NEAL EARDLEY . . . most appearances.

HOPING to launch a career in football. Athletic’s new intake of trainees are welcomed to Boundary Park by youth development boss Tony Philliskirk (back left) with Richard Cowan, Tom Eaves, Laquan Esdaile and Anthony White. Front: Will McCall, Phillip McGrath, Djeny Bembo- Leta and Josh Rose.

MICHAEL YARWOOD’s Boundary Park review

HOME-GROWN talent led the way as Neal Eardley and Chris Taylor topped Athletic’s appearance chart in season 2007/08.

When fit and available, the two highly-rated youngsters were virtually immovable from the side during a 55-match league and cup campaign.

Player of the year Mark Allott also racked up a half-century of appearances, although there were 13 games which he didn’t start.

Athletic used 31 players altogether, while there were six others who made it to the subs’ bench without getting on the pitch: Les Pogliacomi and trainees Josh Bell, Rory Winters, Josh Ollerenshaw, Danny Knight and Ryan Brooke.

That was a symptom of the club’s injury problems, as was the number of loan signings: Neil Kilkenny, Stuart Giddings, Ryan Bertrand, Marlon Beresford, Jason Jarrett, David Livermore, Jordan Robertson, Leon Constantine and Richard O’Donnell.

APPEARANCES (maximum 55):

1st: Neal Eardley 48 (plus 2 sub)

2nd: Chris Taylor 47 (3)

3rd: Mark Crossley 46

Also: Mark Allott 42 (8); Craig Davies 40 (1); Stefan Stam 39 (2); Gary McDonald 38 (5); Reuben Hazell 36 (3); Deane Smalley 25 (20); Neil Kilkenny 24 (1); Ryan Bertrand 24; JP Kalala 20 (6); Neal Trotman 20 (2); Sean Gregan 19; Kelvin Lomax 18 (5); Lee Hughes 18 (3); Andy Liddell 18 (3); Lewis Alessandra 12 (4); Jason Jarrett 12 (3); Michael Ricketts 11 (1); David Livermore 10; John Thompson 9 (3); Matt Wolfenden 8 (24); Leon Constantine 7 (1); Marlon Beresford 6; Richard O’Donnell 3 (1); Stuart Giddings 3; Jordan Robertson 2 (1); Paul Black (2); Aaron Chalmers (2); Ashley Kelly (1).     

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