and will be at Pools for the next two seasons.
Rumours seem to surround Adam, and have done for some time. If I had a pound for every time someone's muttered that he's about to be sacked for going out drinking, or that some other club is going to come in for him, my bank balance would be considerably healthier. For all that's been said, he's still at the club; and few doubt that he's someone who can go places if he puts it all together. The question is, will he be a Stephen Halliday or a Tommy Miller.
Bass arrived from Birmingham during the summer of 2001 to contest the right back/right wingback position with Paul Arnison. He'd been at St. Andrews for seven years, and had been a regular late in 96/7 and then 97/8 - but had gradually faded from the scene before leaving and signing for Pools.
In a similar way to Tommy Widdrington, he didn't get off to a very good start; unlike Widds though, he has failed to win back a regular place and has languished in the reserves most of the time. He wasn't helped by the fact that he was being asked to play Wingback when he first arrived - he's more of a full-back by nature - although he did achieve the landmark of his first senior goal when he headed home against Rochdale. However, with Mickey Barron preferred on the right, he's frequently found himself third in the queue for his favoured position, and even when he has played well there has found himself back on the sidelines in short order. He made just five appearances this season - one in the LDV - but has signed a new 12 month deal with the club. He may yet find himself playing as a centre half next season, a position he has covered in the reserves with some distinction.
Jermaine arrived at the Vic late in the 2000/1 season. One of Chris Turner's Youth Team at Wolves, he'd represented Wales at youth level and even Captained their u19 side. A couple of sub appearances showed someone with plenty of pace, but he blotted his copy book early on when he was sent off just ten minutes after arriving on the pitch as Pools crashed out of the playoffs to Blackpool.
Following a promising pre-season that saw him amongst the goals, he then showed an alarming tendency to freeze when playing in competetive matches. Although he could bang them in for the reserves and in friendlies, any sign of pressure seemed to affect him badly. He did manage two goals for the first team, but tellingly in both cases they were in games that were effectively over - the final Pools goals in a 4-1 defeat of Torquay and a 5-1 drubbing of Southend.
This season has followed the same pattern. He was amongst the goals with a vengeance in pre-season with nine - including no less than six against Dutch part-timers Nootdorp - but when he did have a chance for the first team, coming on as a first-half sub for Eifion Williams against Macclesfield, he had a very poor game and missed a couple of gilt-edged chances. Recently he's been playing on the right for the reserves, and has scored consistently for them - and also made an impact when he came on as a right winger against Rushden in the Title Decider. Surprisingly to many, he's recently agreed a new two year deal at Pools.