How do you rate...

[Mark (Flag) Braintree]

...our new signing from your place?

 

Was he a regular starter of yours, or a fringe player? What can you Slough boys tell us about him. Thanks, Flag at Braintree.

 

FROM OFFICIAL BRAINTREE WEBSITE.

 

BORG ADDS TWO MORE TO SQUAD FOR 2004/05

George Borg adds another two - a pacey forward and midfield favourite

Iron Manager George Borg continued his squad building with two signings yesterday afternoon (Thursday). Joining the club is pacey forward Damian Markman who is 26 years of age and has recently played for both Slough Town and Boreham Wood in the Ryman League. He is joined in first team squad by Iron favourite 24-year old Andy Porter.

George was delighted with his latest additions: ”Damian is a lad I’ve add my eye on for a while now. When ever I’ve picked up the papers, his name kept cropping up scoring goals. I had a couple of meetings with him and, although he was offered attractive terms to play at a higher level, I’m delighted he has chosen to come to Braintree. As you would expect, I’ve done my homework on Damian and many of the people I’ve spoken with have compared his turn of pace to that of Wayne Andrews. We all know that pace up front can cause defences all sorts of problems and Damian will bring that option to Braintree.

If I’m honest, I’ve taken my time with Ports, because he missed a fair bit of last season through injury. He impressed me when I saw him play and, again, I’ve spoken with people within the Club and outside who all seem to rate him very highly. Andy and I have had a few chats, face to face and on the ‘phone, and he is the first to put his hand up and accept that he missed his fair share of games last season and that the club looked after him very well. Perhaps he sometimes puts in a challenge when others would sometimes shy away and that seems to have led him to pick up his fair share of injuries. I don’t want to take the passion out of his performances, that’s an asset for us, but I will try to help him improve his game by tempering some of that enthusiasm. Bottom line: I’m confident that my belief in Andy will be repaid with a consistent season for us.”

 

[Chris]

PHEW!!!!!!

 

When I read the post I had visions of you signing one of players from last year.

 

In all honesty. Not very good at all in my opinion, great pace, but played for Beaconsfield SYCOB last season and could not get in their side when one of our ressies Dan Whatford was more in the side than him.

 

Lives locally and plays Sunday league (well he did do a few seasons ago), best remembered for scoring a goal in a Boxing day match against Maidenhead and also for missing a sitter in our 1-0 defeat against Harrow, which could have kept us up.

[Mark (Flag) Braintree]

Cheers Chris,

 

Flag.

[GarySTFC]

Having said that, did really well the season before he joined us hitting 20+ goals for Harrow in the Premier Division, so you might want to ask them as well Mark.

[Mark (Flag) Braintree]

Thanks Gary that sounds more promissing then.

 

Webbo said he was a regular scorer.

[GarySTFC]

It just didn't work out for him at Slough under Steve Browne, but he was quick enough to cause problems, just seemed to have difficulty finishing wearing the Slough amber. Enjoyed his nights out as well which may have played a part in it, but he's a bit of a character, but a lovely guy.

[Ted]

Borg can't read many papers then.His miss from all of 12 inches out against Harrow was truly memorable.

 

I'd like to be able to say "Its the real thing", but not so.

[Iron Webbo]

I think another of the problems with his time at Slough was the lack of regular remuneration.

[GarySTFC]

And that would have affected his ability how?

[Martin]

Mark I fully expect him to be an absolute genius for you.

 

We have a tendancy to sign proven non-league strikers and turn them into utter crap. Paul Coombs, David Adekola, Dodgy Devi Davies all scored hatfuls elsewhere but could not hit a cow's [****!!****] with a banjo when playing in the Amber. Players who looked nowt special playing for us then go onto great things elsewhere - Junior Kadi was utter rubbish for us - top scorer in the conference for Aldershot, Mark Richardson (is that his name?) was average with us but has made a career in league football - Lincoln at the moment.

 

We did not get the best out of him - George Borg might. And obviously being a former player he is guaranteed to score against us.

[GarySTFC]

Interesting to note Martin that the three that you list have one thing in common - Steve Browne!! Marcus Richardson was the one who went onto Lincoln (via Cambridge & Torquay) although didn't do too badly for us.

 

Roscoe D'Sane - not good enough for us, yet good enough to nearly fire Aldershot back into league football

 

Matt Murray - Not deemed better than Steve Mautone (might have been a fair assessment at the time mind) now England U21 keeper.

 

Craig O'Connor - Was in Slough reserves before moving to Burnham, then Windsor, where at both he was a prolific scorer at this level of football.

 

Craig Rocastle - Ended up to Chelsea after not really looking that good when with us.

[Martin]

Yeah it was Roscoe D'Sane I meant at Aldershot and not Junior Kadi. He went elsewhere and did ok. I must be losing it.

 

I think you may be being just a bit harsh on Browne over Matt Murray. My understanding was he came to us for a month as he had shin splints and they wanted him to get match sharpness before turning out for their reserves and eventually first team. But who knows...