The Worst Albion player that you actually liked

[Minghawk]

not sure why, but I always wanted Robert Codner to do well - may God have mercy on my soul

 

[Del Boy]

Ifejiagwa! I still remember his goal against Barnet. Rain was sheeting down on us at Underhill that day, positioned out on that open bank of green seats. Albion fans filling the whole end with some people fighting to get into the covered terrace at the side. That ground really was (still is in fact) a dump, how were Kidderminster and Stevenage denied entry to the League when Underhill was allowed?

We'd been done 2-0 there the previous season (Damien Hiltons debut if I remember rightly when he memorably ducked a cross) and hopes weren't high that day. We had been beaten 3-1 in consecutive "home" games by Mansfield and Plymouth. We'd only won 1 out of the last 8 games, that victory coming in a Friday night 3-2 win at Cambridge. The night when Rod Thomas made his debut, another cult hero for me.

We'd signed this Nigerian guy on loan from Charlton Athletic and the Barnet PA guy seemed to have real problems pronouncing his name. The game kicked off with the rain bucketing down and the wind blowing straight into our faces. Several hundred people, upon realising that entry to the covered terrace could be gained via the snack hut, gained a sudden desire for half cooked burgers and luke warm tea.

I really can't remember much about the game, the rain was so heavy it was almost impossible to make out what was going on at the other end of the sloping pitch and the conditions were hardly going to encourage a free flowing game, not that that happened much in Division 3. We went in at 0-0 and I can recall feeling quite optimistic as I attempted to drain the water from my shoes.

In one of those ironies of life it actually stopped raining during the interval, leading people to hope that maybe the weather might start improving. As soon as the players reappeared for the 2nd half the heavens opened once more. Isn't it ironic Alanis? The rain during the 2nd half was even harder than in the 1st, by now it was like watching the game in a swimming pool only without the sting of the chlorine. The only chemical aftertaste that afternoon came from the burgers.

We came close with a couple of attacks and I started to get that "we're gonna score in a minute" feeling. And then we did. Ross Johnson lobbed in a long throw and the ball wobbled about, caught on the wind like a plastic bag, and Emeka Ifejiagwa leapt up like a salmon breaking through a waterfall and the ball skimmed off the back of his head and in to the net.

1-0

The Albion fans behind the goal merged into one joyous, sodden, mass leaping around on those green plastic seats, as the team celebrated in front of us. The poor Barnet PA guy was forced to try and pronounce Iffy's name for a second time, and I think we all knew that the game was over. We stood soaked to the skin but it didn't really matter. For the first time in ages I believed in the team, I KNEW we were going to win. And we did, of course.

He then starred the following week in a 3-2 win over Hartlepool at the Pissfield and after that came victories at Darlington and Hull. We started to rise up the 3rd division, the heady heights of 7th place were reached before Horton left for the "giants" of Port Vale and the season ended so badly. Then came Mickey Adams and the start of our rise through the leagues.

Not that Iffy was there to see it. After the victory over Hartlepool he had to return to Charlton. It seemed there was a problem with his employment visa and he was booted out of the country. No detention centre, no countless appeals to the Immigration department, just booted out and told not to return. Us Brits were ruthless against illegal immigrants back in them days. We don't need these Nigerians coming over here and taking our footballers jobs! An ageing Italian international needs his pension dammit!

He left for the more welcoming shores of Spain were he was employed by Osasuna and featured in their Segunda Liga promotion campaigns. The dawn of the millenium found him in the Bundesliga playing for VFL Wolfsburg and selected for the Super Eagles on several occasions. I think he's still out in Germany now, he was loaned out to Waldof Mannheim in 2003 but they went bust at the end of the season. We might need a replacement for Butters next season, wonder if we could slip him back into the country?

That's it, get it all off your chest!!!

 

[Alby]

Robert Codner to me always seemed to offer so much but deliver so little.
However Peter Smith would get my vote.

 

[geoffreyp]

yep am sticking with Smithy but a few real gems have come up on this thread. George Parris a close second for me now and third i reckon is between codner and Warren aspinall

 

[Lush]

I thought Nicky Rust showed real promise when he first started and felt really sorry for him by the end.

Bless.

 

[dougdeep]

Peter Smith. At least he always tried.

 

[Braders]

Nathan Jones

may not be the greatest player in the world , but respect for the welsh stepover

 

[Jello]

My favourite to hate is good old Andy Kenedy. Not only was he crap on the pitch but he gave it the old "do you know who I am" down The Escape on a Saturday night after a match.
And I always wanted Codner to pass the ball sideways into touch just to cheer me up for 5 minutes. Happy days............

 

[e77]

Glen Thomas - Once tried to tackle someone with his head while on all fours.

Danny Webb - Gave it his all but never threatened to score.

 

[Deleted User X18H]

Yeah Peter Smith

Bernie Gallagher

Doug Rougvie

Bernie Gallagher what a blast from the past his era was when I was a regular in the players lounge courtesy of Codner. Bernie was once insensed after a particular game (cant remember which one) as Lloyd had him down for sub (only two in those days) and Bernie had expected to turn up and find out he was not playing and then take the wife who was waiting in newtown road in the car off shopping me and my mate were amazed that a pro footballer was so gutted that he had to play ..........nice bloke though no friends used to tag along to the Hove Park tavern with me and some mates I used to get in the lounge once Codner had got the Video of the south today highlight sI used to do for him .........the only reason he talked to me.

 

[NMH]

The astounding enigma of football, the coach potato who scored every week, that fixture in the box (only at exactly the right time to nudge the ball over the line), that weeble who wobbled but only fell down when it was going to be a penalty, that bloated sac of protoplasm, that pizza-doughboy that eluded the rolling-pin ......... ladies and gentlemen Mr FRED BINNEY !

Genius, and a true mystery of the game - he just seemed to manage to befuddle defenders effortlessly (otherwise I doubt he would have put in the effort!) and dink the ball into the net.
It seemed a bit hard on the bloke, that Wardie came along and jinked spritely around defences so blindingly, and sent the tubby terrorist into football obscurity forevermore.

He was the last of a breed - that your local rotund salesman or plumber could relate to, looking the least like a sports pro, yet cheered on high in that crucible of dreams; The Goldstone Ground.

He rolled, he scored, it must be Fred Binney?
Thanks for all the good times Freddy!

 

[mona]

Junior McDougald. Always thought that he would make the grade but he never quite did. Missed chances whenever it really mattered.

 

[geoffreyp]

Rougvie was a true legend. after he'd left us i saw him at pittodrie in 89 playing for dunfermline. i was with the dunfermline fans and they just adored the guy. when i told them i was a brighton fan they just could not stop asking about rougvies time at the goldstone.