Neil Redfearn

Thankfully, as helpfully pointed out in the title of his autobiography, "There's Only One Neil Redfearn". In this week's poll he tied with Lars Bohinen for second place in the Journeyman Sweepstakes, but my research unearthed an untapped well of mediocrity unheard of this side of the Mexican Third Division... To whet your appetite, I could point out that Neil Redfearn has played for 17 (SEVENTEEN!!!) clubs during his career, from the giddy heights of the Premiership (many times over with successive relegation whipping boys) on the books of Barnsley, Charlton and Bradford, to the undoubted lows of turning out for those footballing titans, Stocksbridge Park Steels. I could ALSO point out that he was still 'playing' in 2007... for Northwich Victoria - his 17th career club at the age of 42. Neil Redfearn has only ever stayed with one club (his beloved Barnsley) for more than two seasons, which only adds to his pedigree... There really is only one Neil Redfearn.

Stuart Barlow

Many people confused Stuart Barlow with the famous TV doctor, Doogie Howser MD (aka Neil Patrick Harris). However, despite the fact that they have never been seen together, they are not the same person. One was a teen prodigy, showered with riches and rave reviews.... the other played for Sherwood Park, Everton, Rotherham, Oldham, Wigan, Tranmere, Stockport, Bury, Morecambe and Southport... Stuart Barlow's career DID have some highlights.... Mostly in relative terms... Including his stints as a cult hero at Wigan and Tranmere. But perhaps the most telling sign of his career (and his status as a Journeyman Footballer) is the fact that he moved between ten different clubs in seventeen years, for a grand total of £395,000. For those of you in the know, that's three weeks' wages for Andriy Shevchenko... A goals per game average of 0.26 doesn't help either...

Noel Whelan

Few can contend Noel Whelan's right to a place in this list of splendour... Starting with great promise at Leeds United in the mid-1990s, Whelan followed the expected trajectory of any true journeyman footballer... Down and down through stumbling mediocrity. One might argue that 60 career goals is not a bad return, all being said and done, except that these goals were spread across 14 years and 10 different football clubs. Five goals a year doth not a legend make, unfortunately... And it all started so brightly (including a call-up to the England U-21s!). In the late 1990s, EA Sports released a game called 'FA Premier League Stars' which allowed you to upgrade players with points gained through winning matches. Through these means I made Noel Whelan a peerless footballing god. Given the reality, this has to be one of my greatest EVER achievements. After Leeds came Coventry, Boro, Palace, Millwall, Derby, Aberdeen, Boston Utd, Livingston and Dunfermline... My EA dreams were never realised. Art was not an imitation of life.

Jan Aage Fjortoft

Having mentioned him in the brief intro to this blog, it seems churlish to overlook the majesty of peerless Jan Aage Fjortoft. Having played for such stellar clubs as Swindon, Middlesborough, Sheffield United and Barnsley (all top-flight teams at the time, remember), our man Jan contrived to get all four teams relegated with an air of panache unequalled by his peers. To be fair, Mr Fjortoft did do his very best, and puts some of the modern Premiership strikers to shame with his goals to games ratio (65 goals in 181 appearances in the English leagues is not bad at all), but the fact that he never strayed beyond clubs who were desperately trying not to claim accolades for 'Worst Top Flight Team Of All Time' is a sure pointer to the fact that this was a man never destined for greatness...

Welcome to the Journeymen XI!

Remember the wonder of Jan Age Fjortoft? Did you once revel in the majesty of Shaun Goater? What did you think of the mighty Paul Warhurst? Anyone remember Neil Redfearn? Over the years there has been a legend of a thoroughbred group of individuals whose innate talent for passing from one football club to another with minimum impact is unsurpassed... Well, ladies & gentlmen... Here we celebrate the wonders of that true thing of beauty: the Journeyman Footballer!