13th September – Francois Zoko

Blackpool picked up their first point of the season and were helped by birthday boy and one of their summer signings Francois Zoko to finally get their season started.

After coming on as a substitute in the 72 minute, Zoko ensured that the score remained 0-0, however he will be hoping to make more of a positive impact going forward in the coming weeks. Everyone knows about Blackpool’s problems during the summer and they did not even have a full squad with only a few days to go before the start of the season. But with their first point on the board they should gain more confidence.

Zoko started his career at French club Nancy and spent four years with the club, scoring eight times in 70 league appearances before moving onto Stade Laval in the summer of 2004. He played fairly regularly for the club over the next two seasons but he did not hit the back of the net for his liking, with him only scoring nine times.

In 2006 he then moved to Belgium and signed for Mons where he started building his reputation and was starting to be linked with bigger clubs. After 55 games and 11 goals he decided he wanted to try a new challenge in a new country and joined Turkish club Hacetteppe Spor Kulubu. However, a lot of off field problems meant he never lived up to his potential and ended up moving back to Belgium with KV Oostende. He made an instant impact at the club and in the second half of the season he played 11 times, scoring four goals and assisting a further five.

Ahead of the 2010-11 season Zoko joined Carlisle United on trial and after impressing he signed a one year deal in July 2010. He made his debut in a 2-0 win over Brentford and after leaving the field he was given a standing ovation and was praised by the management and his teammates at the club. It did not take him long to be linked with other clubs which led to Carlisle giving him a new contract after less than 10 games.

He stayed at the club for two seasons and after scoring double figures in all competitions in both years he decided on the 6th June 2012 that he wanted to play at a higher level and did not sign a new contract. He was described as one of the most talented players to have ever played for the club in recent years.

On the 3rd August 2012 he signed a two year deal with Notts County. He made his debut against Crewe and also scored in 2-1 win for his new club. He only had to wait three days for his next goal as he scored against Hartlepool United, he could not keep up this goal rate but he still managed seven goals in 39 appearances. At the end of the season his contract was cancelled by mutual consent and he joined Stevenage on the 4th October.

Once again he scored on his debut in a 2-1 win over MK Dons and then scored twice in his next game in another 2-1 victory, this time over Brentford. He was a consistent goal scorer for the club and he ended his only season at the club with 16 goals in 40 games which convinced Blackpool that he could make it in the Championship and signed the attacker.

He has so far played five times but has been unable to find the back of the net.

The final word can go to the manager that brought him to England, Greg Abbott. “I know how big an impact he has made here. He is an important player for what we are doing and has been very impressive so far.”

19th July – Drew Talbot

Drew Talbot will always be a legend at Sheffield Wednesday after scoring in their 4-2 victory over Hartlepool United in the League 1 Playoff final.

Talbot is now 28 and has had an interesting career with him changing position and becoming a very versatile member of the Chesterfield squad. He is now mostly known as a fullback but has played as a winger and a centre forward in his career and it was in this position where he made his name in football.

He started his career at Sheffield Wednesday and broke into the team on a regular basis in the 2004-05 season, where, although he was mostly used as a substitute, he still managed to score five times, including that goal at the Millennium Stadium. The game finished 2-2 and went to extra time before Glenn Whelan gave Wednesday a 3-2 lead and then in the very last minute Talbot scored to ensure the club’s promotion back to the Championship. Captain Lee Bullen remembers not only the goal, but the importance of it to the fans. “I was in prime position, right behind Drew as he picked the ball up on the halfway line. I was focussed on him but my peripheral vision could see a whole stadium of Owls slowly rising to their feet in anticipation of years of disappointment being laid to rest.”

Big things were expected from the striker, however injuries took their toll on him and the next year proved to be very disappointing and would not play again until September 2006 where he made a substitute appearance against Derby County in a 2-1 defeat. Despite his return he struggled to keep his place in the team and went out on loan to League 1 side Scunthorpe United. However, he only stayed for three games but did manage to score against Doncaster Rovers. His loan was cut short because he was transferred to Luton Town for £250,000, his time at Sheffield Wednesday ended with 4 league goals in 29 games.

At Luton Town he made his debut against Blackburn Rovers in the FA Cup and he didn’t have to wait long until he scored his first goal which came on his home debut against his former club. Despite some impressive performances he could not stop Luton getting relegated from the Championship and he was linked with a transfer away from the club and he turned down a move to Italy on transfer deadline day.

The next few years were tougher with a serious knee injury ruling him out for a few months and he only managed to play 11 games in the 2008-09 season. On the 27th January he joined Chesterfield on loan and he scored his first goal against Notts County and ended his loan spell with two goals in 17 games. At the end of the season he signed for the club permanently and ended his first full season with 10 goals in all competitions but the club narrowly missed out on a playoff position.

Under John Sheridan, Talbot moved to right back and performed very well in that position so he has been used there for a lot of his 184 league appearances for the club.

The final word can go to Chesterfield goalkeeper Tommy Lee who tweeted after it was announced that Talbot had signed a new contract at the club. “Made up Drew has signed, proper player. He can play anywhere, but as a fullback there isn’t many better. Fantastic bit of business.”

11th April – Nile Ranger

He may have had problems off the pitch but today is not a day to focus on them things as Nile Ranger turns 23.

Focusing on his actions on the pitch isn’t always easy and the player himself will know that he has to win over the fans of every club he plays for in the future. He had a very good reputation as a youngster and impressed for Newcastle United’s youth teams and reserves which led to him receiving a three and a half year contract.

He made his debut for the first team on the club’s first game back in the Championship and was rewarded with a start soon after in a 1-0 win against Leicester City where he led the line brilliantly and was awarded the man of the match. He spent a lot of time as a substitute at the club but he did show a lot of potential and scored his first career goal to seal a victory against Coventry City. The manager at the time Chris Hughton felt he could become a first team regular soon. “Nile is a young player who is improving all the time. It’s less than 18 months since he made his debut and he’s coming on leaps and bounds.”

However his time at Newcastle came to an end and he left by mutual consent but before this he enjoyed a successful spell on loan at Sheffield Wednesday where he was vital in helping them achieve automatic promotion from League 1. Dave Jones had a lot of faith in the player and felt he made the difference saying . “I wouldn’t have signed him if I didn’t think he could do a job. If he can focus on football I have an excellent player that will do a fantastic job for the club.”

Ranger scored in the final game of the season against Wycombe Wanderers to get the club promoted and sparked one of the biggest celebrations League 1 has ever seen.

For one reason or another the club did not sign him permanently and his next move was to League 1 Swindon Town where he has been very successful in his first season as a regular. In the league he has seven goals in 19 games. He certainly has the talent to succeed at this level and should be able to go further in the game but it may be difficult to get a transfer so he will have to do his best to get Swindon promoted.

The last word can go to his manager Mark Cooper who believes that it may have happened this season. “I think everyone knows, if Nile Ranger had been fit all season we’d be in the playoffs.”

9th April – James Hayter

Imagine scoring the quickest hatrick in English Football League history and then finding out your parents had left the stadium and missed all three goals.

This is exactly what happened to birthday boy James Hayter in 2004. After coming on in the 84th minute against Wrexham for Bournemouth he went on to score three goals in less than 140 seconds and expected to be celebrating in front of his parents and brother. However they had left moments before he made his substitute appearance. Hayter said. “My parents, Mary and Richard, still shake their heads about it. They came to the game, but because I was sub and hadn’t got on they left early, I came on just after they left and they were listening in the car as the goals went in.”

This is a remarkable story and it just adds to the wonderful time he at Bournemouth where he was seen as a fans favourite. He came through their youth team and made his debut in the 1996-97 season. He did not become a first team regular until after a successful loan spell at Salisbury City which was cut short by manager Mel Machin who felt he could offer something to the squad and he repaid his confidence by scoring on his return against Stoke City. Soon after he was trying to break records and came close as he equalled the club record for goals scored in a match when he scored four against Bury. For the next few years he was seen as one of the best strikers outside of the Premier League.

He helped them win the Divison Three playoff final in 2003 and continued scoring goals in higher divisions. The striker finished as top scorer with 22 goals in the 2005-06 season which was vital in helping them avoid relegation.

His time was coming to an end at the club and he joined Doncaster Rovers for a club record fee of £200,000 and scored the goal in the playoff final against Leeds United that won them promotion from League 1. Hayter found it tougher in the Championship to score goals but this was largely down to the fact he had to modify his game to allow Billy Sharp to get more chances in front of goal. But in most seasons he did get close to double figures with most of them being headers and they were usually vital.

When his contract expired he joined Yeovil Town and for the third time in his career he helped his team win the playoffs. He ended the season with 16 goals in 54 games as the club were promoted to the Championship for the first time in their history. Although this season has been a bit of a struggle for the club he is currently on five goals and putting up a good fight to avoid relegation.

The last word can go to his former manager Sean O’Driscoll who commented on his attitude and determination which a lot of footballers are missing and how when times get tough they struggle and go into their shell. He said after Hayter missed a penalty in a game but went on to score later on: “That’s typical of James. There was no danger of him hiding after missing the penalty.”