The Ex-Files
'Where are they now?' Paul Taylor's column continues to track the recent exploits and fortunes of the active City Old Boys.
Transfers: Derek Asamoah: Lincoln to Shrewsbury (after pre-season outings with both Doncaster and S****horpe). Jon Ashton: Oxford United to Rushden (and scored twice from defence in a 2-4 pre-season outing against Reading). Guy Branston: Oldham to Peterborough (where he's twice previously been on loan). Karl Brennan: Quorn to Loughborough Dynamo (and a player-coach role). Kevin Campbell: West Brom to Cardiff. Paul Dickov: Blackburn to Manchester City (nostalgically). Lawrie Dudfield: Boston United to Notts County. Kevin Ellison: Hull to Tranmere. Paul Emerson: Ballyclare Comrades to Bangor (for a second stint). Alan Fettis: Macclesfield to Bury. Mark Gayle: Tamworth to Halesowen Town (again). Phil Gilchrist: Rotherham to Oxford United (again). Tuomas Haapala: Manchester City to Sandefjord. Emile Heskey: Birmingham to Wigan (for £5.5m). Paul Hyde: Dover Athletic to Welling United (as player-coach). Leon McSweeney: Hednesford Town to Ilkeston Town. Christian Moore: Burton Albion to Hucknall Town. Carl Muggleton: Chesterfield to Mansfield Town. Paul Murphy: Portadown to Ballymena United. Matt Nurse: Quorn to Loughborough Dynamo. Stefan Postma: Wolves to ADO Den Haag. Michael Price: Harrogate Town to Gateshead. Alan Rogers: Forest to Bradford City (on a week-to-week contract). James Scowcroft: Coventry to Crystal Palace. Ryan Smith: Arsenal to Derby. Adam Sollitt: Worksop to Gainsborough Trinity. Ben Steane: Brackley Town to Chasetown. Jon Stevenson (pictured): Alfreton to Tamworth. Dean Sturridge: QPR to Kidderminster Harriers. Tony Thorpe: Colchester to Stevenage Borough. Gavin Ward: Preston to Tranmere. Stuart Wilson: Shepshed Dynamo to Stamford. Eamon Zayed: Bray Wanderers to Drogheda United (and on to early UEFA Cup glory)
Pre-Season Trialists: Nathan Blake, after a year out of the game, with Stoke City. Kevin Larvin (Bottesford Town) with North Ferriby United. Junior Lewis, sought by Martin Allen for a player-coach role, with MK Dons. Kevin Poole, ageless, with Walsall. Steve Guppy with Wycombe Wanderers, again. Liam Powell with Hucknall Town.
Retirees: Craig Hignett, now studying for coaching badges back in the North-East after helping Apollon Limassol to a rare Cypriot title last term. Muzzy Izzet, sadly injury-ravaged ever since his St Andrews move. Kevin Pressman, following his Mansfield release.
Sad Farewells: Other than the rightly-lionised late Sep Smith, two other significant Old Boy losses over the summer: 1949 Cup Final goalkeeper Gordon Bradley and WW2 teenage discovery (and later Mal Griffiths understudy) Vernon Chapman. RIP each.