Italian midfielder Mario Bortolazzi joined Albion in the summer of 1998 after being released by Genoa. Verona-born Bortolazzi started his career back in 1980 with Mantova, before having spells with Fiorentina, AC Milan, Parma, Verona and Atalanta before signing for Genoa in 1990. The player would make over 250 appearances in his eight seasons at the club before he left for The Hawthorns.

Bortolazzi’s spell with the Baggies was fairly uneventful, the player being overshadowed somewhat by his young compatriot Enzo Maresca who had also joined prior to the 1998/99 season. After just one year in England, Bortolazzi returned to Italy to join Livorno. A spell at Calceo Lecco followed before the player returned to Livorno where he finished his career, retiring at the end of the 2002/03 season. After hanging up his boots Bortolazzi moved into coaching, having spells as number two to Roberto Donadoni at Livorno, the Italian national team and Napoli, before the duo joined Parma in 2012.

1884 - Arthur Davies

Welsh international Arthur Davies started his playing career in his hometown with local side Wrexham St. Giles before signing professionally for Wrexham. He would move onto Druids, where he won the first of his two Welsh caps, before joining Albion in June 1904. He and his brother Llewellyn, also a Welsh international, played together twice for Albion during the 1904/05 season but in January 1905, after just 12 appearances for the Baggies, Arthur moved onto Middlesbrough. His time at Ayresome Park was equally short and he moved back to Wales, featuring for Wrexham Nomads and Ruabon Town before hanging up his boots. He would later move into the administration side of the game, spending time as Druids' club secretary before then becoming a director at former club Wrexham. Davies was found drowned in the River Dee at Overton in November 1949, an inquest returning an open verdict after hearing evidence of mounting business worries.

(Other sources give his year of birth as either 1880 or 1886)
 

DEATHS

None known.

DEBUTS

1948 - Denis Gordon v Reading, The Hawthorns, FA Cup.

1903 - John Cole v Bolton Wanderers, Burnden Park, First Division.
 

FAREWELLS

None known.

TRANSFERS

2002 - Albion goalkeeper Chris Adamson joins Plymouth Argyle on a one month loan deal.

1994 - Aston Villa forward Graham Fenton joins the Baggies on loan for a month.

RESULTS