NEWS, NOTES & MILESTONES

BIRTHS

1983 - Gabriel Tamaș

Born in Braşov, Romania, Gabriel Tamaș started his playing career in his home-town with FC Brașov before moving onto another local team - FC Forex Brașov. In the summer of 2002 he joined Romanian Liga I side Dinamo Bucureşti but he would stay just one season before moving onto Turkish giants Galatasaray. He spent 18 months in Turkey before moving on again, this time to Russia and Spartak Moscow where he would stay six months before returning to Dinamo on a season-and-a-half loan. He returned to Spartak in January 2006 but was loaned out once more for the 2006/07 season, joining Celta de Vigo. He joined Auxerre at the start of 2007/08 but spent just a single season there before he once again rejoined Dinamo, this time for a one year loan although that was eventually extended by a further season. Half-way through that final loan spell Albion made a move for the player and on 1 January 2010, Romanian international Tamaş signed for the club on loan until the end of the season.

Tamaş signed permanently for the Baggies in May 2010 for an undisclosed fee on a three-year contract, plus a further year's option in the club's favour. In September 2013, after losing his place in the team due to the Gareth McAuley and Jonas Olsson partnership, he had his contract ended by mutual consent. Shortly after, Tamaș signed a one-year contract with Romanian Liga I club CFR Cluj but the contract was cancelled after just a week following an off the field incident.

1982 - Boaz Myhill

Glyn ‘Boaz’ Myhill was born in Modesto, California, the son of an American father and a Welsh mother. The family moved to England when Myhill was aged just one, settling in Oswestry. He joined Aston Villa at the age of 12, and after progressing through the youth ranks he signed his first professional contract with the club in November 2000. A number of loan spells with lower league clubs followed before in December 2003 he joined Hull City in a £50,000 deal. The Welsh international goalkeeper spent six and a half successful years with Hull before joining Albion in July 2010 for a rumoured fee of £1.5million. Myhill made just six league appearances in his first season at the club and in July 2011 he joined Birmingham City on a season-long loan deal which saw Ben Foster move to The Hawthorns on a similar deal. He returned to Albion at the end of the loan deal to become number two to England keeper Ben Foster who had made his loan deal permanent.

1975 - Craig Herbert

Coventry-born Craig Herbert began his career as an apprentice with Torquay United but left in February 1994 along with four other trainees after they were reportedly sacked for misconduct. After a short spell on trial at The Hawthorns he signed a professional contract with Albion and would go on to spend three years with the Baggies. On leaving the club in July 1997 the central defender joined Shrewsbury Town where he would also spend three years before dropping down into non-league football, finishing his playing career at Barwell. After hanging up his boots he had a spell as assistant manager at one of his former clubs Rugby Town.

1967 - Andy Thompson

Andy Thompson, who was born in Featherstone, Staffordshire, started his career with Albion as an apprentice in June 1984 and after impressing sufficiently in the youth and reserve sides he signed his first professional contract on his 18th birthday in November 1985. The then-midfielder made his first team debut four days later in a Full Members Cup tie against Chelsea and went on to finish the season with 18 first team appearances to his name. He looked set to become a regular the following season as the Baggies attempted to bounce back following relegation but in November 1986 he found himself surplus to requirements at The Hawthorns, being sold to local rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers in a joint £70,000 deal with Steve Bull. Thompson never looked back, after being converted to a full-back he spent almost 11 years at Molineux making over 450 appearances before leaving for Tranmere Rovers in July 1997. He left Prenton Park in 2000 and spent short spells at Cardiff City, Stoke City and Hednesford Town before hanging his boots up in 2003. Thompson, who at 5’ 4” tall was one of the shortest players to ever appear for Albion, currently works as a PE Teacher in Derby.

1963 - Kieran O'Regan

Cork-born Kieran O’Regan joined Albion from Huddersfield Town in July 1993 for a fee of £25,000. The Irish international started his professional career in 1983 with Brighton & Hove Albion and spent four years there before leaving for Swindon Town. His stay at the County Ground was short however, moving onto Huddersfield Town after just one season where in a five year stay he would make well over 200 appearances. Following two years with the Baggies he moved onto Halifax Town where he would captain and then later manage the club. On leaving Halifax in 1999 he had a short spell at Altrincham before retiring from playing. In recent years O’Regan has been working as a football summariser on BBC Radio Leeds.

1913 - Jeffrey Spencer

Born in Shavington, near Crewe, Jeff Spencer started his playing career with Northwich Victoria before joining Albion in March 1933 for a £300 fee. The outside-right spent six years at The Hawthorns but made just 13 first team appearances. He signed for Brighton & Hove Albion on leaving Albion but a number of injuries saw him retire after just one season and three appearances on the South Coast. Spencer died in his native Cheshire in 1982.

1869 - William Groves

Scottish international Willie Groves started his playing career in 1886 as a 16 year old with Hibernian, joining Celtic two later years for a fee of £25. Everton brought him to England in July 1889 but he failed to make a first team appearance for the Toffees and quickly returned to Celtic. He returned to England in October 1890, joining Albion for £50. He became an important figure for the Baggies and was one of the key men behind the club’s FA Cup win in 1892. After three years at Stoney Lane Groves became the first ever player to be sold for £100, Aston Villa the club spending big. After winning the league with Villa, he returned to Hibernian in 1895 and then Celtic the following year. The forward returned to England with Rushden in 1898 and finished his playing career there, retiring in 1902. After suffering ill-health for a number of years, Groves died in 1908 at the age of just 38.

DEATHS

None known.

DEBUTS

1988 - Darren Goodall v West Ham United, Upton Park, Simod Cup 1st Round.

1912 - Jimmy Varty v Woolwich Arsenal, The Hawthorns, First Division.

1907 - Albert Evans & Billy Young v Blackpool, Bloomfield Road, Second Division.

1901 - Billy Harper & Arthur Randle v Newton Heath, Bank Street, Second Division.
 

FAREWELLS

1907 - Fred Shinton v Blackpool, Bloomfield Road, Second Division.

TRANSFERS

2012 - Sam Mantom joins Walsall on a youth loan deal.

RESULTS