Charlie McDonald. I thought he was going to be the next Michael Owen.
If only Charlie had the pace of young Owen!
I was at the game when he was about 19 and scored against Newcastle in the Premier at the Valley. Twenty years later I saw Charlie play for Glebe against Whyteleafe in the FA cup qualifying.
Now 23 years later and 21 clubs later (some on loan) Charlie Mcdonald is still playing at 42 years old. I believe it's Barking but he may have moved again.
Charlie McDonald. I thought he was going to be the next Michael Owen.
If only Charlie had the pace of young Owen!
I was at the game when he was about 19 and scored against Newcastle in the Premier at the Valley. Twenty years later I saw Charlie play for Glebe against Whyteleafe in the FA cup qualifying.
Now 23 years later and 21 clubs later (some on loan) Charlie Mcdonald is still playing at 42 years old. I believe it's Barking but he may have moved again.
It was that appearance (sub I think) and goal against Newcastle that made me think we had a player on our hands.
Cheers for the reply, I often wondered where his career went.
Andy Jones - scored bucket loads of goals for Port Vale (37 in 86/87 season) - we sign him, and what a let down - I was genuinely excited when we bought him, and was desperate for him to do well for us
A rare transfer flop for Lennie Lawrence. Like you, I was excited when we bought him. I was seeing a girl in Prestatyn at the time and got her to drive me to a Rhyl (where Jones started his career) reserve game so I could go to the programme shop and buy a couple from when he played for them.
I guess some youngsters don't adapt to the Men's game, like they do in Youth games, but thought he'd do better than he has done.
Was constantly appearing on the Scoresheet for the U18s
Went on loan to Billericay, who got relegated, but he still scored nine goals in 18-games, and then... Nothing
He can't get a game for a very poor Athlone Town in the League of Ireland First Division (2nd tier). 2 goals in 16 games in a division that really is lacking in quality and a club that are a basketcase.
Andy Jones - scored bucket loads of goals for Port Vale (37 in 86/87 season) - we sign him, and what a let down - I was genuinely excited when we bought him, and was desperate for him to do well for us
A rare transfer flop for Lennie Lawrence. Like you, I was excited when we bought him. I was seeing a girl in Prestatyn at the time and got her to drive me to a Rhyl (where Jones started his career) reserve game so I could go to the programme shop and buy a couple from when he played for them.
I hope you did not get him to sign one, he'd miss the page. PS, You know how to treat a girl!!
As well as a few others mentioned, I'm going to say a slightly controversial one.... Jonatan Johansson.
Yes, he did a job for a few years, but after he got 10 in his first 15 games or something, he never reached that level again, getting 4 or 5 a season after that.
Andy Jones - scored bucket loads of goals for Port Vale (37 in 86/87 season) - we sign him, and what a let down - I was genuinely excited when we bought him, and was desperate for him to do well for us
A rare transfer flop for Lennie Lawrence. Like you, I was excited when we bought him. I was seeing a girl in Prestatyn at the time and got her to drive me to a Rhyl (where Jones started his career) reserve game so I could go to the programme shop and buy a couple from when he played for them.
Andy Jones - scored bucket loads of goals for Port Vale (37 in 86/87 season) - we sign him, and what a let down - I was genuinely excited when we bought him, and was desperate for him to do well for us
A rare transfer flop for Lennie Lawrence. Like you, I was excited when we bought him. I was seeing a girl in Prestatyn at the time and got her to drive me to a Rhyl (where Jones started his career) reserve game so I could go to the programme shop and buy a couple from when he played for them.
Lennie did have a worse signing than Jones - Ralph Milne !!
In fact Ralph belongs on this list as well - won the league with Dundee Utd, played in Europe with them - what a pile of poo he was for us
Maybe controversial, but I think Linvoy Primus could be counted in this. He looked way ahead of Rufus when he broke through, but ended up being an average Joe in the lower leagues.
Alan Campbell Richie Bowman Bob Curtis John Stenson Jonjo Shelvey Diego Poyet, of course
Reminds me of Alan Ellis young midfielder how came up from the youth team. Only made a handful of appearances but looked re class. Around 1970 of the top of my head.
Yes, indeed. He liked like dynamite in the reserves, had a handful of first team games and never kicked on.
Going back a bit, Jim Ryan our Wales u/23 centre forward. He told me that he fell out with Frank Hill, manager, and lost his enthusiasm, which just goes to show how important the coaches/managers are to maintain confidence. Oh no doubt Diego Poyet should have been a super star but he just burnt out.
I remember Jim Ryan. He looked promising. In a reserve game, he punched and laid out one of the Brady brothers of Millwall. I think he joined Millwall subsequently.
As well as a few others mentioned, I'm going to say a slightly controversial one.... Jonatan Johansson.
Yes, he did a job for a few years, but after he got 10 in his first 15 games or something, he never reached that level again, getting 4 or 5 a season after that.
Maybe controversial, but I think Linvoy Primus could be counted in this. He looked way ahead of Rufus when he broke through, but ended up being an average Joe in the lower leagues.
Primus played for 5 years in the premier league and most of his career in the top two divisions. He wasn't a success at Charlton but he took a step back after leaving us and had a good professional career.
Vetokele after watching him single-handedly destroy Brentford on the opening day of the season way back when.
Thought Ajdarević was decent too outside of his fitness issues.
Good call re Vetokele. Injury again. Not so sure sbout Ajdarevic. But I liked Buyens and the Belgian journo I was in touch with about Douchebag, who was a Standard fan, assured me he was class. But when he went back to Belgium he just kept on a downward trajectory it seems.
Andy Jones - scored bucket loads of goals for Port Vale (37 in 86/87 season) - we sign him, and what a let down - I was genuinely excited when we bought him, and was desperate for him to do well for us
A rare transfer flop for Lennie Lawrence. Like you, I was excited when we bought him. I was seeing a girl in Prestatyn at the time and got her to drive me to a Rhyl (where Jones started his career) reserve game so I could go to the programme shop and buy a couple from when he played for them.
Lennie did have a worse signing than Jones - Ralph Milne !!
In fact Ralph belongs on this list as well - won the league with Dundee Utd, played in Europe with them - what a pile of poo he was for us
Have to agree, but he still scored against us in 3-0 win for Utd at Old Trafford.
Andy Jones - scored bucket loads of goals for Port Vale (37 in 86/87 season) - we sign him, and what a let down - I was genuinely excited when we bought him, and was desperate for him to do well for us
A rare transfer flop for Lennie Lawrence. Like you, I was excited when we bought him. I was seeing a girl in Prestatyn at the time and got her to drive me to a Rhyl (where Jones started his career) reserve game so I could go to the programme shop and buy a couple from when he played for them.
Lennie did have a worse signing than Jones - Ralph Milne !!
In fact Ralph belongs on this list as well - won the league with Dundee Utd, played in Europe with them - what a pile of poo he was for us
Have to agree, but he still scored against us in 3-0 win for Utd at Old Trafford.
Ferguson on record as stating Ralph his worst signing ever
Alan Campbell Richie Bowman Bob Curtis John Stenson Jonjo Shelvey Diego Poyet, of course
Reminds me of Alan Ellis young midfielder how came up from the youth team. Only made a handful of appearances but looked re class. Around 1970 of the top of my head.
Yes, indeed. He liked like dynamite in the reserves, had a handful of first team games and never kicked on.
I am sure Alan Ellis had a career ending injury..he would have been mustard but for that
Thought Paul Sturgess was another in the Scott Minto mould.
Can remember in a programme him saying he was going to 'fire us' back to the Premier League, didn't he end playing in the Cyprus Premier League, still would have been a bit warmer over there.
Ha one game & you knew he was non league standard. Yes he was in Cyprus for a while but I don't think that was the premier league that he was talking about
Charlie McDonald. I thought he was going to be the next Michael Owen.
If only Charlie had the pace of young Owen!
I was at the game when he was about 19 and scored against Newcastle in the Premier at the Valley. Twenty years later I saw Charlie play for Glebe against Whyteleafe in the FA cup qualifying.
Now 23 years later and 21 clubs later (some on loan) Charlie Mcdonald is still playing at 42 years old. I believe it's Barking but he may have moved again.
That's brilliant an ex pro playing for the love of the game. Wasn't Ricardo Fuller doing the same just a few years ago ?
Comments
If only Charlie had the pace of young Owen!
I was at the game when he was about 19 and scored against Newcastle in the Premier at the Valley. Twenty years later I saw Charlie play for Glebe against Whyteleafe in the FA cup qualifying.
Now 23 years later and 21 clubs later (some on loan) Charlie Mcdonald is still playing at 42 years old.
I believe it's Barking but he may have moved again.
Cheers for the reply, I often wondered where his career went.
PS, You know how to treat a girl!!
Yes, he did a job for a few years, but after he got 10 in his first 15 games or something, he never reached that level again, getting 4 or 5 a season after that.
Wiggins especially, felt like he should’ve had a career trajectory very similar to Dale Stephens who came from the same team.
Thought Ajdarević was decent too outside of his fitness issues.
karlan ahern-grant