Just out of interest...

[boingy]

Can anyone name an academy player who DID stay with us for any length of time? How often does it happen?
I noticed the post RE: Harper and signing a contract to keep him at the club, can we draw up a list of youth players who stayed here for a few years as first team regulars? i'm assuming that this happened more in the past than these days.

[BaggieBlood]

By academy I take it you mean the modern prem years and if so then just saddo bambino and chris Wood as far as I can remember the rest have legged it as soon as they can. If before then then there have been loads from Bryan Robson to Carlton Palmer, who went onto play for England.

[Prando]

Bobby Hope...15years old and played in our central league side!

[Prando]

[mickd1961]

Derek Statham.

sighs sadly and pines for the days when he and Willie electrified the left side of our team.

[9goals2hattricks3pen]

Growing up in the 60's Jeff Astle was my hero but being as I wasn't tall and rubbish in the air I always want it to play like Bobby Hope. My biggest attribute as a 'footballer' was I could both see and pass a decent football. One of all time favourite Albion goals he knocked a pass forwards to Jeff who nodded it back to Bobby to half volley past Pat Jennings in the Spurs goal at the Smethwick End.

If I've got any of that detail wrong please don't correct me as I am very happy in my ignorance.

[Q165]

Growing up in the 60's Jeff Astle was my hero but being as I wasn't tall and rubbish in the air I always want it to play like Bobby Hope. My biggest attribute as a 'footballer' was I could both see and pass a decent football. One of all time favourite Albion goals he knocked a pass forwards to Jeff who nodded it back to Bobby to half volley past Pat Jennings in the Spurs goal at the Smethwick End.

If I've got any of that detail wrong please don't correct me as I am very happy in my ignorance.

Spot on! Reading that piece about Bobby Hope just now I was thinking about the self same goal. I was at the Smethwick End to witness it and have often gone on about just how great it was. It was a superb strike and there is a picture of it flying past a diving Pat Jennings

[boingy]

Its not many is it. Bobby hope was with us a while. Times really have changed.

[boingy]

I miss Willie Johnston too Mick. So weve got some decent kids but no way of expecting long term service at the club.

[9goals2hattricks3pen]

Spot on! Reading that piece about Bobby Hope just now I was thinking about the self same goal. I was at the Smethwick End to witness it and have often gone on about just how great it was. It was a superb strike and there is a picture of it flying past a diving Pat Jennings

Just had a little shiver down the back moment just thinking about it. Quite sad for a 60 odd year old bloke. Actually I think it's blo ody marvellous.