The first loan player you can recall?

[Elvis]

I have a recurring flashback that we had John Jackson for this reason, or was it Burridge (doubtful)..

I remember John Jackson lived locally, I went to school with his daughther.

I saw him play at the Goldstone against us for the Orient, I don't remember him playing on loan for us....

 

[tonymgc]

Paul Dickov or as my mates dad called him at the time Choppies, get it Choppies Dickov?

 

[Simster]

Martin Keown

 

[hans kraay fan club]

Whoever came first, out of:

Martin Keown
Willie Young
Colin Pates
Gavin Oliver

 

[Gully]

Definitely Martin Keown.

Which got me wondering, how many loanees have ultimately signed for us on a permanent basis, even if they went back to their parent club first...two that come immediately to mind are Zamora and Whing...are there any others?

 

[Return of the Rev]

Who was the first loan signing you can recall at Brighton?
Has the loan system always been in place, albeit with sometimes different rules?

I seem to think Barry bridges was a loan player...must have been many before him though i imagine

bb first for me

 

[Icy Gull]

Keown for me as well. Didn't he go back to Arsenal, get sold to Everton (?) for not very much and then get bought back by Arsenal for quite a bit of dosh? Or have I dreamt that..

 

[Iamapen15]

Colin Pates I think

This.

Although I do remember seeing Ron Fearon play as well and Martin Keown - who was first??

 

[Dave the OAP]

Barry Butlin


scored at Palace

 

[Oscar]

I started watching the Albion in the late Eighties but can't really remember any loan players from then.

First I recall was that 'keeper (Kerr was it?) and also Paul Byrne - both from Celtic.

Also Colin Pates and Jurgen Sommer - the German keeper.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

Definitely Martin Keown.

Which got me wondering, how many loanees have ultimately signed for us on a permanent basis, even if they went back to their parent club first...two that come immediately to mind are Zamora and Whing...are there any others?

er.. Gary Dicker?

 

[Oscar]

Definitely Martin Keown.

Which got me wondering, how many loanees have ultimately signed for us on a permanent basis, even if they went back to their parent club first...two that come immediately to mind are Zamora and Whing...are there any others?

Paul Brooker, John Bryne (second time)?

 

[Gully]

Keown for me as well. Didn't he go back to Arsenal, get sold to Everton (?) for not very much and then get bought back by Arsenal for quite a bit of dosh? Or have I dreamt that..

Pretty sure that is spot on, think they called him back to sell him.

 

[BensGrandad]

My immediate thought was Martin Keown but as names appear I will probably say oh yes I remember him. Thinking about it didnt we borrow a goalkeeper called Les or Phil Woolgar from a local side when we had goalkeeper injuries.

No oldies about who can confirm this as I am fairly certain I am right. Possibly played for Worthing or Eastbourne?

 

[cuthbert]

No oldies about who can confirm this as I am fairly certain I am right. Possibly played for Worthing or Eastbourne?

Phil Woolgar one app away at Doncaster Rovers 16/5/67 score 1-1. Although he was an 18yo amateur I'm not convinced he was technically a loan player because he played for Albion in both youth and reserve football, while also playing for Wigmore Athletic. He also played for many years with Lancing while occasionally still helping out The Albion in reserve football. I'd like to say I remember all this, but it comes from "Albion A-Z" by Carder and Harris.

 

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

Martin Keown for me too. There must have been others but he was the first one I recall who made such an impact over a whole season (?) but where we were clearly never likely to retain him on a permanent basis.

Fugly but brilliant footballer.

 

[Return of the Rev]

Barry Butlin


scored at Palace

good one we won that night me thinks

 

[wolfie]

So - Brian Dear then ! I won.

 

[Jimbo26]

Danny Wilson back in 1983-84 (before he signed permanently)

 

[cuthbert]

"Albion A-Z" by Harris and Carder confirms that Brian Dear was the first loan under the new Football League regulations. Before then I believe amateur players were registered in emergencies, goalkeepers being the most commonly used under this arrangement. I believe Mike Pinner the England amateur international goalkeeper played for more than one First Division team including Chelsea. At Chelsea Mr Pinner astonished the kit manager by cutting the feet off his socks before putting them on and then inserting his bare feet into his boots. The gap between the bottom of his socks and the top of his boots he then disguised with black boot polish, Chelsea's socks at that time were black with white tops the white tops having blue rings.