Walsall‘s brilliant start to the season has seen them top League Two in its formative stages and have made one of their best League Cup runs in recent years.
A penalty shootout win over Exeter City was followed up with a 3-2 win over Huddersfield Town to set The Saddlers up with a home tie with Premier League side Leicester City. It pits the third-placed fourth-tier team with a Foxes side that has struggled so far and have only won once this season against Tranmere Rovers.
The tie at Bescot Stadium marks the first time the West Midlands side will face off against a Premier League side in the competition since the last time they reached the third round against Chelsea. The Blues bested Walsall 4-1 at Banks’s Stadium in 2015 which got us wondering, where are the players that represented The Saddlers that night now?
Dean Smith was in charge of the club in what would be his last season at the first club he ever played for as he was poached by then-Championship side Brentford six weeks after signing a new deal. After stints at Aston Villa, Norwich City and then Leicester, Smith now manages MLS side Charlotte FC.
In between the sticks was Neil Etheridge, who joined on a free transfer from Charlton Athletic that summer. He couldn’t stop a strong Chelsea team that had won the Premier League the season before, with Ramires, Loic Remy, Kenedy and Pedro all scoring past him. After two seasons at Walsall, he went to Cardiff City and later Birmingham City. Etheridge now plays in the Thai League for champions Buriram United.
Cyprus international Jason Demetriou was in defence, having also been a summer signing from his homeland having previously played for Leyton Orient. It would be his only season at The Saddlers, joining Southend United on a free transfer. After 260 appearances, 20 goals and a brief stint in Kevin Maher’s coaching staff, he departed the Essex club and is yet to find a new side.
Paul Downing was alongside him at the back, having already played three seasons at the club. He arrived from Barnet in 2012, and achieved at least 30 appearances in every season at Banks’s Stadium. 2015/16 was his last season in the West Midlands, joining MK Dons the next summer. After playing for Blackburn Rovers, Doncaster Rovers, Portsmouth, Rochdale and Hereford, Downing now plays for Kidderminster Harriers.
Walsall’s goalscorer that night was James O’Connor, who was signed from Derby County in 2014. A Doncaster icon who had previously featured for Port Vale and AFC Bournemouth, he left The Saddlers by mutual consent in 2017. The defender signed for Kidderminster, where he retired after a brief stint in Russell Penn’s backroom setup.
On the left flank was Rico Henry. He emerged through the setup at the club but followed boss Dean Smith to Brentford in the winter transfer window. The England youth international remains with The Bees, thriving under current manager Thomas Frank but has been hindered over the past year due to an Anterior Cruciate Ligament injury.
Adam Chambers was another player who had played for both Leyton Orient and Walsall, having made the switch back to the Midlands in 2011. The former West Bromwich Albion midfielder would retire in 2019 after 331 appearances for The Saddlers.
Sam Mantom was loaned to Banks’s Stadium from The Baggies twice before making the switch to Dean Smith’s side permanently in January 2013. 2015/16 would be his last season at the club with a move to Scunthorpe United on a free transfer. He now plays for Rushall Olympic in the National League North.
One player from the squad still in League Two is Kieron Morris, who emerged from the academy at Walsall. After loan spells at Wrexham and Leamington, the left-winger managed to stick a permanent place at the club earlier in the year, and remained a constant part of the club until being sent away to Tranmere Rovers, with a loan move being made permanent. He remains with Nigel Adkins’ side, playing twice so far this season.
Romaine Sawyers‘ career was kickstarted with The Saddlers after being brought in on a free transfer from West Brom. Like Rico Henry, Smith brought the St Kitts and Nevis international to Griffin Park the following summer to the Chelsea game. After three seasons with the club, Albion returned for their former player but it would not work out, with a loan spell to Stoke City and was later signed by Cardiff on a free transfer in 2022. The Bluebirds was his last club, leaving earlier this year after his contract expired.
Former Sunderland academy graduate Jordan Cook was a journeyman for most of his career, only playing for two seasons at Walsall. He would play for Luton Town, Grimsby Town and Hartlepool United before dropping into non-league with Gateshead. He now plays for Shildon, a club in the ninth tier of football.
Milan Lalkovic was the second forward in the squad and a former Chelsea player. He never featured for the first team, being one of many of their perpetual loan players in the early 2010s. After a previous spell at Walsall, the Slovakian was signed on a free from Barnsley but would not stick around, moving to Portsmouth the next summer. Lalkovic was last seen playing in 2022 for Greek second-division side Makedonikos.
Smith made three changes on the night, with Reece Flanagan being the first, brought on for Adam Chambers. His time at Walsall was his only experience in the EFL, moving to Leamington in 2018. He now plays for Redditch United at the age of 29.
Anthony Forde was also introduced at the same time as Flanagan in place of Lalkovic on the 73rd minute. He would be sold to Rotherham United the following summer and also appeared for Oxford United. He now plays for Wrexham, being involved in their National League win and aided their promotion efforts from League Two last season.
James Baxendale was the final sub, introduced in the 83rd minute with Jordan Cook making way. Initially coming through at Leeds United, he would make 102 appearances for Walsall before switching closer to his native Doncaster with Mansfield Town. After a lengthy career across non-league football, he now manages Frickley Athletic in the Northern Counties East League.
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