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He told the club's official website, www.southendunited.co.uk, that, "Everything I have seen at Southend United I have been impressed with, which is partly the reason why I signed the one year". In a hint that he may be employed as a winger rather than a striker he declared, "Hopefully if I play regularly I can create chances for the team", before concluding, "I want to do well for myself and for Southend United and who knows from there".
Corbett, born in Hackney, started his career with Kent's only Football League side Gillingham, making 19 appearances at Priestfield and netting twice in his only season with the Gills. At the end of the 1997/8 season Blackburn Rovers were prepared to shell out £525,000 to secure the services of the promising youngster, tying him to a five-year contract. However, he did not break into the Rovers first-team at all, and a loan spell at Portsmouth in February 2000 also passed without a senior appearance. At the end of the last campaign he linked up with Mick Tait at Darlington, and whilst at Feethams he played on ten occasions, scoring twice, although his match at Roots Hall for the Quakers passed goalless. Corbett, who can also play on the right-wing, was released from his contract at Blackburn on June 1st, although he was made available for transfer as early as June 2001.
James Corbett Factfile
Favoured Position: Centre-forward
Other Positions: Right-wing
Age: 23 (Born: Hackney, 6th July 1980)
Height: 5ft 9ins
Weight: 10st 12lbs
Career (17 appearances, plus 12 as a substitute, four goals):
Gillingham (1st August 1997-21st May 1998) - 8(11) games, 2 goals
Blackburn Rovers (£525,000 - 21st May 1998-1st June 2003) - 0 games, 0 goals
Portsmouth (loan - 21st February 2000-1st March 2000) - 0 games, 0 goals
Darlington (loan - 1st March 2003-4th May 2003) - 9(1) games, 2 goals
Robert Craven
www.thelittlegazette.com