|
Post by Finnish Gas on Jun 5, 2015 8:03:22 GMT
Who is the oldest player to make his Football League debut with Rovers? Will Stuart Sinclair take over that mantle? As a comparison Tony Book (a non-league player with Bath City) entered the Football League for the first time at the age of 30, though Plymouth believed him to be 28 – Malcolm Allison had advised Book to doctor his birth certificate as he thought the Plymouth board would not pay £1,500 for a 30-year-old. Source - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Book
|
|
|
Post by markczgas on Jun 5, 2015 9:59:13 GMT
Who is the oldest player to make his Football League debut with Rovers? Will Stuart Sinclair take over that mantle? As a comparison Tony Book (a non-league player with Bath City) entered the Football League for the first time at the age of 30, though Plymouth believed him to be 28 – Malcolm Allison had advised Book to doctor his birth certificate as he thought the Plymouth board would not pay £1,500 for a 30-year-old. Source - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_BookNice story !! I'm sure we've had older but don't quote me on that !!
|
|
|
Post by Finnish Gas on Jun 5, 2015 10:12:43 GMT
I suspect that when we entered the Football League for the first time in 1920 we would have had a number of "older" players who were making their FL debut - may be one or two in their thirties. However if we took 1945 as the benchmark Stuart Sinclair will probably be near the top of the list (once he has played in a League Two game).
|
|
|
Post by zombiestyle on Jun 5, 2015 11:20:20 GMT
How old is Stuart? Barry Hayles was around 25 when we bought him into league football. Worked out okay.
|
|
pirateer
Vaughn Jones
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 147
|
Post by pirateer on Jun 5, 2015 11:53:49 GMT
How old is Stuart? Barry Hayles was around 25 when we bought him into league football. Worked out okay. according to Soccerbase 27, as he was born on 09 Nov, 1987. Soccerbase
|
|
|
Post by markczgas on Jun 5, 2015 12:07:15 GMT
Archie Stephens was over 25 when Rovers brought him to the club from non -league - he was a great signing too !
|
|
badhand
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 182
|
Post by badhand on Jun 5, 2015 12:22:41 GMT
Mark Johns was 27. He played a couple of games and scored a goal during the first season at Twerton. He joined from Bristol Manor Farm and returned shortly afterwards.
|
|
dagnogo
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 872
|
Post by dagnogo on Jun 5, 2015 13:05:48 GMT
It would've been Puddy but for 1 apperance in an end of season dead rubber for Cheltenham 6 years ago.
|
|
|
Post by barleycorn48 on Jun 5, 2015 13:15:07 GMT
I think back in the 1960s Tony Book was around 29 when he made his league debut, signed by Malcolm Allison from Bath City , He went on to captain Man City to the league title.
|
|
harrybuckle
Always look on the bright side
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 5,430
|
Post by harrybuckle on Jun 5, 2015 13:34:33 GMT
Oldest debutants
1. Harry Smith b.11.10.08 pl.16.11.46 38y 36d 2. Sam Irving b.28.08.94 pl.27.08.32 37y 364d 3. Alan Ball b.12.05.45 pl.29.01.83 37y 262d 4. Jack Evans b.31.01.89 pl.28.08.26 37y 209d 5. Joe Clennell b.19.02.89 pl.04.09.26 37y 197d 6. Lance Carr b.18.02.10 pl.31.08.46 37y 194d 7. Scott McGleish b.10.02.74 pl.06.08.11 37y 177d 8. Steve Book b.07.07.69 pl.11.03.06 36y 247d 9. Andy Rammell b.10.02.67 pl.29.03.03 36y 47d 10. Kenny Hibbitt b.03.01.51 pl.23.08.86 35y 232d 11. Mark Walters b.02.06.64 pl.20.11.99 35y 171d 12. Les Bradd b.05.11.47 pl.01.01.83 35y 57d 13. Terry Cooper b.12.07.44 pl.18.08.79 35y 37d 14. John Stevenson b.27.02.98 pl.01.03.33 35y 2d
|
|
irishrover
Global Moderator
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 3,372
|
Post by irishrover on Jun 5, 2015 13:44:50 GMT
Oldest debutants 1. Harry Smith b.11.10.08 pl.16.11.46 38y 36d 2. Sam Irving b.28.08.94 pl.27.08.32 37y 364d 3. Alan Ball b.12.05.45 pl.29.01.83 37y 262d 4. Jack Evans b.31.01.89 pl.28.08.26 37y 209d 5. Joe Clennell b.19.02.89 pl.04.09.26 37y 197d 6. Lance Carr b.18.02.10 pl.31.08.46 37y 194d 7. Scott McGleish b.10.02.74 pl.06.08.11 37y 177d 8. Steve Book b.07.07.69 pl.11.03.06 36y 247d 9. Andy Rammell b.10.02.67 pl.29.03.03 36y 47d 10. Kenny Hibbitt b.03.01.51 pl.23.08.86 35y 232d 11. Mark Walters b.02.06.64 pl.20.11.99 35y 171d 12. Les Bradd b.05.11.47 pl.01.01.83 35y 57d 13. Terry Cooper b.12.07.44 pl.18.08.79 35y 37d 14. John Stevenson b.27.02.98 pl.01.03.33 35y 2d I understand they are all available on a free..... But I think they meant players who made their football league debuts for us rather than debuts for the club full stop.
|
|
|
Post by Finnish Gas on Jun 5, 2015 13:54:49 GMT
Very useful info but I think all of the above were already Football League players - eg. Harry Smith played 156 times for Nottingham Forest (1929–1937).
|
|
|
Post by Gregory Stevens on Jun 6, 2015 5:09:43 GMT
I think back in the 1960s Tony Book was around 29 when he made his league debut, signed by Malcolm Allison from Bath City , He went on to captain Man City to the league title. I generally find pre 90s football boring, my Dad often bores me with tales of Tiddler Jenkins and similarly named players and is convinced they would hold their own today (they wouldn't, I've seen videos). However, the story of Tony Book fascinated me and gave me a whole nights worth of Wikipedia reading! Allison forged his birth cert and he went on to become a major star. I actually think he was older, over 30? I thought he was 32! Amazing in those days when the game was more physical, defenders were done at 32. Unbelievable story considering he was non league and went straight to prem, or div 1 as it was.
|
|
harrybuckle
Always look on the bright side
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 5,430
|
Post by harrybuckle on Jun 6, 2015 8:05:22 GMT
may be Archie Stephens at 27 oldest fl debut will try and ascertain
|
|
|
Post by Finnish Gas on Jun 6, 2015 8:21:28 GMT
Mark Johns was 27. He played a couple of games and scored a goal during the first season at Twerton. He joined from Bristol Manor Farm and returned shortly afterwards. Mark Johns was born on 17 May 1959 and when he made his Football League debut for Rovers on 4 October 1986 he would have been 27 years 4 months and 19 days. He incidentally scored the third goal in a 3-2 home win over Chesterfield. He played the following week at Wigan Athletic but did not appear again in the Rovers colours. Stuart Sinclair was born on 9 November 1987 and if he makes his Football League debut for Rovers on 8 August 2015 he will be 27 years 8 months and 30 days.
|
|
badhand
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 182
|
Post by badhand on Jun 6, 2015 9:00:44 GMT
I have been reading Pirates in profile by Mike Jay and Stephen Byrne.
Charles Windle born 8 Jan 1917. Made his League debut 21 Dec 1946. 29 years 6 months 13 days, I think. Played 7 games and scored one goal.
|
|
|
Post by markczgas on Jun 6, 2015 9:06:04 GMT
Archie Stephens was over 25 when Rovers brought him to the club from non -league - he was a great signing too ! I was right about Archie . He was born on 19 May 1954 and made his debut on 5 September 1981 coming on for Paul Randall in a 2 nil defeat at Chesterfield (what is now L1). He made his full league debut the following week at Home to Burnley and got both goals in a 2 -1 win, and followed it up with 2 more in a 3 nil win over Reading the following week - What a start !!! He was signed from Melksham town.
|
|
|
Post by markczgas on Jun 6, 2015 9:08:18 GMT
So just comparing with Stu, Archie was a few months younger. Let's hope Sinclair has a flying start too ! Does anyone think he'll make the starting 11 for the start of the season ?
|
|
|
Post by midlandgas on Jun 6, 2015 22:13:43 GMT
Well I'm 57 and still waiting my call up from dc
|
|
|
Post by o2o2bo2ba on Jun 7, 2015 6:26:28 GMT
So just comparing with Stu, Archie was a few months younger. Let's hope Sinclair has a flying start too ! Does anyone think he'll make the starting 11 for the start of the season ? I'm sure he will. DC didn't sign him for two years without that intention. It's whether he can stay fit given the nature of his game that could be an issue. Top bloke though. And great ambassador for the club. He always has time for families to chat..
|
|