NEWS, NOTES & MILESTONES

BIRTHS

1982 - Lloyd Dyer

Birmingham-born Lloyd Dyer started his playing career as an apprentice with Aston Villa but after failing to make a breakthrough at Villa Park he joined Albion in the summer of 2001. He made his Baggies’ first team debut in a League Cup tie at Wigan Athletic in October 2002 but it was during the 2003/04 season that he really made a name for himself. After impressing whilst on loan at Kidderminster Harriers earlier in the season, Dyer, with his lightning pace, was used as a frequent late substitute against tiring defenders and made a vital contribution as the club regained its Premier League status. At the top level Dyer struggled to impress and loan spells at Coventry City and Queens Park Rangers followed before he was allowed to leave permanently in January 2006 when he joined Millwall. He spent just two months at The New Den before he asked to be released due to personal reasons. He joined Milton Keynes Dons prior to the start of the 2006/07 season and impressed in his two seasons there, scoring 16 goals in 97 appearances for the club. When his contract with the Dons expired in the summer of 2008, Dyer signed with Leicester City. He became a key figure for City over the next six seasons, helping them to promotion from League One in 2009 and then from the Championship in 2014. After 265 appearances and 39 goals for the club, and despite being offered a contract extension at Leicester, Dyer decided to join Watford ahead of the 2014/15 season.

1980 - Keith Andrews

Republic of Ireland international Keith Andrews began his career with Albion’s Black Country rivals Wolves, progressing through their academy and into their first team where at the age of 21, he became their youngest captain for more than a hundred years. Despite his promising start, he never really managed to hold down a regular starting place at Molineux and he was loaned out a number of times, to Oxford United, Stoke City and Walsall. When his contract expired at the end of the 2004/05 season, Andrews decided to leave the Midlands and move north to Hull City. After just one season at Hull, Andrews moved to MK Dons where he became club captain. The Dublin-born midfielder had two successful years at Milton Keynes before joining Premier League Blackburn Rovers in a £1million deal. Andrews was a regular starter for Rovers during the 2008/09 and 2009/10 seasons but he suffered a injury-hit 2010/11 and made just six appearances. With Andrews now out of favour at Ewood Park, August 2011 saw him join Championship side Ipswich Town on a six-month loan deal where he impressed, scoring nine goals in 20 appearances. Andrews returned to Blackburn at the end of his loan deal but after handing in a transfer request he was allowed to join Albion on a free transfer on January 31, 2012. He made a memorable debut for the Baggies, scoring once against his first club Wolves in Albion’s remarkable 5-1 win at Molineux. Andrews went on to make 14 appearances and scored two goals for Roy Hodgson’s men but when his six-month deal expired at the end of the season he joined Bolton Wanderers, signing a three-year contract. Andrews spent the 2013/14 season on loan at fellow Championship club Brighton & Hove Albion.

DEATHS

None known.

DEBUTS

2014 - Sebastián Blanco (as substitute) & Georgios Samaras (as substitute) v Everton, The Hawthorns, Premier League

2008 - Jonas Olsson v West Ham United, The Hawthorns, Premier League.

1890 - Tom Perry v Preston North End, Deepdale, Football League.

FAREWELLS

1997 - James Thomas v Queens Park Rangers, The Hawthorns, League Division One.

1986 - Craig Madden v Ipswich Town (as substitute), The Hawthorns, Second Division.

1975 - Gordon Nisbet v Sunderland, Roker Park, Second Division.

TRANSFERS

2000 - Baggies' defender Paul Mardon joins Plymouth Argyle on a month's loan.

RESULTS