On our recent Podcast, Chris and I discussed Mark Burchill, a player we signed on loan in the year 2000. I won’t lie, the fact that it is 26 years ago makes me feel incredibly old. He was the first loan player I ever truly wanted us to sign permanently and unfortunately as fate would have it, it never materialised. Discussing Mark brought back memories of old times down at St Andrews, the premier league was but a season away at that point but the feeling of those nights under the lights after school as I did my duty as a ball boy (often in front of the baying away ends of old) was something I cherish as a bluenose, it is where I truly became to love this club.
Those memories of the ball boy days, the season that followed as my first as a full season ticket holder in block 7 are those of a good time, a positive time around the club, similar to the times we are currently having.
As we all know though we have had let’s just say a mixed bag of fortunes since those lofty days at the turn of the Millenium, highs and lows that most clubs could only imagine, so if Mark Burchill was a high of a loan signing, who were the lows? Why did they do so badly for us? Did they go elsewhere and become a hit?
To cover all of those I would need several nights and probably an entire barrel of Guinness (other satisfying drinks are available) so I have decided to pick 3 from the past 26 years; in what I’m calling the Burchill timeline. I will tell you dear reader there were a lot that could have made this list, some even could have an article to themselves; they were really that bad.
First up we have Tyler Blackett, I have to say Blackett is fair play to him for carving quite a successful career following his departure from St Andrews, first at Reading and then Forest before moving stateside with Cincinnati then retiring at Rotherham. The reason I have mentioned that is because he may well be one of the worst defenders I’ve ever seen don the Royal Blue, 38 minutes into his debut against Derby he conceded a penalty and really from there on in it was downhill for him. He played 8 times for us in all, but it was about as memorable as a night on Sambucas. On a side note we also signed a player at the same time as Blackett to join the brilliant Macheda who was called Tom Thorpe; I have zero recollection of him, maybe I had too many of the aforementioned Sambuca.
Next is a recent loanee, and no it’s not Koumas! It’s Taylor Richards from Brighton, this move was doomed from the word go when he injured himself undertaking the medical. When he did get into the team he didn’t do too badly, I guess. He just never recovered from falling off a board in a medical. I get medicals are brutal but surely someone should have realised that was a sign!
Lastly is one from 2001 and actually he came with a decent reputation and it’s Bjorn Otto Bragstad (kids ask your Dad, Mom, Grandad, anyone over the age of 30!) Bjorn was fresh off being in a very respected Euro 2000 Norwegian side, where he played all three of their group stage games when he signed for Derby from former European contenders Rosenborg, he played 12 times for Derby before he signed for Blues on loan, and well if you think Blackett was bad Bragstad made him look like a prime Maldini, he had zero pace, zero awareness of any kind of threat and zero ability, whilst this was the twilight of his fairly decent career, there was no excuse for him to be anywhere near our team especially as at the time we had Johnson and Purse as the centre half partnership. Honestly, I try to forget some players but Bragstad was up there with one of the worst signings we have made ever let alone on loan.
Anyway enough of the dross, and with these new loan players we look like we are on our way!
Keep right on
Andrew