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Graham Coughlan & Rhys Evans; the latest Shrimpers to sign on, so far, today!
So Blues boss Paul Sturrock has now signed a team and a sub, all in 17 days, Chairman Ron Martin is playing a dangerous game as we know, but he'd better make sure the transfer embargo gets lifted or we get approval to play all these footballers, or there is going to be some angry knocks on his door!
From Sturrock and his assistant Tommy Widdrington for starters, who have moved mountains to make these players to put pen to paper on pre-contract agreements, and after a promising pre-season friendly against Championship Derby County, is starting to get these strangers, though many have played in previous Sturrock teams, to fit into his style of play and gel into serious promotion contenders.
Anyway, the latest two; and no great surprise, as thet both turned out against the Rams Monday evening, the keeper Evans even had a half away to Dartford last Friday.
The Southend manager promised to bring in some experience to back his 'boys with potential' and he's kept to his word with central defender Graham Coughlan, who at 35 has played 423 games over his long career, including being managed by Sturrock at Plymouth Argyle and Sheffield Wednesday, but the Irishman had recently finished a two-season spell with League Two rivals Shewsbury Town.
Graham will also be helping out with the coaching at Roots Hall, with the defence during training, and seeming to take over from Ricky Duncan with the reserves!
And finally, after getting rid of a Dubliner in Macca, we get another one in the 6ft 2in center half.
Former Chelsea trainee Rhys Evans, who joins from Bristol Rovers, is the second keeper Luggy has brought in during the close season after another shot stopper to spend some time at the Borient, Glenn Morris, signed arlier this week.
A player who Southend showed some interest in before he went to the County Ground, was a youth of great promise but has found it hard to gain the consistancy to have a club show sufficient faith in him to stay over a long period.
Let's hope now the Shrimpers get the best out of him, it will be interesting to see who starts in the first team and who warms the bench?
The Coughlan Files
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Graham Coughlan | ||
| Date of birth | 18 November 1974 (1974-11-18) | ||
| Place of birth | Dublin, Republic of Ireland | ||
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||
| Playing position | Defender | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Southend United | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1993-1994 | Cherry Orchard | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1994-1995 | Bray Wanderers | 11 | (0) |
| 1995-1999 | Blackburn Rovers | 0 | (0) |
| 1997 | → Swindon Town (loan) | 3 | (0) |
| 1999 | → Livingston (loan) | 6 | (0) |
| 1999-2001 | Livingston | 50 | (2) |
| 2001-2005 | Plymouth Argyle | 177 | (25) |
| 2005-2007 | Sheffield Wednesday | 51 | (5) |
| 2007 | → Burnley (loan) | 2 | (0) |
| 2007-2008 | Rotherham United | 45 | (1) |
| 2008-2010 | Shrewsbury Town | 78 | (6) |
| 2010 | Southend United | 0 | (0) |
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 18:16, 14 May 2010 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). | |||
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graham_Coughlan)
The Evans Files
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Rhys Karl Evans | ||
| Date of birth | 27 January 1982 (1982-01-27) | ||
| Place of birth | Swindon, England | ||
| Height | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
| Playing position | Goalkeeper | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Southend United | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1998-2003 | Chelsea | 0 | (0) |
| 2000 | → Bristol Rovers (loan) | 4 | (0) |
| 2001-2002 | → Queens Park Rangers (loan) | 11 | (0) |
| 2002 | → Leyton Orient (loan) | 7 | (0) |
| 2003-2006 | Swindon Town | 118 | (0) |
| 2006-2008 | Blackpool | 32 | (0) |
| 2007 | → Bradford City (loan) | 4 | (0) |
| 2008 | Millwall | 21 | (0) |
| 2008-2009 | Bradford City | 45 | (0) |
| 2009-2010 | Bristol Rovers | 3 | (0) |
| 2010- | Southend United | 0 | (0) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2003 | England U21 | 2 | (0) |
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 16:48, 17 May 2010 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 09:46, 1 August 2008 (UTC) | |||
(Player information supplied by Wikipedia, for the full article go here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhys_Evans)