1 of 1- Aberdeen Arab
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Late 90’s - French CM Trialist
Morning gents
Question - can any of you remember us having a French Centre Mid trialist play for us in a preseason friendly around the mid/late 90’s?
I seem to remember the game was against an EPL club and the boy who was 30yrs+ ran the show. He got subbed off late on to a standing ovation but never ended up signing a deal, rumoured because his wife wanted to stay in France.
I’ve got the name Alain Roche in my head but can’t find any details of a connection with him to us online.
Anyone else remember this boy and can confirm who he was?
- Tek
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Re: Late 90’s - French CM Trialist
Aberdeen Arab wrote:
Morning gents
Question - can any of you remember us having a French Centre Mid trialist play for us in a preseason friendly around the mid/late 90’s?
I seem to remember the game was against an EPL club and the boy who was 30yrs+ ran the show. He got subbed off late on to a standing ovation but never ended up signing a deal, rumoured because his wife wanted to stay in France.
I’ve got the name Alain Roche in my head but can’t find any details of a connection with him to us online.
Anyone else remember this boy and can confirm who he was?
Vaguely rememember this AA.
I think you could be right about the name too btw.
- Finn Seemann
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Re: Late 90’s - French CM Trialist
=Maybe Jean-Pierre Delaunay - played one game v Newcastle at the start of the 99/00 season - was signed but retired after that with injury
Last edited by Finn Seemann (18/8/2020 11:10 am)
- Lilley01
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Re: Late 90’s - French CM Trialist
Heady days when foreign signings were complete mysteries and could happen at anytime. No transfer window, no Wikipedia, no youtube videos. Just eternal optimism you'd signed a superstar.
- Billy_Hainey
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Re: Late 90’s - French CM Trialist
- Tek
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Re: Late 90’s - French CM Trialist
=Maybe Jean-Pierre Delaunay - played one game v Newcastle at the start of the 99/00 season - was signed but retired after that with injury
Not him. Seen him play and he was distinctly average.
- David_Blunkett
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Re: Late 90’s - French CM Trialist
Morning gents
Question - can any of you remember us having a French Centre Mid trialist play for us in a preseason friendly around the mid/late 90’s?
I seem to remember the game was against an EPL club and the boy who was 30yrs+ ran the show. He got subbed off late on to a standing ovation but never ended up signing a deal, rumoured because his wife wanted to stay in France.
I’ve got the name Alain Roche in my head but can’t find any details of a connection with him to us online.
Anyone else remember this boy and can confirm who he was?
If my memory serves me correctly it was a game a Tannadice which was two United teams against each other with a mix of first teamers, trialists and kids across both teams.
That boy looked great I think he scored at the East Stand end, maybe a diving header.
"Don't F*cking ever offer me that again!"
- PatReilly
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Re: Late 90’s - French CM Trialist
It's maybe Stéphane Roche, came on trial from Olympique Lyonnais. Same surname as AA suggests.
- Finn Seemann
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Re: Late 90’s - French CM Trialist
Sounds like that's your man. Bit of a pedigree and seems to be managing the kids at PSG now.
- Aberdeen Arab
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Re: Late 90’s - French CM Trialist
It's maybe Stéphane Roche, came on trial from Olympique Lyonnais. Same surname as AA suggests.
Think you’ve nailed it Pat. I remember after the event reading up on him and thinking what a signing he would have been. Had had a great career in France. All we knew at the time was he was a French Trialist - pre. Twitter etc. was a secretive time
Cheers
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