Blessed with great pace and skill, Daryl Taylor could be seen as a rarity in the modern game - a winger who can beat his man and supply a quality ball. After five years with Aston Villa, the Birmingham-born forward moved across the Midlands to Bescot Stadium and signed professional forms in the summer of 2004. The 19 year-old scored two goals in 17 appearances for Mick Halsall's reserve side last season, where his impressive performances earned him a first-team squad number even though he was still a third-year scholar. He made an explosive Football League debut for The Saddlers, coming on as substitute in our opening day clash with Port Vale and scoring one of our goals in a 3-2 victory. He followed that up with two more strikes in the next two games to really announce his arrival on the first-team stage.
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22. Mark Kinsella
The Saddlers secured the services of Republic of Ireland International, Mark Kinsella on July 27th 2004. The 31-year-old arrived at Bescot Stadium on a two-year deal having helped West Bromwich Albion secure top flight status at the end of last season. Dublin-born Kinsella, who has 48 International caps to his name, arrived in England in 1989 with Colchester United. He was picked up by Charlton Athletic for a bargain £150,000 in 1996 and went on to play in 226 games for The Addicks, establishing himself as a key player in their rise to prominence. Aston Villa paid £750,000 for his services in 2002 before he was allowed to link up with West Bromwich Albion on a free transfer in January 2004 and helped the Baggies achieve top flight status during the course of a total of 18 appearances. A key signing for The Saddlers, his quality and vision are proving to be important ingredients, however an ankle ligament injury picked up in training in February 2005 halted his progress just as he was enjoying some of his best displays for the club.
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23. Andrew Surman
The Saddlers completed the signing of highly-rated Southampton midfielder, Andrew Surman, initially on a one-month loan deal, on January 28th 2005.
The 18-year-old has progressed through the ranks at St. Mary's Stadium having first been spotted by the club when he was ten years of age. He was given a taste of reserve team football at the age of just 15 to become The Saints' youngest-ever second string player, beating the record previously held by Mick Channon. During that time he was also part of the England Under-15 Development Squad and was signed up by the club upon leaving school at the age of 16. The Johannesburg-born, attack-minded midfielder is a player of real promise who soon became a youth team regular and has performed well on the reserve team stage with some energetic displays. Predominantly left-footed, he is also comfortable with his right and has been used both through the middle and out wide
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26. Joe Broad
The Saddlers completed the signing of Joe Broad on a one-year deal in August 2004 after a successful trial spell. The 21-year-old is an energetic and talented midfielder who played in three trial games for the club following his release by Plymouth Argyle before being snapped up on a permanent basis. The Bristol-born midfielder came through the ranks to sign professional forms for Plymouth Argyle in the summer of 2000, however his chances at Home Park were limited and he was allowed to link-up with Yeovil Town on a months loan in November 2001. He returned to The Pilgrims to fight for his place, but spent the 2003/2004 campaign out on loan at Torquay United where he made a total of 15 appearances for the promotion-winning club.
During his time at Plymouth he made just four starts and 11 substitute appearances. This term he has worked hard in training and taken what first-team chances have come his way. Described by player-manager, Paul Merson as 'the best professional at the club', his attitude and willingness to work at his game is set to ensure that he will form part of The Saddlers' side for some time to come
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27. Richard McKinney
Northern Irishman McKinney linked-up with The Saddlers on July 1st 2004 after putting pen-to-paper on a one-year deal. His move to Bescot Stadium came about thanks to a recommendation from Colchester United midfielder and former team-mate of Simon Osborn, Bobby Bowry, following his release from Layer Road. The 25 year-old shot-stopper began his career as a trainee at Manchester City before joining Swindon Town in the summer of 2001. He made just one appearance in the 12 months he spent at the County Ground and signed for Colchester in August 2002. In his debut season with The U's, the Ballymoney-born 'keeper competed with Simon Brown for the number one slot and went on to make 23 appearances. A knee injury in training restricted McKinney to just seven appearances last term, including a fine display in Colchester's FA Cup-tie against Coventry City. Having started the season as first choice following an impressive pre-season, he lost his place to Mark Paston before suffering a nasty knee injury playing for the reserves that has kept him sidelined for a lengthy period of time.
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Blessed with great pace and skill, Daryl Taylor could be seen as a rarity in the modern game - a winger who can beat his man and supply a quality ball. After five years with Aston Villa, the Birmingham-born forward moved across the Midlands to Bescot Stadium and signed professional forms in the summer of 2004. The 19 year-old scored two goals in 17 appearances for Mick Halsall's reserve side last season, where his impressive performances earned him a first-team squad number even though he was still a third-year scholar. He made an explosive Football League debut for The Saddlers, coming on as substitute in our opening day clash with Port Vale and scoring one of our goals in a 3-2 victory. He followed that up with two more strikes in the next two games to really announce his arrival on the first-team stage.
The Saddlers secured the services of Republic of Ireland International, Mark Kinsella on July 27th 2004. The 31-year-old arrived at Bescot Stadium on a two-year deal having helped West Bromwich Albion secure top flight status at the end of last season. Dublin-born Kinsella, who has 48 International caps to his name, arrived in England in 1989 with Colchester United. He was picked up by Charlton Athletic for a bargain £150,000 in 1996 and went on to play in 226 games for The Addicks, establishing himself as a key player in their rise to prominence. Aston Villa paid £750,000 for his services in 2002 before he was allowed to link up with West Bromwich Albion on a free transfer in January 2004 and helped the Baggies achieve top flight status during the course of a total of 18 appearances. A key signing for The Saddlers, his quality and vision are proving to be important ingredients, however an ankle ligament injury picked up in training in February 2005 halted his progress just as he was enjoying some of his best displays for the club.
The Saddlers completed the signing of highly-rated Southampton midfielder, Andrew Surman, initially on a one-month loan deal, on January 28th 2005.
The 18-year-old has progressed through the ranks at St. Mary's Stadium having first been spotted by the club when he was ten years of age. He was given a taste of reserve team football at the age of just 15 to become The Saints' youngest-ever second string player, beating the record previously held by Mick Channon. During that time he was also part of the England Under-15 Development Squad and was signed up by the club upon leaving school at the age of 16. The Johannesburg-born, attack-minded midfielder is a player of real promise who soon became a youth team regular and has performed well on the reserve team stage with some energetic displays. Predominantly left-footed, he is also comfortable with his right and has been used both through the middle and out wide
The Saddlers completed the signing of Joe Broad on a one-year deal in August 2004 after a successful trial spell. The 21-year-old is an energetic and talented midfielder who played in three trial games for the club following his release by Plymouth Argyle before being snapped up on a permanent basis. The Bristol-born midfielder came through the ranks to sign professional forms for Plymouth Argyle in the summer of 2000, however his chances at Home Park were limited and he was allowed to link-up with Yeovil Town on a months loan in November 2001. He returned to The Pilgrims to fight for his place, but spent the 2003/2004 campaign out on loan at Torquay United where he made a total of 15 appearances for the promotion-winning club.
During his time at Plymouth he made just four starts and 11 substitute appearances. This term he has worked hard in training and taken what first-team chances have come his way. Described by player-manager, Paul Merson as 'the best professional at the club', his attitude and willingness to work at his game is set to ensure that he will form part of The Saddlers' side for some time to come
Northern Irishman McKinney linked-up with The Saddlers on July 1st 2004 after putting pen-to-paper on a one-year deal. His move to Bescot Stadium came about thanks to a recommendation from Colchester United midfielder and former team-mate of Simon Osborn, Bobby Bowry, following his release from Layer Road. The 25 year-old shot-stopper began his career as a trainee at Manchester City before joining Swindon Town in the summer of 2001. He made just one appearance in the 12 months he spent at the County Ground and signed for Colchester in August 2002. In his debut season with The U's, the Ballymoney-born 'keeper competed with Simon Brown for the number one slot and went on to make 23 appearances. A knee injury in training restricted McKinney to just seven appearances last term, including a fine display in Colchester's FA Cup-tie against Coventry City. Having started the season as first choice following an impressive pre-season, he lost his place to Mark Paston before suffering a nasty knee injury playing for the reserves that has kept him sidelined for a lengthy period of time.