Wes Fogden

[RM-Taylor]

Was set to extend his loan deal at Dorchester until the end of the season, but is now expected to be on the bench tomorrow for us. Another Albion youngster may get his debut.

Whilst at Dorchester, he played in 14 League games and scored 2 goals.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

The fact that Fogden was recalled from his loan, rather than Hart, just about puts an end to any hopes of a 'rehabilitation' for OGH, don't you think?

 

[Seagull73]

The fact that Fogden was recalled from his loan, rather than Hart, just about puts an end to any hopes of a 'rehabilitation' for OGH, don't you think?

It was over before he got his contract in the summer. He only got the contract because of his appearance clause last season.

OGH is gone for good now.

 

[RM-Taylor]

The fact that Fogden was recalled from his loan, rather than Hart, just about puts an end to any hopes of a 'rehabilitation' for OGH, don't you think?

Indeed so, although both players deals are up at the end of the season.

Another nail in the OGH coffin.

 

[Caveman]

Yes.

 

[saltash seagull]

hart might not have been able to be recalled as he's in the 1st month of his loan

 

[alan917]

Saw OGH play for Havant at Lewes last weekend and apart from picking up a booking did nothing the whole game. But still would be better coming off the bench tomorrow for effort alone.

 

[dougdeep]

Fogden is a promising youngster, I hope he does well.

 

[Don Tmatter]

Looking on Dorchester's fans forum, they were all raving about him and were gutted to lose him.

 

[Lady Whistledown]

Good on him, he's gone through enough to get here, and sounds like he's done well in Dorset. Besides, Wes is a proper, old fashioned footballer's name


From Dorchester website:

Brave Wes Is Inspiration To The All

WHEN Dorchester Town’s director of football Shaun Brooks describes his 19-year-old midfielder Wes Fogden as a young man with immense mental resolve it’s easy to see where he’s coming from.

Just 14 months ago, Fogden’s spine crumbled due to a tumour. The on-loan Brighton player was unable to walk, confined to a body cast stretching from his chest to his knees and so depressed he couldn’t bring himself to talk to anyone.

Clearly, his prospects of playing football again were remote.

It takes some believing when you consider the quality and conviction of his performances for the Magpies over the past five weeks.

On Wednesday, Brooks beat off competition from Havant & Waterlooville to secure a second month’s loan for a player who has fast become one of the star-turns of the Blue Square South season.

A scan through the Magpies’ fans’ forum emphasises the impression the youngster is making at the Avenue Stadium.

“What an example Wes Fogden is to any young footballer who thinks he’s been hard done by. I can’t believe the commitment of his play,” reads one post.

Another says: “How nice to have a footballer set a good example. His recovery shows what he’s made of and his character and attitude is spot on."

Another: “I can’t praise Fogden enough. By far the best player over the past few games. Not the biggest but he doesn’t half get stuck in.”

Praise

Brooks, too, is equally forthcoming in his praise.

He described Fogden as “outstanding and head and shoulders above anyone else” after his debut at Thurrock and following his re-signing this week, he said: “He’s been our star man in most of the games he’s played and always one of our better players.”

Despite the back soreness he suffers when driving from Brighton to Dorchester, Fogden is delighted with the strides he’s making in his recovery.

“My first game was a real struggle,” he says. “I had to come off after 70 minutes and I was incredibly tired and incredibly stiff – it took me a few days to get over it.

“But I’ve gone from strength-to-strength in every game and I can now get through matches pretty easily.

“Dorchester have been brilliant for me. From the moment I arrived, all the players have been really supportive and Shaun has been fantastic.

“I’m so pleased to be playing regular football and it represents a huge turnaround for me when you consider where I was just over a year ago.

“I first found out about the tumour because I was feeling these little tweaks of pain in my spine whenever I made certain movements.

“I went to get some treatment and then it hit me. I felt as though, physically, I’d fallen apart. I wasn’t able to move. Bones in my spinal area had crumbled.

“So I went for an X-ray and a scan and that’s when I found out that I had a tumour. The specialist said I might not be able to play again – it was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to take and the worst day of my life.

“I didn’t think that I had any hope. It was very difficult to accept and I was really depressed. For a week, I couldn’t even bring myself to talk to anyone – effectively it looked as though my career was over before it had started.

“Initially, the surgeon thought I would need metal-work in my spine which would have made my movements very restricted.

“But, crucially, the surgeon got all the tumour out through just my back so I didn’t need any metal work and I didn’t need to have any spinal blocks taken out – that gave me a bit of hope.

Sleeping

“I stayed in hospital for ten days, but for four months I was in a body cast from my chest down to my knee.

“First I got the leg part of the cast cut off and then two months later it was all off. Obviously it wasn’t a particuarly happy time. I could only sit in a chair at home, watching TV or sleeping.

“Gradually my spine healed and I finally got back to running and doing whatever bits and pieces I could when I returned to training with Brighton at the start of this season.

“I had to work really hard at it but after the surgery I was told that I had no chance of making it back within 18 months and that it was likely that it would take much longer than that.

“So, to have made it back four months earlier is massively pleasing – it can only get better for me from here.”

 

[hans kraay fan club]

I hope he gets to come on at 3-0 up tomorrow and show us what he can do.

 

[Freddie Goodwin.]

Heartwarming story & well done Wes. One of my boys had a similar illness at 13 and, although he can't play football now, has run many races including the London Marathon twice.

Never underestimate the human spirit!

 

[Scotty Mac]

he deserves the chance for what he has been through

 

[Turkey]

hart might not have been able to be recalled as he's in the 1st month of his loan

100% accurate.