Rory Delap appreciation thread

[jasoneuelllfanclub]

The legend that is Rory Delap has announced his retirement from professional football.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25404610?

 

I will always remember the overhead kick against Spurs. Thats about it

[Lighthouse]

The brace he scored at Highbury was pretty handy at the time.

[Bucks Saint]

yep the two goals late on at Highbury for me

[Saint Charlie]

A midfielder incapable of hitting a 10 yard pass without it bobbling.

 

But what a throw.

[SNSUN]

 

Oooosh.

[rooney]

I remember his ears.

[Stu Man Do]

I will always remember that one time where his long throw actually worked for us vs Sunderland. I was there. Heady days indeed.

 

Oh yeah his goal vs Spurs was also pretty good!

[FloridaMarlin]

Had a lot of time for him.

He had no airs and graces, was aware of his limitations and did not try and do anything he was not capable of doing, at the same time, he recognised the qualities he did have and worked hard at his game.

A prime example of a good, solid if unspectacular professional footballer who enjoyed a good career in the game through his willingness to work hard and apply himself.

Critics may say it doesn't speak much for the standard of our game that somebody not overly-blessed with silky ball skills like Rory can make a well-paid career from it.

But not everyone who picks up a paint brush aspires to be Picasso or van Gogh, and everybody needs somebody who can decorate a house well.

He did a good job for every club he played for, from Derby to Burton, and I think it says something about him that even when he realised he could no longer play at the top level, he enjoyed playing enough to go and ply his trade at the lower level. He did it for the right reason, and not to extend his career and squeeze the last few quid out of a lower-league club.

Similarly, he has taken the decision to knock it on the head, and thus not milked Burton for money until the end of the season or his contract.

My memory of Delap is that wherever he played his mum and dad would drive from their home in Carlisle to watch him. I think his dad was a headmaster, if my memory serves me correctly, but they rarely missed a game throughout his career.

I'd certainly like to wish Rory Delap all the very best in whatever he decides to do in the future.

[Mr X]

Always tried hard but he was the record signing of the time and somewhat a disappointment, good throw ins though we never ever made good use of them!

[JustinR]

Think he'll mainly be remembered as being our record signing for most of this century so far

[SO16_Saint]

 

Oooosh.

 

Looks like he tripped in his run up

 

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[Colinjb]

I will always remember that one time where his long throw actually worked for us vs Sunderland. I was there. Heady days indeed.

 

I believe one of them worked at home v Liverpool or Everton too, straight onto Crouchie's forehead.

[Hatch]

He was cr6p

 

The numbers of times he was running in one direction , whilst the ball and everyone else was heading in the other used to kill me.

[Suhari]

Proper pro. Anyone who slates him should ask the simple question: would you trade the past 19 years of your life to have a similar footie career as him?

 

Was a member of one of our strongest midfield units.

 

I do struggle to believe however that he remained our record signing for so long!!

[Hamilton Saint]

I have two mental images of the guy: 1) wiping the ball with his shirt before delivering yet another of his "famous" long throw-ins (that achieved nothing - well 997 times out of 1000, that is); 2) jogging aimlessly back towards our half of the field in order to do vaguely something ... now, what was it?

 

Then there were those 2 wonder goals at Arsenal. Where did that come from?!

[Badger]

Many people forget he was actually a good and committed midfield player before breaking his league twice in the same season. Poor bastard never really recovered from that mentally to be the same player for us again.

 

Later performances earned him the name De Crap etc, but it was a shame we lost the player with a bit more bite when we did in 2003.

[Dellman]

He always seemed a bit of a flop for a record signing and in the relegation season he just didn't want to be there, the club must have been in total meltdown at the time because when he left he really surprised me by doing well esp at Stoke. He's not one I miss or remember warmly

[sandwichsaint]

He was cr6p

 

The numbers of times he was running in one direction , whilst the ball and everyone else was heading in the other used to kill me.

 

Nothing wrong with 'seeking out space' ......

[Saint_clark]

yep the two goals late on at Highbury for me

 

Don't think they were actually that late, Arsenal equalised in injury time (or rather, beyond injury time...b*stards).

[Viking Warrior]

I can genuinely say I was a fan of Rory delap . In many ways he reminded me of one my all time favourite saints player . Brian O'neill

[studentsaint]

His 2 footed challenge that forced yakubu off the st Mary's pitch when we beat pompey 2-1.

[Dr Who?]

Great player, fond memories of his playing time here.

[John Boy Saint]

Don't think they were actually that late, Arsenal equalised in injury time (or rather, beyond injury time...b*stards).

 

.....................It's was halfway through the next week!!! And the Ref still tried to give them till Friday to nail the winner!!

[sambosa75]

He used to live on Carne Close in Hiltingbury. Never forget getting out a taxi with my mate at around 5am after a night in town followed by the casino to find Delap doubled over on the pavement spewing his guts up as he'd decided to go out for an early "jog". If you push yourself to those levels on a jog, you win my respect! I offered him a bite of my kebab from the caspian but he declined.

[sotonjoe]

Truly mediocre player who sums up what it was to be saintsfc in the 2001 era. Should've been buying better than that.

 

 

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[Ekelund24]

Played brilliantly in the 2002/03 season along with Oakley until he got injured, came on in the semi final against Watford and smashed a player with a beautiful tackle that led to the second goal!!

 

Was **** after that but had his moments!!

[LeTissLeGod]

Best game I saw him play was against us for Derby in a night game at the Dell. Must have been that one that convinced the Saints management to sign him.

[farawaysaint]

Truly mediocre player who sums up what it was to be saintsfc in the 2001 era. Should've been buying better than that.

 

 

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Be fair, he was practically the sum of Stoke's strike force and did a damn good job in the pl.

[Viking Warrior]

So many differing opinions

 

I wonder what some of the younger posters on here would say about our players in the late sixties and seventies.

 

They would no doubt crucify some of our players,

I dread to think what they would have said about Big John, Gerry Gurr , dennis hollywood , terry paine eric martin, brian O'neill john sydenham etc etc

[david in sweden]

A player who arrived without having any set position, but seemed willing to play anywhere the (various) managers asked him to, but without ever really mastering any of them.

 

He was also quite brave and suffered a number of injuries ..for the cause. Rarely distinguished himself, but I was inclined to ask myself...

...if he was such a success with long throws (at Stoke) then why didn't we have someone capable of getting on the end of a few when he was with us.?

 

However, most people will remember that 135 apps +17 subs. and 5 goals, in 5 years -----wasn't really much return for £4 million (at the time).

[Badger]

Played brilliantly in the 2002/03 season along with Oakley until he got injured, came on in the semi final against Watford and smashed a player with a beautiful tackle that led to the second goal!!

 

Was **** after that but had his moments!!

 

Broke his leg -for the second time that season - in a reserve match a few days later whilst trying to build his fitness for the final.

[Mattio]

Rory Delap, Rory Delap, Sometimes he's good, Sometimes he's cráp

[Mattio]

 

Oooosh.

LOL at that first attempted cross from Lundekvam(?)

[mynameisthehulk]

Rory Delap, Rory Delap, Sometimes he's good, Sometimes he's cráp

 

Rory Delap, Rory Delap, Occasionally good, usually crap.

[Saints67]

Rory Delap, Rory Delap, when he runs, his ears they flap. Well I hope that's what they sang as that's what I told my eight year old son at the time.

[9-3]

never performed