YOUTH TEAM PLAYERS
2008/09 PLAYER PROFILES AND PICTURES
NAME: Tom Cox
BIRTHPLACE & DATE: Birmingham, 12/4/1990
POSITION: Goalkeeper
BEST ATTRIBUTE: Shot stopping
ASPECT OF GAME THAT NEEDS IMPROVING: Distribution
WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO JOIN THE CLUB: Because the club is well know for giving youngsters an opportunity
BIGGEST INFLUENCE ON CAREER: My parents have always supported me
HIGHLIGHT OF CAREER SO FAR: Getting a Scholarship
LOWEST POINT OF CAREER: Getting released by Aston Villa
SHORT AND LONG-TERM AMBITIONS: Short-term I want to get a regular starting place in youth team and then do enough to earn a professional deal
WHICH TEAM DO YOU SUPPORT: I have followed in my dad's footsteps in becoming an Aston Villa fan
WHICH PLAYER DO YOU MOST ADMIRE: David James has played to a high level for many years
LOWEST POINT OF CAREER: When I was out for four months with an ankle ligament injury
SHORT AND LONG-TERM AMBITIONS: To do my best and play as regularly as I can then I want to become a professional footballer
NAME: Rory Wood
BIRTHPLACE & DATE: Birmingham, 29/12/1991
POSITION: Right-back or centre half
NICKNAME: Rorz
PREVIOUS CLUB(S): Wolves
BEST ATTRIBUTE: Pace
MOST MEMORABLE FOOTBALLING MOMENT: Getting a scholarship at Walsall as it gives me chance to become a professional footballer
AMBITIONS: To do enough to earn a professional contract
WHO IS YOUR HERO AND WHY: Rio Ferdinand because he is a quality defender with pace
BEST ADVICE RECEIVED: Listen, learn and work hard day in, day out and have the desire to make it
NAME: Jamie Paterson
BIRTHPLACE & DATE: Coventry, 20/12/91
POSITION: Striker
NICKNAME: Patty or Pato
PREVIOUS CLUB(S): Coventry City and Manchester United
BEST ATTRIBUTE: Technique, control
MOST MEMORABLE FOOTBALLING MOMENT: Getting a scholarship at Walsall
AMBITIONS: To become a professional football and one day play for England
WHO IS YOUR HERO AND WHY: Michael Owen because of his pace and finsihing and Steve Gerrard because of his sheer determination
BEST ADVICE RECEIVED: Have condidence in your own ability and take the game to people
NAME: Dan Partridge
BIRTHPLACE & DATE: Derby, 29/5/1992
POSITION: Defender
NICKNAME: Danny P
PREVIOUS CLUB(S): Derby County
BEST ATTRIBUTE: Reading the game
MOST MEMORABLE FOOTBALLING MOMENT: Playing for Walsall as I've always been a fan of the club
AMBITIONS: To play for the first-team
WHO IS YOUR HERO AND WHY: Bobby Moore because not only was he a World Cup winner, but he also created a new style of playing football from the back
BEST ADVICE RECEIVED: Push to the limit and express yourself
NAME: Tom Overfield
BIRTHPLACE & DATE: Dudley, 1/9/1991
POSITION: Right/left winger
NICKNAME: None
PREVIOUS CLUB(S): Wolves, Hednesford Town
BEST ATTRIBUTE: Pace and crossing
MOST MEMORABLE FOOTBALLING MOMENT: Getting a scholarship because it is my dream to play football for a living
AMBITIONS: To do enough to earn a professional contract
WHO IS YOUR HERO AND WHY: I don't have a footballing hero
BEST ADVICE RECEIVED: You don't get anything for being second
NAME: Jordan McCourt
BIRTHPLACE & DATE: Grantham, 25/8/1992
POSITION: Central midfield / left wing
NICKNAME: Jord
PREVIOUS CLUB(S): Juan Miguel and CD Marino, both clubs are based in Tenerife
BEST ATTRIBUTE: A good left foot and penetrating runs
MOST MEMORABLE FOOTBALLING MOMENT: Being taken on by Walsall because it is one step closer to fulfilling my ultimate dream of becoming a professional footballer
AMBITIONS: I want to get a place in the Walsall first-team and then take things from there
WHO IS YOUR HERO AND WHY: Zidane was a dominent midfielder who did magical things with the ball. He also scoring some special goals and was the complete footballer, possibly the best in the world.
BEST ADVICE RECEIVED: Treat others as you would like to be treated yourself
NAME: Louis Keenan
BIRTHPLACE & DATE: Derby, 14/9/1991
POSITION: Left-back
NICKNAME: Mumps
PREVIOUS CLUB(S): Nottingham Forest and Stoke City
BEST ATTRIBUTE: Long-range passing
MOST MEMORABLE FOOTBALLING MOMENT: Playing for Nottingham Forest against West Ham United at Upton Park because I am a West Ham fan!
AMBITIONS: To become a professional and one day play for England
WHO IS YOUR HERO AND WHY: Carlos Tevez has great work-rate and passion for the game; he single-handidly kept West Ham up
BEST ADVICE RECEIVED: Always believe in yourself and your ability and never give up when you are given a knock-back
NAME: Mark Cartwright
BIRTHPLACE & DATE: Wolverhampton, 19/8/1991
POSITION: Centre back
NICKNAME: None
PREVIOUS CLUB(S): AFC Wombourne
BEST ATTRIBUTE: Pace and reading the game
MOST MEMORABLE FOOTBALLING MOMENT: Playing for ISFA and representing my country abroad
AMBITIONS: To do do my best and earn a professional deal
WHO IS YOUR HERO AND WHY: Rio Ferdinand has pace, strength and reads the game superbly. He is one of the best players in my position
BEST ADVICE RECEIVED: Mick Halsall always gives my good advice and so do my parents
NAME: Jon Patrick
BIRTHPLACE & DATE: Wolverhampton, 24/5/1991
POSITION: Left-back
NICKNAME: Jonny
PREVIOUS CLUB(S): None
BEST ATTRIBUTE: Heading and pace
MOST MEMORABLE FOOTBALLING MOMENT: Getting a contract at Walsall during the summer of 2008
AMBITIONS: To become a professional footballer
WHO IS YOUR HERO AND WHY: Wayne Rooney because of the way he plays the game
BEST ADVICE RECEIVED: It's not how hard you hit, it's how hard you get hit and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done!
NAME: Darryl Westlake
BIRTHPLACE & DATE: Sutton Coldfield, 1/3/1991
POSITION: Right-back
NICKNAME: Westy
PREVIOUS CLUB(S): Wolves, West Bromwich Albion
BEST ATTRIBUTE: Pace and long-range passing
MOST MEMORABLE FOOTBALLING MOMENT: Getting a scholarship at Walsal FC
AMBITIONS: To earn a professional deal here at the Banks's Stadium
WHO IS YOUR HERO AND WHY: John Terry because he leads by example and is both mentally and physically strong
BEST ADVICE RECEIVED: Never give up or quit and always work hard
NAME: James Travis
BIRTHPLACE & DATE: Birmingham, 14/10/1990
POSITION: Striker
NICKNAME: Trav
PREVIOUS CLUB(S): Chelmsley Town
BEST ATTRIBUTE: Ability to run at people
MOST MEMORABLE FOOTBALLING MOMENT: Playing at Molineux
AMBITIONS: To become a professional player
WHO IS YOUR HERO AND WHY: Steve Gerrard is a born leader and has outstanding ability
BEST ADVICE RECEIVED: Work hard and do your best every time you go out onto the field
NAME: Alex Hickman
BIRTHPLACE & DATE: Wolverhampton, 4/12/1991
POSITION: Central defender / defensive midfield
NICKNAME: Vidic
PREVIOUS CLUB(S): None
BEST ATTRIBUTE: Anticipation, tackling and ability to read the game
MOST MEMORABLE FOOTBALLING MOMENT: Joining Walsall as it has allowed me to get my first foot on the footballing ladder
AMBITIONS: To progress my career and achieve as much as I can
WHO IS YOUR HERO AND WHY: My dad has always given me sound advice and pushed me
BEST ADVICE RECEIVED: Always try your best because the more you put into the game, the more you will get out
NAME: George Bowerman
BIRTHPLACE & DATE: Wordsley, 6/11/1991
POSITION: Striker
NICKNAME: Bowie
PREVIOUS CLUB(S): None
BEST ATTRIBUTE: My ability to take players on and finish
MOST MEMORABLE FOOTBALLING MOMENT: Signing for Walsall as it was reward for all my hard work
AMBITIONS: To establish myself in the youth team and then progress to the reserves and first-team
WHO IS YOUR HERO AND WHY: As an Arsenal fan, it has to be Dennis Bergkamp for his ability to score goals out of nothing
BEST ADVICE RECEIVED: My dad always tells me to belive in myself and that is what I do
NAME: Mark Lowe
BIRTHPLACE & DATE: Sutton Coldfield, 25/2/1991
POSITION: Midfield / striker
NICKNAME: Lowey
PREVIOUS CLUB(S): West Bromwich Albion
BEST ATTRIBUTE: Passing and vision
MOST MEMORABLE FOOTBALLING MOMENT: Getting a scholarship at Walsall
AMBITIONS: To play football at the highest level possible
WHO IS YOUR HERO AND WHY: Steve Gerrard because he is a real leader and can win games on his own
BEST ADVICE RECEIVED: When one door closes another opens
NAME: Joe Howes
BIRTHPLACE & DATE: Birmingham, 26/9/1990
POSITION: Striker
NICKNAME: Joey
PREVIOUS CLUB(S): None
BEST ATTRIBUTE: Strength
MOST MEMORABLE FOOTBALLING MOMENT: Joining Walsall and winning the Puma Youth Alliance North West Conference title last year
AMBITIONS: To become a pro and play at the highest level I can
WHO IS YOUR HERO AND WHY: Zidane is pure class
BEST ADVICE RECEIVED: Always believe in yourself and your ability and never give up
NAME: Will Grigg
BIRTHPLACE & DATE: Solihull, 3/7/1991
POSITION: Striker
NICKNAME: Griggsy
PREVIOUS CLUB(S): Birmingham City and Stratford Town
BEST ATTRIBUTE: Movement and link-up play
MOST MEMORABLE FOOTBALLING MOMENT: Getting the chance to show what I can do at Walsall
AMBITIONS: To continue to progress and earn a pro deal.
WHO IS YOUR HERO AND WHY: Zidane was a world-class player whose vision and quality on the ball was second to none
BEST ADVICE RECEIVED: To never give up, work hard and always give yourself a chance
NAME: Sam Adkins
BIRTHPLACE & DATE: Birmingham, 3/12/1991
POSITION: Centre midfield
NICKNAME: Savo
PREVIOUS CLUB(S): Birmingham City, Aston Villa and Tamworth
BEST ATTRIBUTE: Long-range passing
MOST MEMORABLE FOOTBALLING MOMENT: Getting a scholarship deal here at Walsall
AMBITIONS: To become a professional footballer
WHO IS YOUR HERO AND WHY: Steven Gerrard's passion and ability is unreal
BEST ADVICE RECEIVED: To keep working hard and let nothing get in your way
NAME: Sean Geddes
BIRTHPLACE & DATE: West Bromwich, 13/2/1992
POSITION: Centre midfield
NICKNAME: Diesel
PREVIOUS CLUB(S): Manchester United
BEST ATTRIBUTE: Passing and scoring goals
MOST MEMORABLE FOOTBALLING MOMENT: Playing in a Cup Final in Spain and winning 2-1 against a Romania Academy side
AMBITIONS: To make it into the first-team and become an icon
WHO IS YOUR HERO AND WHY: David Beckham has fantastic ability. I also admire the fact that he is putting something back into the game with his own academy to help youngsters make it in the game
BEST ADVICE RECEIVED: To just go out and enjoy my football
NAME: Tom Faulkner
BIRTHPLACE & DATE: Solihull, 25/12/1991
POSITION: Centre midfield, right-back or centre-half
NICKNAME: Faulky
PREVIOUS CLUB(S): None
BEST ATTRIBUTE: Desire to win and tackling
MOST MEMORABLE FOOTBALLING MOMENT: Playing in and winning a schools Final at Villa Park
AMBITIONS: To be the best I can and play at the highest level possible
WHO IS YOUR HERO AND WHY: Steve Gerrard - I could watch him 24/7
BEST ADVICE RECEIVED: Play each game as if it is your last
