Balham
S24SU Seer
Part one of three this week...
Where are they now?
Sheffield United 1-1 Coventry City (AET, United win 3-1 on penalties)
FA Cup quarter final replay, Tuesday 17th March, 1998
GK Alan Kelly: joined United from Preston for £150k in 1992 and stayed with United until the summer of 1999 when he joined Blackburn for £750k. Kelly retired in 2004 and moved into coaching, initially in the States before rejoining first club Preston. Last seen as Everton's goalkeeper coach but left the Toffees in August 2024.
DC Lee Sandford: signed from Stoke on a free in the summer of 1996 and stayed with us until the summer of 2002. Sandford retired after a short spell at Woking and completely changed career, becoming a stock trading coach. In a small-world scenario, Sandford lives round the corner from me and has kids at the same school.
DC Chris Short: made history as the first German-born player to play for United, signing from Notts County in 1995. Left United in 1998 for a two-year spell at Stoke before health issues forced him into retirement in 2001 at the age of 31. Since retirement he has worked a fitness coach under various guises and at various clubs; he is now in Oxford United's physical performance team; his brother Craig (another ex-Blade) is assistant manager at the Us.
DC David Holdsworth: joined United in October 1996 for £500k, leaving for Birmingham in a £1.5m deal two-and-a-half years later. Released by the Blues in 2002, he joined then-Conference side Scarborough for a season before finishing his career at Gretna in Scotland. Since retiring he has had spells managing then-Conference sides Mansfield and Lincoln City before becoming Carlisle's Director of Football in 2018. He left the Cumbrians in 2022 and as far as I can tell hasn't had another role in football since.
WBL Roger Nilsen: a relatively big money signing for United costing £500k in our first Premier League relegation season, Nilsen became a bit of a cult hero, cementing that position by hammering his penalty past Ogrizovic in the shoot-out. Left the Lane in February 1999, joining Spurs but only made two appearances before moving to Grazer AK in Switzerland then back to his native Norway in 2001 with spells at Molde, Bryne and Stavanger IF. Since retiring from playing Nilsen has had tenures as Stavanger IF manager, Viking assistant and caretaker manager before his final role as Norwegian second tier FK Vidar's manager. No idea what he's up to now.
MC Nicky Marker: signed from Blackburn in 1997, Marker made 62 appearances over a 2 year spell but with recurrent injuries taking their toll he was forced into early retirement in 2000 after a short time at Cheltenham. Following his retirement, Marker moved back to his home county of Devon and has held roles in several non-league sides but has since disappeared off the radar.
MC Bobby Ford: signed by Nigel Spackman from Oxford for £400k in 1997, Ford returned to the Yellows in 2002 for a single season before retiring. Came out of retirement for an 18-month spell at Bath City but retired permanently in 2004. Rumoured to have become a plumber in Norfolk but I can't find anything to corroborate that.
MC Wayne Quinn: another Devonian in United's ranks for the Coventry game, Quinn came through the youth system, earning rave reviews as the left wing back in Spackman's 3-4-3 before making an £800k move to Newcastle in 2001. Never reached the heights expected of him and dropped out of the professional game due to injury in 2004 after unsuccessful loan spells back at United and at West Ham. Has bounced around the Cornish amateur leagues since then.
WBR Vas Borbokis: a big money signing in the summer of 1997, joining United from AEK Athens. Left after a two-year spell in which he became a firm fans' favourite, joining then-Premier League side Derby for £1.6m and Rob Kozluk. His spell at the Rams was short-lived as he moved back to Greece for stints at PAOK and then back at AEK. Borbokis finished his career at Anorthosis in Cyprus before moving into coaching, working as assistant manager at Greek sides AEK, Atromitos, Panetolikos and currently OFI Crete.
FC Gareth Taylor: joined United on a free in 1996 after being released by Crystal Palace, staying for a little over 2 seasons before joining Manchester City for £400k in 1998. Failing to make the expected impact in Manchester, Taylor had loan spells at Port Vale, QPR and Burnley before signing permanently for the Clarets in 2001. After rediscovering his goalscoring touch he joined Notts FOReST for £500k in the summer of 2003 and was made captain. However, he was stripped of the captaincy by manager Gary Pig Megson in 2005/06 before joining Tranmere on a free at the end of the season. 18 months later, he was on the move again, joining Doncaster then on to FC Hollywood of Wrexham in 2009. Taylor retired from playing in 2011 and immediately joined Manchester City's coaching staff, initially as U16s coach and then as MCFC Women's Head Coach in 2020. He was sacked in March 2025 with City 4th in the table.
FC Marcelo: another summer 1997 signing, joining from Alavés for £400k to become the first Brazilian to play for United. Left for Birmingham in a £500k deal two years later after scoring 25 times in 65 appearances; a two year stay at the Blues including a runnners'-up medal in the 2001 League Cup was followed by a short spell at Walsall and a final playing role at first club Académica in Portugal. I have absolutely no idea what he has done since.
Subs
Pyotr Kachuro (for Short, 64): a left-field signing when he joined United in 1996, anglicising his name to Petr and becoming the first and only Belorussian to play for us. Player of the Season in his first year at the Lane but a bit part player after that as injuries took their toll. Joined then-sister club Chengdu for a season in 2000 before heading back to boyhood club Dinamo Minsk and then Russian side Sokol Saratov for three seasons. Retired in 2005, Kachuro has held assistant and manager roles at Minsk, Deman Drodno, Bereza and Lida. Currently Sochi's U19 assistant manager.
Tri Dellas (for Marker, 72): another cult hero from a team packed with them, Dellas was a surprise signing, joining in the summer of 1997 as a 19 year old from Aris Saloniki. A two year spell at the Lane was followed by a return to Greece, joining AEK for two years, then a move to Perugia in Italy in 2001. Despite contractual issues restricting him to 8 appearances for the Biancorossi, Dellas had caught the eye of Serie A giants Roma and he moved to the Giallorossi in 2002. Despite being popular with the Roma fans during his stay there, Dellas was a victim of the clear-out following Roma's awful 2004/05 season and moved back to AEK on a free, staying in the Greek capital for three years before heading to Anorthosis in Cyprus in 2008 for a 2-year spell which included Champions League qualification. Dellas finished his playing career with another 2 year term at AEK, retiring in 2012. He quickly moved into management, overseeing AEK's rise from the ashes of a financial meltdown, gaining two promotions in 2 years between 2013 and 2015 but left in October 2015 after a disappointing start to the Super League season. He then had two spells as Panetolikos manager and an unsuccessful 8-month stint in charge of OFI Crete, leaving them in October 2024. Fun fact: Dellas scored one goal for Greece in 53 games, against Czechia in the Euro 2004 semi-final, a header which remains the only silver goal scored in international football.
Lee Morris (for Marcelo, 85): son of a former Blade, Morris burst onto the scene in 1997 as a livewire left winger, scoring 8 goals in 38 appearances before Derby paid £3m to sign him in October 1999. After scoring 17 goals over his 4-and-a-half years with the Rams he left for Leicester in February 2004 before a serious knee injury derailed his career and turned him very much into a journeyman: a 2-year spell at Yeovil followed by single seasons at Burton, Hereford, Kidderminster and then even short terms at Eastwood and Solihull Moors before retiring in 2012 aged just 32. Morris went into coaching after retiring, working in Derby's academy before taking manager roles at non-league sides Goole, Frickley and Worsbrough. He moved across to America to work with Bradford-affiliated second tier side South Carolina United and is now Director of Player Development there.
Simon Tracey (GK): signed by Dave Bassett from Wimbledon in 1988 for a huge £12,500, Tracey was one half of probably the best goalkeeping duo of my time following United. He made over 330 appearances for the Blades but had short spells on loan at Manchester City, Norwich City, Nottingham Forest and Wimbledon after failing to dislodge Alan Kelly. Injured in before the 2002/03 season, Tracey fell behind new signing Paddy Kenny and retired from playing in July 2003. Spells as goalkeeper coach followed, 5 years at Rotherham between 2004 and 2009, several years at Barnsley, two years at Carlisle (2015-17) and a year at Chesterfield (2017/18). Moved into scouting in 2018, joining Northampton as Chief Scout before moving to Brentford in 2023.
Mark Beard: joined United from Millwall for £100k in July 1995 but would only make 56 appearances over 3 years at the Lane before leaving for Southend in July 1998. 6 years spent oscillating between Southend and Kingstonian were followed by a two year stay in Marbella at UD San Pedro, then back to the UK to join Stevenage (then Borough) in 2006, where he won the FA Trophy. Joined Wimbledon for a season in 2008 before winding down his career combining playing and managing at non-league sides Haywards Heath and Tooting & Mitcham. Since retiring, Beard has mainly worked in youth development: spells at Crawley (2012-14) and Brighton (2017-21) were followed by assistant roles at Stockport (2021) and Dorking (2021-23) and as manager of Conference side Eastbourne (2023/24). Now Humberside Jungle Cats' U18s manager.
Where are they now?
Sheffield United 1-1 Coventry City (AET, United win 3-1 on penalties)
FA Cup quarter final replay, Tuesday 17th March, 1998
GK Alan Kelly: joined United from Preston for £150k in 1992 and stayed with United until the summer of 1999 when he joined Blackburn for £750k. Kelly retired in 2004 and moved into coaching, initially in the States before rejoining first club Preston. Last seen as Everton's goalkeeper coach but left the Toffees in August 2024.
DC Lee Sandford: signed from Stoke on a free in the summer of 1996 and stayed with us until the summer of 2002. Sandford retired after a short spell at Woking and completely changed career, becoming a stock trading coach. In a small-world scenario, Sandford lives round the corner from me and has kids at the same school.
DC Chris Short: made history as the first German-born player to play for United, signing from Notts County in 1995. Left United in 1998 for a two-year spell at Stoke before health issues forced him into retirement in 2001 at the age of 31. Since retirement he has worked a fitness coach under various guises and at various clubs; he is now in Oxford United's physical performance team; his brother Craig (another ex-Blade) is assistant manager at the Us.
DC David Holdsworth: joined United in October 1996 for £500k, leaving for Birmingham in a £1.5m deal two-and-a-half years later. Released by the Blues in 2002, he joined then-Conference side Scarborough for a season before finishing his career at Gretna in Scotland. Since retiring he has had spells managing then-Conference sides Mansfield and Lincoln City before becoming Carlisle's Director of Football in 2018. He left the Cumbrians in 2022 and as far as I can tell hasn't had another role in football since.
WBL Roger Nilsen: a relatively big money signing for United costing £500k in our first Premier League relegation season, Nilsen became a bit of a cult hero, cementing that position by hammering his penalty past Ogrizovic in the shoot-out. Left the Lane in February 1999, joining Spurs but only made two appearances before moving to Grazer AK in Switzerland then back to his native Norway in 2001 with spells at Molde, Bryne and Stavanger IF. Since retiring from playing Nilsen has had tenures as Stavanger IF manager, Viking assistant and caretaker manager before his final role as Norwegian second tier FK Vidar's manager. No idea what he's up to now.
MC Nicky Marker: signed from Blackburn in 1997, Marker made 62 appearances over a 2 year spell but with recurrent injuries taking their toll he was forced into early retirement in 2000 after a short time at Cheltenham. Following his retirement, Marker moved back to his home county of Devon and has held roles in several non-league sides but has since disappeared off the radar.
MC Bobby Ford: signed by Nigel Spackman from Oxford for £400k in 1997, Ford returned to the Yellows in 2002 for a single season before retiring. Came out of retirement for an 18-month spell at Bath City but retired permanently in 2004. Rumoured to have become a plumber in Norfolk but I can't find anything to corroborate that.
MC Wayne Quinn: another Devonian in United's ranks for the Coventry game, Quinn came through the youth system, earning rave reviews as the left wing back in Spackman's 3-4-3 before making an £800k move to Newcastle in 2001. Never reached the heights expected of him and dropped out of the professional game due to injury in 2004 after unsuccessful loan spells back at United and at West Ham. Has bounced around the Cornish amateur leagues since then.
WBR Vas Borbokis: a big money signing in the summer of 1997, joining United from AEK Athens. Left after a two-year spell in which he became a firm fans' favourite, joining then-Premier League side Derby for £1.6m and Rob Kozluk. His spell at the Rams was short-lived as he moved back to Greece for stints at PAOK and then back at AEK. Borbokis finished his career at Anorthosis in Cyprus before moving into coaching, working as assistant manager at Greek sides AEK, Atromitos, Panetolikos and currently OFI Crete.
FC Gareth Taylor: joined United on a free in 1996 after being released by Crystal Palace, staying for a little over 2 seasons before joining Manchester City for £400k in 1998. Failing to make the expected impact in Manchester, Taylor had loan spells at Port Vale, QPR and Burnley before signing permanently for the Clarets in 2001. After rediscovering his goalscoring touch he joined Notts FOReST for £500k in the summer of 2003 and was made captain. However, he was stripped of the captaincy by manager Gary Pig Megson in 2005/06 before joining Tranmere on a free at the end of the season. 18 months later, he was on the move again, joining Doncaster then on to FC Hollywood of Wrexham in 2009. Taylor retired from playing in 2011 and immediately joined Manchester City's coaching staff, initially as U16s coach and then as MCFC Women's Head Coach in 2020. He was sacked in March 2025 with City 4th in the table.
FC Marcelo: another summer 1997 signing, joining from Alavés for £400k to become the first Brazilian to play for United. Left for Birmingham in a £500k deal two years later after scoring 25 times in 65 appearances; a two year stay at the Blues including a runnners'-up medal in the 2001 League Cup was followed by a short spell at Walsall and a final playing role at first club Académica in Portugal. I have absolutely no idea what he has done since.
Subs
Pyotr Kachuro (for Short, 64): a left-field signing when he joined United in 1996, anglicising his name to Petr and becoming the first and only Belorussian to play for us. Player of the Season in his first year at the Lane but a bit part player after that as injuries took their toll. Joined then-sister club Chengdu for a season in 2000 before heading back to boyhood club Dinamo Minsk and then Russian side Sokol Saratov for three seasons. Retired in 2005, Kachuro has held assistant and manager roles at Minsk, Deman Drodno, Bereza and Lida. Currently Sochi's U19 assistant manager.
Tri Dellas (for Marker, 72): another cult hero from a team packed with them, Dellas was a surprise signing, joining in the summer of 1997 as a 19 year old from Aris Saloniki. A two year spell at the Lane was followed by a return to Greece, joining AEK for two years, then a move to Perugia in Italy in 2001. Despite contractual issues restricting him to 8 appearances for the Biancorossi, Dellas had caught the eye of Serie A giants Roma and he moved to the Giallorossi in 2002. Despite being popular with the Roma fans during his stay there, Dellas was a victim of the clear-out following Roma's awful 2004/05 season and moved back to AEK on a free, staying in the Greek capital for three years before heading to Anorthosis in Cyprus in 2008 for a 2-year spell which included Champions League qualification. Dellas finished his playing career with another 2 year term at AEK, retiring in 2012. He quickly moved into management, overseeing AEK's rise from the ashes of a financial meltdown, gaining two promotions in 2 years between 2013 and 2015 but left in October 2015 after a disappointing start to the Super League season. He then had two spells as Panetolikos manager and an unsuccessful 8-month stint in charge of OFI Crete, leaving them in October 2024. Fun fact: Dellas scored one goal for Greece in 53 games, against Czechia in the Euro 2004 semi-final, a header which remains the only silver goal scored in international football.
Lee Morris (for Marcelo, 85): son of a former Blade, Morris burst onto the scene in 1997 as a livewire left winger, scoring 8 goals in 38 appearances before Derby paid £3m to sign him in October 1999. After scoring 17 goals over his 4-and-a-half years with the Rams he left for Leicester in February 2004 before a serious knee injury derailed his career and turned him very much into a journeyman: a 2-year spell at Yeovil followed by single seasons at Burton, Hereford, Kidderminster and then even short terms at Eastwood and Solihull Moors before retiring in 2012 aged just 32. Morris went into coaching after retiring, working in Derby's academy before taking manager roles at non-league sides Goole, Frickley and Worsbrough. He moved across to America to work with Bradford-affiliated second tier side South Carolina United and is now Director of Player Development there.
Simon Tracey (GK): signed by Dave Bassett from Wimbledon in 1988 for a huge £12,500, Tracey was one half of probably the best goalkeeping duo of my time following United. He made over 330 appearances for the Blades but had short spells on loan at Manchester City, Norwich City, Nottingham Forest and Wimbledon after failing to dislodge Alan Kelly. Injured in before the 2002/03 season, Tracey fell behind new signing Paddy Kenny and retired from playing in July 2003. Spells as goalkeeper coach followed, 5 years at Rotherham between 2004 and 2009, several years at Barnsley, two years at Carlisle (2015-17) and a year at Chesterfield (2017/18). Moved into scouting in 2018, joining Northampton as Chief Scout before moving to Brentford in 2023.
Mark Beard: joined United from Millwall for £100k in July 1995 but would only make 56 appearances over 3 years at the Lane before leaving for Southend in July 1998. 6 years spent oscillating between Southend and Kingstonian were followed by a two year stay in Marbella at UD San Pedro, then back to the UK to join Stevenage (then Borough) in 2006, where he won the FA Trophy. Joined Wimbledon for a season in 2008 before winding down his career combining playing and managing at non-league sides Haywards Heath and Tooting & Mitcham. Since retiring, Beard has mainly worked in youth development: spells at Crawley (2012-14) and Brighton (2017-21) were followed by assistant roles at Stockport (2021) and Dorking (2021-23) and as manager of Conference side Eastbourne (2023/24). Now Humberside Jungle Cats' U18s manager.
