Pre-season trialists from the past

[Napster]

Not including those who were then signed.

Please fill in some gaps!

1996?

Stephane Pounewatchy

2005/6

Nikola Jokic

2009/10

Zoumana Bakayogo - went to Tranmere and Notts County
Maceo Rigters - back to Blackburn, moved to Australia/NZ

2012/3

Stephen Brogan - went to Forest Green, ended up at Stalybridge
Tony Warner - went to Floriana, now GK coach at Reading
Taiwo Atieno - went to Barnet, then soon retired
Stephen Folan - joined Limerick, ended up at Finn Harps, retired
Mark Brown - went to Ross County, ended up at Dumbarton, retired

2021/2

Yasin Ben El-Mhanni - joined Chesham, now at Arbroath
Deon Moore - stayed with Dulwich, now at Lewes
Emmanuel Idem - joined Swindon, now available on free

and other trialists (non pre-season, so after season had started):

Luke Ashworth (2011/2) - went to Harrogate, ended up at Ashton United.
Yannick Boli - (2011/2) - Bulgaria, then Ukraine, Russia, China, USA, and finally Thailand
Walid Bouslimani (2010/11) - disappeared back into obscurity
Lee Boylan (2010/11) - went to Chelmsford, ended up at Maldon
David Cowley (2005/6) - ex-Hammer. went to Spain, still playing at Sudbury, maybe Murkey knows him.
John Grant (2010/11) - went to Barrow, ended up at Droylsden
William Edjenguele (2016/7)- went to Dundee United, now at Bedworth
Elvis Hammond (2010/11) - Farnborough, ended up at Kingstonian
Sam Higgins (2010/11) - still playing at Hornchurch
Albert Jarrett (2007/8) - went to Gills, ended up at Dulwich
Richard Langley (2008/9) - went to Bristol R where he didnt play, then Thailand, Hemel Hempstead and Staines
Cathal Lordan (2005/6) -went to Cork, ended up at Cork College FC
Izale McLeod (2010/11) - stayed at Barnet, went to Portsmouth, MK Dons, etc.
Shane O'Connor (2011/12) - went to Cork, ended up at Cobh
Sam Oji (2007/8) - went to Orient, ended up at Highgate United. Sadly died 2 years ago at the age of 35.
Rohan Ricketts (2011/12) - Exeter, then India, Ecuador, Thailand and Hong Kong
Mamady Sidibe (2014/5) - just retired
Alexandre Tabillon (2010/11) - back to France, also played in India
Jamie Young - Goalkeeper. Now in Oz.

 

[Leeboy]

I remember Darren Currie playing against Gt Wakering as a trialist wearing the cherry voltage kit. Got to be circa 10 years ago.

 

[Green Wizard]

Did Sam Higgins play for East Thurrock?

 

[Napster]

Did Sam Higgins play for East Thurrock?

Yes - from 2011

Southend United boss Paul Sturrock has run the rule over strikers Sam Higgins and Lee Boylan in a 4-0 reserve defeat by Ipswich Town on Wednesday afternoon.

Higgins, 20, was released by Chelmsford last week after scoring 16 goals in 27 games for the Southern Premier side.

And 32-year-old Boylan left Stevenage in January with just two games to his name this season.

But both men failed to find the net as the Shrimpers were beaten by a young Ipswich reserve side.

Boylan, who has played nearly all of his football in non-league, hit seven goals in 20 games last season to help Stevenage win promotion to League Two.

Former East Thurrock frontman Higgins left Chelmsford by mutual consent with boss Glenn Pennyfather admitting "he wasn't enjoying his football".

 

[Andy_S]

One of my favourite trialists was Nikola Jozic. An absolute beast of a centre half that came to us from Auxerre and he looked excellent. 2005ish maybe?

 

[Napster]

One of my favourite trialists was Nikola Jozic. An absolute beast of a centre half that came to us from Auxerre and he looked excellent. 2005ish maybe?

Yes

Jozic future in the balance

SOUTHEND United manager Steve Tilson is unsure whther he will be signing defender Nikola Jozic.

www.gazette-news.co.uk

 

[Mad Cyril]

Stefan Ponnewochka was a Ronnie Whelan era trialist who doesn't even exist according to Google

 

[The Dirty One]

Stefan Ponnewochka was a Ronnie Whelan era trialist who doesn't even exist according to Google

Big centre half who ended up signing for Carlisle?

 

[Mad Cyril]

Big centre half who ended up signing for Carlisle?

Turns out it was Stephane Pounewatchy

 

[palexander]

Was so excited when Rohan Ricketts was around - he was on social media talking to fans etc. Shame that never panned out.

 

[RobB11]

Yannick boli!?? He’s had a decent career.

 

[Smiffy]

Kevin Gray (Wayne Gray's cousin)

 

[Leeboy]

Was so excited when Rohan Ricketts was around - he was on social media talking to fans etc. Shame that never panned out.

played in the same game as Darren Currie re; my post above:

Great Wakering Rovers 0, Southend United 5

ROHAN Ricketts ran Great Wakering Rovers ragged at Burroughs Park tonight to inspire Southend United to a 5-0 victory.

www.echo-news.co.uk

 

[LBBlue]

Anyone remember Jeff Wood - a goalkeeper who had played for Charlton - if I recall correctly he let in 7 goals in a home friendly against West Ham. Needless to say we didn’t sign him. Probably about 1982…

 

[palexander]

Kevin Gray (Wayne Gray's cousin)

Played in the Ricketts game didnt he?

 

[Maldon Blues]

Mark Kinsella was either 1995 or 1996.

 

[Smiffy]

Played in the Ricketts game didnt he?

Not sure, it was v Wakering. Ricketts bagged a hatty and looked like Messi?!

 

[Leeboy]

Kevin Gray (Wayne Gray's cousin)

think I saw him play at Thurrock (?)

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Jack Bridge 2020-21 had the longest trial ever, which definitely wasn’t because we were under an embargo and couldn’t offer him anything
Andre Blackman was rejected after a trial when he was absolutely woeful at Barnet but then we later signed him anyway under Bond
Bobby Zamora
Corey Jordan scored against us for Aldershot last season. Played on trial under Bond
Ed Upson who was another trialist who we didn’t offer something to (would have been under Tilly) but came back to score against us

 

[NZamba Legend]

I love the excitement of a trialist. Ron has denied us this simple pleasure this summer.