The Diamonds Forum!

After reading that Jamie Stuart won the Grays Player of the Decade Competition recently, i just wondered who everyone thinks our player of the decade is???

As I've only been supporting since '06 , it's difficult for me to judge, especially since in the seasons I have seen, we have used so many different, and often sh!t (Pearson, Roget, Burton) players. I think the only player still playing from when I started is Tommo , and it looks likely he'll be leaving.

Two good references for anyone who wants to check who has played for the Diamonds during the past 10 years are at http://www.thediamondsfc.com/page/Stats ... 86,00.html

or

http://www.thediamondsfc.com/page/Stats ... 43,00.html

Surely it's got to be Barry Hunter? Saw us into Division 2 and then kept us up in 2005 and nearly did the same in 2006.

In terms of appearances throughout the decade I suppose it would be Andy Burgess, although the popular vote would surely go to Duane Darby.
Other contenders might be Onandi Lowe, Paul Hall, Paul Underwood.

I don't think that you can look outside the five players that Rushdenman has listed.

Even though their time was short at this club the impacts of Billy Sharp and Jamie Ashdown should be considered. Not forgetting of course Jacko's period at the club in the second half of the decade.

Despite their undoubted talents, I don't think a half a season in each of those cases would really make them contenders for a player of the decade award.

Perhaps we ought to have a poll?

I think its got to be either Paul Hall, Onandi Lowe, Duane Darby, or Billy Sharp.

I include Billy because he gave us the best diamonds moment ever, and single handedly kept us up.

I'd go with all of rushdenman's suggestions as contenders, bar Burgess - as I feel we just never saw the best of him. He could have been so much more if he'd just given it some more effort!

As for Sharp, totally agree that he did amazing things for the club in his short time here, but I'd agree with Insider's comment that half a season is just not enough. Giving him the award might be slightly offensive to other potential candidates who had a great impact here for years and years during the decade.

So Hally, Unders, Lowe and Darbs for me.

Don't worry, the idea has already been floated a while back.

No point running anything before we switch sites though.

Must be Underwood. The man was the ultimate legend.

Totally agree, I was going to post Paul Underwood but you beat me to it D53.

I think Andy Burgess may be an outsider, but i think it would be hard to dislodge Underwood from that title!

Unders... right thread this time ha ha - or should it be ho ho..?

Hall, Underwood, Darby and Jackson are my list. Lowe was a great goalscorer but he was a lazy player and had his off the field stuff, I don't think he deserves the honour.

The thing us, Unders was with us in the 90's. For some reason i want to give it to someone who came and went in the 00's.

As for Onandi, he was just so clinical, and entertaining to watch. He was far too good for both League One and League Two and scored some absolute belters.

But we can't forget Duane. He may not have had the ability of someone like Paul Hall and Onandi Lowe but his work rate made sure he scored shed-loads and became the definition of 'fans favorite.'