Poole Borough Football Club
Season 2001/02
First Team Squad

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Defence

	Dan Cockwell - made his debut in 1999, he immediately impressed with a display that belied his sixteen years. Young player of the year in 1999/2000, Dan, now 18, has already chalked up over 60 games for Borough but is currently at Southampton University, so appearances were restricted to the early season. - 5 appearances/ 0 goals
	Shaun Hebdon - Tough tackling centre half, signed prior to the 2000/01 season after moving back into the Dorset area. Has played for Brockenhurst in the Wessex League. His season was affected by injury mid way through, which he struggled to shake off but finished the season in fine form, and scored some important goals, including two in the league cup run. - 25 appearances/ 4 goals
	Tommy Heffernan - Dublin born, signed by Tottenham but never played in their first team. Signed on a free-transfer for AFC Bournemouth in 1979 and became a favourite with the Dean Court crowd. Played in every game in the promotion season from Division 4 in 1981/2. Sheffield United paid £20,000 for him in 1983 to strengthen their defence in the then second division. He was ever present in his two seasons at Sheffield before Harry Redknapp brought him back to Bournemouth where was a member of the squad that won the Division 3 championship in 1986/87 (the only player to play in both Bournemouth promotion teams). He made a total of 217 league appearances for the Cherries before spells with Poppies, Sturminster Marshall, Hamworthy Engineering and Parley Sports. Joined Borough mid way through last season and still showed all his defensive skills and experience and is hard to shake off the ball. Was a lynchpin of the Borough defence until he had to return to Dublin in January. - 17 appearances/ 12 goals
	Will Owen - Signed from Hamworthy United immediately prior to the start of the season and also appeared for Poole Town. Plays either right back or midfield. Was an ever present in the side until emigrating to New Zealand in November. - 13 appearances/ 3 goals
	Craig Shanley - Signed from local football in the close season and was probably Borough's most improved player this season. Unable to command a regular place, but still made 15 starts and never let the side down with his solid, no nonsense approach. - 27 appearances/ 0 goals
	Henry Simpson - Well known local player with an uncompromising style, was drafted in from Hamworthy United in February to fill the gap left by Tommy Heffernan and to his credit he slotted into the side perfectly to ensure no slip-ups as the team closed in on the Championship. Also stood in between the sticks in a League Cup game against Beaminster. - 12 appearances/ 1 goal
	Kieron Wall -Best known as a free scoring forward and signed from Poole Town in March 2001, he scored 16 goals in only 9 starts for Borough last season but was asked to fill the gap in the centre of defence this season and appeared to move easily into his new role. Still found time to push forward and cause problems in the opposition defence. Ever present and deservedly Player of the Year. - 36 appearances/ 13 goals

Midfield

	Matt Bircumshaw - Close season signing from Wessex League Swanage & Herston, a talented and skilful midfielder who always looks dangerous and is hard to knock off the ball when pushing forward. An automatic selection for the Borough midfield, it looked as if he would be sidelined for the remainder of the season when he had his appendix removed in February, but was back by the end of March to support the run in. - 30 appearances/ 11 goals
	Shaun Clarke - Signed from Hamworthy United in October to bolster the midfield, a good ball winner who looks dangerous going forward. A good clubman who has had to alternate between starting and making his appearances from the bench, but is an perfect player to come in and hold the middle of the park - 22 appearances/ 1 goal
	Andy Coles - Joined the club at the start of the 2000/01 season, from Wimborne Town and established himself as a midfield lynchpin. Unfortunately he picked up an injury during pre-season which kept him out until late November, after which he struggled to obtain a regular place in the starting line up, but still made some important contributions when he came off the bench. - 17 appearances/ 3 goals
	Jimmy Edwards - Signed from Bournemouth Poppies in November but returned to Victoria Park briefly over Christmas before committing to Borough for the remainder of the season. Is another highly skilful midfielder who has superb vision and distribution as well as a deft touch in front of goal. - 15 appearances/ 7 goals
	Gary Fooks - A skilful player, son of Alan who played one game Borough in the 1999/2000 season before joining Hamworthy United. Gary re-joined the club last season and playing either right back or midfield and always gives the club 100%. Lifted his game to another level this season as he showed the maturity to curb his instincts which had put him in conflict with officials in the past and in consequence delivered some inspired performances. - 34 appearances/ 12 goals
	Paul Getley- a student studying in Bournemouth he made his first appearances for Borough during the 1999/2000 season before rejoining the club the following year playing for the reserves. He broke back into first team contention this season with some solid performances on the right wing and was also selected for the Dorset U21 squad. - 17 appearances/ 1 goal
	Dan Herrington - Team Captain, signed at the start of the 2000/01 season. Plays down the left side, he looks comfortable in both winning and distributing the ball and also scores some superb long range goals. Another player who picked up a niggling injury mid way through the season, but recovered in time to force his way back into the starting line up for the final matches. - 31 appearances/ 6 goals

Forwards

	Alan Fooks - played 18 seasons for Swanage, only interrupted by a season of Western League football with AFC Bournemouth, 'Wishy' has been a prolific goal scorer all his career, and estimates are that he has scored more than 500 goals for the Swans including an incredible 61 in one season. He has also had spells with Blackfield, New Milton, Downton, Wimborne and Flight Refuelling. At 41 Alan has lost none of his sharpness in front of goal and proved it by netting 55 times during his first season with Borough and 33 during 2000/01. Made assistant manager at the start of the season, Alan has lead the line again and became top scorer for the third season in succession and was also ever present during all his time with Borough. Has decided to hang up his boots and finished on a high, scoring in the league cup final victory. - 36 appearances/ 34 goals
	Alex Gunn - Joined Borough early in the 1999/2000 season, Alex has had a lot of experience playing in the Dorset Combination since he was 17. He started with Bournemouth Sports and then moved on to Hamworthy United before joining Flight Refuelling following a break from Saturday Football. Plays either in the middle or wide on the right where is direct style always makes it difficult for opposition defenders and is always dangerous when he gets to the by-line. - 35 appearances/ 9 goals
	Chris Morgan - Young left-sided player who has already played over 50 games for Borough at left back and latterly on the wing and was awarded last season's young player of the year. He appeared in the early season games but appearances have been restricted as he is currently at Bristol University. - 4 appearances/ 0 goals
	Scott Smith - an apprentice at AFC Bournemouth and played for Poole Town and Wimborne before spending three seasons at Bournemouth Poppies. Scott joined the club at the start of the 1999/2000 season and immediately formed a devastating partnership with Alan Fooks and has been the second-highest goalscorer in all three seasons behind his strike partner. He is not just an out and out striker but shows some great close control in the area to make space and is also responsible for a great many 'assists'. - 28 appearances/ 29 goals
	Lee Symes - Young local player who joined Borough from Southern League Cirencester’s youth academy early in the season. A quick winger who can operate down both touchlines he has the ability to get to the touchline and send in some telling crosses. - 11 appearances/ 1 goal