Player stats part two - H-P

Steve Hales

'Forest' (one r or two?) was a great addition from the 1998/99 campaign. He brought energy to the midfield, banter to the dressing room and masking tape to Big Al's personalised number plate. A bit of a surprise he didn't get more goals as he was all about those box-to-box runs.

1998/99 - 10 league starts, 1 as sub, 2 goals, 3 cup starts, 1 MVP, 1 Spoons
1999/2000 - 20 league starts, 3 goals, 3 cup starts, 2 MVP, 3 Spoons

Martin Harries

We probably never saw the best of 'Chopper' as his knees were past their sell-by date before he joined. Whether in defensive midfield or centre of defence he had great positional sense, chiefly to help him not run anywhere.

1997/98 - 12 league starts, 1 as sub, 1 goal, 1 MVP
1998/99 - 2 league starts, 1 cup start
1999/2000 - 5 league starts, 1 as sub, 1 cup sub appearance, 2 Spoons

Phil Hobbs

It's hard to think now but we weren't quite sure of Hobbit's best position when he joined. He did ok at left midfield but came into his own when moved to left back. Must have been one of the best tacklers in club history and added a big and fun presence to the dressing room.

1996/97 - 21 league starts, 5 goals, 1 cup sub appearance, 1 MVP, 3 Spoons
1997/98 - 11 starts, 1 as sub, 1 Spoon
1998/99 - 9 league starts, 2 as sub, 1 goal, 2 cup sub appearances, 2 MVP 1 Spoon
1999/2000 - 18 league starts, 2 cup starts, 3 MVP (Joint Player of the Season)

Andy Humphries

Brought in to fill the troublesome goalkeeping spot there's an argument that Andy was the best. Of a not very good bunch. Put his drinking career ahead of his 'keeping career at times. Not always the best with criticism, he ran around a bit on the pitch too in his second season, possibly due to injury or Powelly keeping him out of the side.

1998/99 - 11 league starts, 1 cup start, 2 MVP, 2 Spoons
1999/2000 - 17 league starts, 3 as sub, 3 cup starts, 2 MVP, 4 Spoons

Ian Merry

The kind of Steve McManaman lookalike when he was younger was the Kylie top appearance maker. A wide midfielder/second striker he twice hit double figures for goals in a season. Player of the season in 1996/97. Slowed down and got a bit stroppier later into his career but so did most of us.

1994/95 - 24 league starts, 13 goals, 2 cup starts, 3 MVP, 3 Spoons
1995/96 - 18 league starts, 4 goals, 1 cup start, 3 MVP, 2 Spoons
1996/97 - 23 league starts, 13 goals, 3 cup starts, 5 MVP 1 Spoons (Player of the Season)
1997/98 - 16 league starts, 7 goals, 2 MVP, 1 Spoon
1998/99 - 4 league starts, 5 as sub, 3 cup appearances, 2 MVP, 1 Spoon
1999/2000 - 16 league starts, 3 goals, 2 cup starts, 2 MVP, 2 Spoons

Gary Payne

Calm and classy midfielder and centre defender when he had to be, Payney didn't get many goals but was just as happy winning the ball, bursting forward and playing killer passes. More importantly, took the team on after the early years when it was threatening to fall apart and led the team to two Chairman's Trophy finals. Hats off to you sir!

1996/97 - 19 league starts, 1 as sub, four goals, 1 cup start, 3 MVP, 1 Spoon
1997/98 - 12 league starts, 1 as sub, 2 goals, 2 MVP, 1 Spoon
1998/99 - 14 league starts, 3 cup starts, 5 MVP, 3 Spoons (Player of the Season)
1999/2000 - 16 starts, four goals, 2 MVP, 1 Spoon

Justin Powell

Brought in to wear the gloves in 1997/98 who can forget his realistic Superman impressions? Not the defenders who played with him, that's for sure. I do him a disservice, he wasn't all that bad. Was also a presence when he played up front, finding the net three times.

1997/98 - 10 starts, 1 MVP, 2 Spoons
1998/99 - 6 league starts, 2 as sub, 3 cup starts, 1 MVP
1999/2000 - 9 league starts, 9 as sub, 3 goals 2 cup starts, 1 as sub, 2 Spoons