WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
Posted on: Wed 07 May 2008
By Matt Cecil
As the current generation of Wanderers stars looks ahead to the play-off matches with Stockport County over the next two weekends, wwfc.com takes a look at the last team to make the top seven and what they're up to today.
The legends of 1993/94 have been featured throughout the current campaign in the matchday programme and we'll be hoping to catch up with some of those players over the coming weeks, but for now we focus our attentions on the team that was narrowly beaten by Cheltenham Town over two legs:
Cheltenham 0-0 Wycombe, 18/05/06, Whaddon Road.
Cheltenham win 2-1 on aggregate.
Team: Steve Williams, Danny Senda, Clint Easton, Will Antwi, Roger Johnson, Kevin Betsy, Russell Martin, Rob Lee, Matt Bloomfield, Jermaine Easter, Tommy Mooney.
Subs: Frank Talia, Stefan Oakes, Mike Williamson, Joe Burnell, Charlie Griffin
Steve Williams: The young goalkeeper only came into the side on the last day of the season but impressed with a string of fine saves in the 2-0 win at Peterborough, and kept his place for the play-off matches. However, the arrivals of Ricardo Batista and Jamie Young the following summer pushed the former youth team graduate down the pecking order, and he spent four months on loan at Forest Green before being released by the Wanderers.
Williams had considered taking a university course before joining Blue Square South side Lewes and the keeper has regularly featured for the club which has recently been promoted into the Blue Square Premier.
Danny Senda: Another product of the Blues' youth system, Danny forged a superb partnership with Kevin Betsy down the right-hand side for the Wanderers but left the club in the summer following the play-off defeat. A move to Luton Town broke down and, after spending time on trial with Leeds United and Wolves, Senda agreed a deal with Millwall where he has made over 80 appearances in two seasons.
However, the 27-year-old suffered a serious knee injury on the final day of the current campaign and is set to spend several months on the sidelines.
Clint Easton: The flamboyant full-back was another player to depart Adams Park following the play-off disappointment and agreed a deal with League One side Gillingham for the 2006/07 campaign. Easton spent just one year with the Priestfield side before joining Hereford United last summer and he has played a big role in their promotion season, playing 41 times for the Bulls.
Will Antwi: 'Big Will' had missed most of the 2005/06 season through injury but worked his way into the side towards the end of the season and remained at the heart of the defence when Paul Lambert took over in the summer. However, a string injuries have kept him out of action over the past twelve months, but he made a return in the recent League Two defeat at Notts County.
Roger Johnson: Just days before Paul Lambert took over at the Wanderers, fans favourite Roger Johnson moved to Championship side Cardiff City for £275,000 and the centre-back has been a huge hit in South Wales, making over 80 appearances for the Bluebirds.
'Magic' has also been instrumental in City's fantastic FA Cup run to the final, scoring in the quarter-final win at Middlesbrough, and he now looks forward to proving a point to former boss Tony Adams, who is the first-team coach at Cardiff's Wembley opponents Portsmouth.
Kevin Betsy: The tricky winger remained at Adams Park following the play-offs and starred in the Blues' Carling Cup run under Paul Lambert, which persuaded Bristol City to part with £150,000 to take him to Ashton Gate. However, despite featuring regularly as they earnt promotion to the Championship, he has fallen out of favour this season and spent time on loan with Yeovil and Walsall.
Russell Martin: Russ lined up in central midfield in the 2005/06 campaign and scored THAT goal of the season against Macclesfield Town before switching to right-back under Paul Lambert. The 22-year-old has been one of the most consistent performers for the Blues and will be a vital part of the squad throughout the play-offs.
Rob Lee: The 0-0 draw at Cheltenham in the second leg turned out to be the last ever professional match for the ex-England international, who left the club in the summer and retired from football altogether. Lee applied for the managerial post at Bournemouth but lost out to Kevin Bond and has taken up the role as a pundit on a Singaporean football channel and on Champions League coverage.
Matt Bloomfield: The energetic midfielder has been a star performer for the Blues over a number of years but suffered a huge blow in March when he sustained a serious knee injury, ruling him out of action for the play-offs and for the start of the next campaign. However, 'Blooms' recently underwent a successful operation and is well on the road to recovery.
Jermaine Easter: Welsh striker Easter had endured a slow start to his Wanderers career and it wasn't until the following season that he hit his best form, scoring 24 times and helping the Blues to the semi-final of the Carling Cup. However, the former Stockport man requested a move away from Adams Park and joined Championship side Plymouth Argyle in October, where he has scored six times.
Tommy Mooney: The veteran forward scored a late goal at Adams Park in the first leg to give the Blues hope in a 2-1 defeat, but had to be substituted in the second leg through injury and watched on as his team-mates struggled in vain to find the net. Mooney remained with the Wanderers for the 2006/07 campaign and forged an excellent partnership with Jermaine Easter but left last summer, claiming that the club weren't in a position to get promoted this season.
He was snapped up by League One side Walsall and spent a successful campaign with Richard Money's team, scoring twelve times, but now looks set to move to Spanish football after expressing his disappointment at the sale of two key players which hindered the Saddlers' promotion hopes.
Frank Talia: Aussie keeper Frank had been a regular in the Wanderers team but lost his place to Steve Williams towards the end of the campaign, and then missed all of last season through injury. He was released by the club at the end of his contract and returned home to Australia to join the rest of his family.
Stefan Oakes: 'Oakesy' had joined the club at the start of the 2005/06 season and featured in both play-off matches before going on to be a key player in Paul Lambert's squad over the past two seasons, and his superb left-foot could be key to helping the club achieve promotion this time around.
Mike Williamson: 'Willo' is another who lost his place at the end of the season but returned stronger than ever the following campaign before sustaining a serious knee injury at Mansfield in February 2007, keeping him out of the side for twelve months. However, the centre-back has been colossal since his recovery and will be an important figure in the defence during the play-offs.
Joe Burnell: Signed by former boss Tony Adams, Burnell was a strong midfield player for the Blues but was constantly plagued by injury, and followed manager John Gorman to Northampton Town the year after. Despite featuring regularly for the Cobblers this season, Burnell is set to be released by current boss Stuart Gray.
Charlie Griffin: The strong target man missed the start of the campaign through injury but scored seven times throughout the season before being sent out on loan to Forest Green by new manager Paul Lambert. Griffin was released by the Blues in January 2007 and moved to Blue Square South side Newport County, where he has been a regular ever since.
Ian Stonebridge: 'Stoney' started up front in the first leg before being replaced by Jermaine Easter but was forced to retire the following season due to a disorder which affected the joints in his knee. He moved back to his hometown of Plymouth to start a career in property development and has a baby son Joshua with his fiancee Vicky.
Coaches: At the time of the 2005/06 play-offs, John Gorman was absent on compassionate leave after the death of his wife Myra, and he left the club during the summer. He spent time in charge of Northampton Town the following campaign before taking a scouting role at Southampton, where he recently held a caretaker/manager position before the appointment of Nigel Pearson.
Steve Brown and Keith Ryan were placed in temporary charge of the Wanderers for those play-off matches and stayed with the club in coaching roles before leaving in the summer of 2007 to take up jobs with QPR's youth department.
See the current generation of Wanderers in action as they look for play-off glory. Phone 01494 441118 to book your tickets for this Sunday's clash with Stockport County (k.o. 6pm).
As the current generation of Wanderers stars looks ahead to the play-off matches with Stockport County over the next two weekends, wwfc.com takes a look at the last team to make the top seven and what they're up to today.
The legends of 1993/94 have been featured throughout the current campaign in the matchday programme and we'll be hoping to catch up with some of those players over the coming weeks, but for now we focus our attentions on the team that was narrowly beaten by Cheltenham Town over two legs:
Cheltenham 0-0 Wycombe, 18/05/06, Whaddon Road.
Cheltenham win 2-1 on aggregate.
Team: Steve Williams, Danny Senda, Clint Easton, Will Antwi, Roger Johnson, Kevin Betsy, Russell Martin, Rob Lee, Matt Bloomfield, Jermaine Easter, Tommy Mooney.
Subs: Frank Talia, Stefan Oakes, Mike Williamson, Joe Burnell, Charlie Griffin
Steve Williams: The young goalkeeper only came into the side on the last day of the season but impressed with a string of fine saves in the 2-0 win at Peterborough, and kept his place for the play-off matches. However, the arrivals of Ricardo Batista and Jamie Young the following summer pushed the former youth team graduate down the pecking order, and he spent four months on loan at Forest Green before being released by the Wanderers.
Williams had considered taking a university course before joining Blue Square South side Lewes and the keeper has regularly featured for the club which has recently been promoted into the Blue Square Premier.
Danny Senda: Another product of the Blues' youth system, Danny forged a superb partnership with Kevin Betsy down the right-hand side for the Wanderers but left the club in the summer following the play-off defeat. A move to Luton Town broke down and, after spending time on trial with Leeds United and Wolves, Senda agreed a deal with Millwall where he has made over 80 appearances in two seasons.However, the 27-year-old suffered a serious knee injury on the final day of the current campaign and is set to spend several months on the sidelines.
Clint Easton: The flamboyant full-back was another player to depart Adams Park following the play-off disappointment and agreed a deal with League One side Gillingham for the 2006/07 campaign. Easton spent just one year with the Priestfield side before joining Hereford United last summer and he has played a big role in their promotion season, playing 41 times for the Bulls.
Will Antwi: 'Big Will' had missed most of the 2005/06 season through injury but worked his way into the side towards the end of the season and remained at the heart of the defence when Paul Lambert took over in the summer. However, a string injuries have kept him out of action over the past twelve months, but he made a return in the recent League Two defeat at Notts County.
Roger Johnson: Just days before Paul Lambert took over at the Wanderers, fans favourite Roger Johnson moved to Championship side Cardiff City for £275,000 and the centre-back has been a huge hit in South Wales, making over 80 appearances for the Bluebirds.
'Magic' has also been instrumental in City's fantastic FA Cup run to the final, scoring in the quarter-final win at Middlesbrough, and he now looks forward to proving a point to former boss Tony Adams, who is the first-team coach at Cardiff's Wembley opponents Portsmouth.
Kevin Betsy: The tricky winger remained at Adams Park following the play-offs and starred in the Blues' Carling Cup run under Paul Lambert, which persuaded Bristol City to part with £150,000 to take him to Ashton Gate. However, despite featuring regularly as they earnt promotion to the Championship, he has fallen out of favour this season and spent time on loan with Yeovil and Walsall.Russell Martin: Russ lined up in central midfield in the 2005/06 campaign and scored THAT goal of the season against Macclesfield Town before switching to right-back under Paul Lambert. The 22-year-old has been one of the most consistent performers for the Blues and will be a vital part of the squad throughout the play-offs.
Rob Lee: The 0-0 draw at Cheltenham in the second leg turned out to be the last ever professional match for the ex-England international, who left the club in the summer and retired from football altogether. Lee applied for the managerial post at Bournemouth but lost out to Kevin Bond and has taken up the role as a pundit on a Singaporean football channel and on Champions League coverage.Matt Bloomfield: The energetic midfielder has been a star performer for the Blues over a number of years but suffered a huge blow in March when he sustained a serious knee injury, ruling him out of action for the play-offs and for the start of the next campaign. However, 'Blooms' recently underwent a successful operation and is well on the road to recovery.
Jermaine Easter: Welsh striker Easter had endured a slow start to his Wanderers career and it wasn't until the following season that he hit his best form, scoring 24 times and helping the Blues to the semi-final of the Carling Cup. However, the former Stockport man requested a move away from Adams Park and joined Championship side Plymouth Argyle in October, where he has scored six times.Tommy Mooney: The veteran forward scored a late goal at Adams Park in the first leg to give the Blues hope in a 2-1 defeat, but had to be substituted in the second leg through injury and watched on as his team-mates struggled in vain to find the net. Mooney remained with the Wanderers for the 2006/07 campaign and forged an excellent partnership with Jermaine Easter but left last summer, claiming that the club weren't in a position to get promoted this season.
He was snapped up by League One side Walsall and spent a successful campaign with Richard Money's team, scoring twelve times, but now looks set to move to Spanish football after expressing his disappointment at the sale of two key players which hindered the Saddlers' promotion hopes.
Frank Talia: Aussie keeper Frank had been a regular in the Wanderers team but lost his place to Steve Williams towards the end of the campaign, and then missed all of last season through injury. He was released by the club at the end of his contract and returned home to Australia to join the rest of his family.
Stefan Oakes: 'Oakesy' had joined the club at the start of the 2005/06 season and featured in both play-off matches before going on to be a key player in Paul Lambert's squad over the past two seasons, and his superb left-foot could be key to helping the club achieve promotion this time around.
Mike Williamson: 'Willo' is another who lost his place at the end of the season but returned stronger than ever the following campaign before sustaining a serious knee injury at Mansfield in February 2007, keeping him out of the side for twelve months. However, the centre-back has been colossal since his recovery and will be an important figure in the defence during the play-offs.
Joe Burnell: Signed by former boss Tony Adams, Burnell was a strong midfield player for the Blues but was constantly plagued by injury, and followed manager John Gorman to Northampton Town the year after. Despite featuring regularly for the Cobblers this season, Burnell is set to be released by current boss Stuart Gray.
Charlie Griffin: The strong target man missed the start of the campaign through injury but scored seven times throughout the season before being sent out on loan to Forest Green by new manager Paul Lambert. Griffin was released by the Blues in January 2007 and moved to Blue Square South side Newport County, where he has been a regular ever since.
Ian Stonebridge: 'Stoney' started up front in the first leg before being replaced by Jermaine Easter but was forced to retire the following season due to a disorder which affected the joints in his knee. He moved back to his hometown of Plymouth to start a career in property development and has a baby son Joshua with his fiancee Vicky.
Coaches: At the time of the 2005/06 play-offs, John Gorman was absent on compassionate leave after the death of his wife Myra, and he left the club during the summer. He spent time in charge of Northampton Town the following campaign before taking a scouting role at Southampton, where he recently held a caretaker/manager position before the appointment of Nigel Pearson.
Steve Brown and Keith Ryan were placed in temporary charge of the Wanderers for those play-off matches and stayed with the club in coaching roles before leaving in the summer of 2007 to take up jobs with QPR's youth department.
See the current generation of Wanderers in action as they look for play-off glory. Phone 01494 441118 to book your tickets for this Sunday's clash with Stockport County (k.o. 6pm).
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