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Saturday 31st July 2004
Albion lose to Potters
Albion slump
to a 2-1 defeat in a friendly at Stoke City. Scott Dobie scores the Albion
goal after 44 minutes in reply to goals from Dave Brammer in the 17th
minute and Ade Akinbiyi after 34 minutes. The game sees the Albion debuts
of Jonathan Greening and trialist Marcin Zajac, a Polish international who
currently plays for Groclin. The 29 year old midfielder recently had a
trial at Glasgow Rangers but failed to impress in their friendly game
against Fulham.
Friday 30th July 2004
Albion make double
swoop
Albion
complete the signing of former Arsenal striker Nwankwo Kanu on a free
transfer. The Nigerian international signs a three year deal to end a long
chase by Baggies boss Gary Megson.
''The managers of some clubs came to
see me personally at my house in London to declare their interest in me,'' Kanu told kickoffnigeria.com. ''But I must say that West Brom's Gary
Megson sounded like the one with the best plans for me. That I was kept
out in the cold for the greater part of last season, informed my decision
to go for a club that keeps me busy, that will really see me play and get
my game back to the Kanu that the world used to know.''
Also joining
the club is Hungarian international captain Zoltan Gera. The 25 year old
attacking midfielder moves from Ferencvaros for a fee of £1.5 million.
" This is our third signing of the past few days and again, I'm really
pleased Zoltan has agreed to join us," Megson told the club's
official website. "He's the captain of Hungary, really enthusiastic and
wants to prove himself in England. We're going to have to give him time to
adjust to a different way of life and to learn the language - but he will
be given that time. Zoltan is an all-round midfielder who has an eye for
getting forward. He's also quick, athletic and works hard."
Thursday 29th July 2004
Greening signs
Albion
complete their fifth signing of the summer with the capture of
Middlesbrough midfielder Jonathan Greening for a fee of £1.25 million.
The fee could rise depending on appearances and Premiership survival. The
25 year old former England under-21 international has signed a three year
deal with a further years option in the club's favour.
Speaking about
the deal Chairman Jeremy Peace said "We're delighted to have signed a
player of proven Premiership pedigree in Jonathan Greening and we're now
focusing all our efforts on bringing other players in."
New kits unveiled
The club
unveil the new home and away kits. The away kit sees a return to red and
blue colours for the first time since 1999. The shirts feature the T-Mobile
logo. Diadora have again produced the shirts.
Tuesday 27th July 2004
Danish tour ends with
victory
Albion
finish their Danish tour with a 2-0 victory over Super League side FC
Midtjylland. Neil Clement opens the scoring with a 72nd minute header and
Scott Dobie completes the scoring 3 minutes later.
Reserves bow out
Albion
reserves are knocked out of the Bass Charity Vase thanks to Burton
Albion's victory against Nottingham Forest.
Monday 26th July 2004
Wallwork earns Albion
draw
Albion
reserves earn a 1-1 draw with Notts County in a Bass Charity Vase group
match thanks to a Ronnie Wallwork free-kick five minutes from time.
Sunday 25th July 2004
Albion linked with
striking duo
Albion
reportedly enter the race to sign Wolves want-away striker Henri Camara.
Bolton have already had two bids turned down for the Senegalese
international whilst Celtic are also said to be interested.
Albion
are also linked with a move for Arsenal striker Francis Jeffers.
Saturday 24th July 2004
Albion down Fredericia
Albion beat FC
Fredericia 2-0 in their second tour game in Denmark. James O'Connor opens
the scoring in the 28th minute with his first ever goal for the club
whilst Scott
Dobie grabs the second in the 89th minute. Goalkeepers Tomasz Kuszczak and
Simon Miotto both make their Albion debuts.
Reserves win at
Gloucester
The reserve
team beat Gloucester City 4-1 with goals from Adam Chambers in the 20th
minute, Ross Clarke after 25 minutes and two goals from Kyle Patterson in
the 60th and 75th minutes. The team again includes Hughes, Wallwork,
Berthe, the Chambers twins
and Irish international keeper Joe
Murphy.
Megson in Kanu talks
Boss Gary
Megson flies back from Denmark to reportedly hold talks with ex Arsenal
star Kanu.
Wednesday 21st July 2004
Reserves win at The
Grove
A reserve team
that includes Lee Hughes, Ronnie Wallwork, Sekou Berthe and the Chambers
twins beat Halesowen Town 2-0 at The Grove in front of a crowd of 866.
Hughes grabs a goal in the second minute and Brian Smikle grabs the second
in injury time.
Tuesday 20th July 2004
Albion
start with a draw
Albion begin
their three game tour of Denmark with a 0-0 draw against Danish Super
League team OB Odense. The game sees debuts for Riccardo Scimeca, Darren
Purse and record signing Martin Albrechtsen.
Monday 19th July 2004
Brown to Aggborough
Just days after signing a new contract Simon Brown
signs for Kidderminster Harriers on a one month loan deal. The 20
year old striker spent a couple of months on loan at Aggborough last
Spring.
Reserves win in Vase
Albion
reserves beat Derby County reserves 1-0 in a Bass Charity Vase group match
at Rocester FC with substitute Stuart Nicholson scoring the only goal of
the game in the 75th minute.
Friday 16th July 2004
New sponsors unveiled
Albion
reveal
that T-Mobile are the new official club sponsors for the
next two years. It is the biggest sponsorship deal in the club's history.
The new home and away shirts will have the T-Mobile logo on them.
“We’re delighted to have
T-Mobile on board,” said Albion chairman Jeremy Peace. “We
will be working with them on a range of activities which will be of
benefit to both sides and our supporters. T-Mobile were a
major supporter of UEFA Euro 2004 and we look forward to helping them
promote their brand in the Premiership, which offers worldwide exposure.”
Peace continued: “Now that
our new club sponsors have been confirmed, we can start branding our new
home and away kits with the T-Mobile logo. Sale dates will be
announced shortly.”
Sandy Munro, Head of
Marketing T-Mobile UK, said: “We are delighted to announce this deal with
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, a club of great tradition and great
support. Securing a sponsorship deal of this kind not only
cements T-Mobile’s position as a supporter of football in the minds of
fans but allows us to strengthen our brand position in the
West Midlands.”
Brown pens new deal
Simon Brown
signs a new contract with the club. The 20 year old striker has signed a
one year deal with a further years option in the club's favour.
AJ
extends contract
Andy Johnson
signs a contract extension that ties him to the club until June 2006.
Baggies boss Gary Megson
said: “I’m very pleased Andy has chosen to extend his stay. He
only had one year left on his contract with no option at the end of it and
it was important we offered him this new contract so he can fully
concentrate on his role in the squad. Since Andy has been with
us he has always given us 110 per cent, his work rate is second to none and
he is a great personality to have around the club.”
Johnson arrived from
Nottingham
Forest
in a £200,000 deal in September 2001.
Thursday 15th July 2004
Koumas to stay
Jason Koumas signs a new
long term deal with the club. The 24 year old Welsh international has signed
a four year deal which commits him to Albion until June 2008.
Albion boss Gary Megson
said: "We're really pleased Jason has signed this contract. Hopefully, this
will enable him to get his head straight and concentrate solely on his
football. Jason needs to make the next step in his career. He's got to
become consistent, more of a team player, put more workrate into his game
while keeping the fantastic ability he undoubtedly has.”
"The contract he has signed
will give him and his family security and, in return, we shall be placing
more demands on Jason to become the finished article as opposed to just a
promising young player. This contract should enable Jason to concentrate
purely on improving as a player and helping West Brom improve as a club."
Wednesday 14th July 2004
Polish keeper joins
Albion announce that they
have signed out-of-contract Hertha
Berlin
goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak on a three year deal. The 22 year-old Polish
International has moved to The Hawthorns despite interest from a number of
other clubs both home and abroad.
Albion b oss
Gary Megson said: “We’re really pleased to have
brought Tomasz in. We faced quite a bit of competition to sign him. Even
as late as last night, as Tomasz was walking across our car park, a
Bundesliga club rang his agent to try to sign him as he was about to put
pen to paper here. Tomasz had opportunities to
join another Premiership club, a First Division club, two Spanish teams
and two Bundesliga clubs - but he’s decided to
come here.“
"He’s
not the finished article by any means but he’s got a good chance. He wants
to play in England and we’ve given him the opportunity to improve and push
on."
"What
Tomasz’s arrival will do is increase competition.
Nobody is brought in to play first or reserve team football and
there are no sacred cows here. Each player’s ability, desire, form and
fitness will affect which team they play in.”
Tuesday 13th July 2004
Greening bid accepted
The club reveal they have
had an undisclosed bid accepted by Premiership rivals Middlesbrough for
their midfielder Jonathan Greening. Albion are now set to open talks with
the former England Under-21 international.
Greening was one of Boro
boss Steve McClaren’s first signings, following the England coach to the
North East from Manchester United in a £2m deal almost three years ago.
He spent more than three years under Sir Alex Ferguson at Old
Trafford, making 27 appearances for United, following a £1m move from York
in March 1998.
He has made over 100
appearances for Boro, scoring 4 goals.
Reserve dates revealed
Albion will kick off their
Premier Reserve League North season with a
Black Country derby against Wolves. The game will take
place at The Hawthorns on Monday, August 9 whilst the return match will
take place on Tuesday, December 7.
Albion entertain Villa on
Monday, November 15 with the return match coming on Tuesday, March 29. The
games against Blues will take place on Monday, October 25,
at St Andrew's and
Monday, March 7, at The Hawthorns.
Friday 9th July 2004
Boothroyd set for
Leeds role
Albion’s youth development
manager Adrian Boothroyd is to join Leeds United’s first team coaching set
up. Boothroyd joined the club last October after quitting his post as
Norwich’s youth team coach. Dan Ashworth will take temporary charge of the
club’s youth department.
Hawthorns chairman Jeremy Peace said: “We wish
Adrian all the best in his
new role at Leeds. His time with us has been short but positive for the club
and the recruitment that has taken place in the youth department during
the last few months means we are well positioned to move forward. I’m now
looking forward to sitting down with Dan over the next week or so and
planning the further development of the youth department.”
Boothroyd revealed he had enjoyed his time at the club but
the chance to move to
Leeds was too good to turn down. “I’m really grateful for the
opportunity I was given to be youth development manager at
West Brom. I really
enjoyed my time there and it was a fantastic learning experience.
The youth department has improved mainly because the staff who were
already there and the new appointments have pulled together and worked as
a team. The first team deservedly earned promotion to the Premiership last
season, but what is often overlooked is the people working behind the
scenes in the club’s offices are also a top class team."
“I wish everybody at
Albion the very best and I’m sure both the youth department and the club
as a whole will continue to prosper. My ambitions are to become part of a
successful first team set up and Leeds have offered me a great opportunity
that I couldn’t turn down.”
Koumas request turned down
The club reveal they have
turned down a transfer request from Jason Koumas. The 24 year-old midfielder
moved to the Hawthorns for £2.5million from Tranmere in August 2002 and
still has two years left to run on his current deal.
Chairman Jeremy Peace said:
“We have received a written transfer request from Jason which we have turned
down. We’re interested in getting him to sign a new contract which suits
both him and the football club - not selling him.”
Albion boss Gary Megson
added: “We want Jason to stay here and continue progressing as a player, as
he has done during almost two years with us. His transfer request has been
flatly refused.”
Monday 5th July 2004
More
games moved
Albion’s derby games against Blues and Villa are switched at
the request of West Midlands Police. The first match at St Andrew’s on
Saturday, December 18 has been moved forward three hours to noon whilst
the return match at The Hawthorns has been
switched from Saturday, March 5 to Sunday, March 6 with a noon kick-off.
Albion’s clash at Villa Park has also been moved, from Saturday, April 9
to Sunday, April 10 again with a noon kick-off time.
Albion’s home clash against Tottenham Hotspur will now
kick-off 24 hours later on Wednesday, August 25, at 7-45pm,
due to the club’s home game against Villa being
moved to the Sunday before due to Sky TV coverage.
Friday 2nd July 2004
Sky
reveal TV dates
Sky TV announce that four
Albion home games
will be covered live by the company before the New Year. The local derby
clash with Aston Villa, originally scheduled for Saturday, August 21 will
now take place on Sunday, August 22 with a 1pm kick-off time.
The game against Bolton on
Saturday, October 2 will now kick-off at 5-15pm and will be on Sky’s pay per
view channel, Premiership Plus whilst the home game with
Middlesbrough scheduled for Saturday, November 13 is switched to the
following day with a
2pm kick-off.
The quartet of matches is
completed by the clash with Liverpool on Boxing Day which has been switched
to a 6pm kick-off time.
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