![No Picture...]()
| Squad No. |
34 |
| Joined |
1 August 2002 |
Transfer
Fee |
Free (From Youth Academy) |
| Signed by |
David Moyes |
| Debut |
Never played |
Left
Everton |
Joined Blackpool
7 November 2002 |
| Born |
Gateshead |
| Date of birth |
21 April 1984 |
| Height |
5' 10" (1.78 m) |
| Nicknames |
|
| Honours |
|
| Departed |
7 Nov 2002 |
| Destination |
Blackpool |
|
STRENGTHS
|
Young and Enthusiastic
Match experience at Blackpool |
|
WEAKNESSES
|
| Not quite good enough... |
Soccerbase
Datafile
|
Promoted to the Premiership squad by David Moyes for the beginning of the
2002-03 season, it was a surprise but understandable to see the youngster
farmed out on a month's loan to Second Division Blackpool, later extended
to three months (ending in mid-November 2002).
In many ways, it made a lot of sense.
Moyes has brought in a number of new transfers, and he is going to pick
those ahead of the likes of Southern. But, in the meantime, Southern
and his mate Peter Clarke can get some decent competitive games under
their belts playing in the cut and thrust of the Nationwide.
Keith Southern quickly became a firm favourite and it was no surprise when
Steve McMahon persuaded him and David Moyes to make the deal a permanent
one, despite all indications that the player would be returning to
Goodison.
The deal was brokered for a "nominal fee" (£50k?) but with a
substantial sell-on clause (25%?), providing some recompense to Everton if
the lad does one day make the grade in senior football. He leaves
Everton having never played for the first team in a senior match.
At Blackpool, he suffered knee ligament damage
in March 2003, and was out of action until September 2003.
Fast forward seven years of hard graft beside the seaside... and Keith Southern is named Man of the Match for Blackpool who win their Championship Play-off Final 3-2 at Wembley over Davey Jones's Cardiff City, and Southern gets the chance to finally prove himself in the Premier League where he would finally get to face his old club.
And when it came time for his testimonial at Blackpool, Everton obliged in July 2012 pre-season.. |
