Now that Damian has finally left the Club after many desperate want-away months, we take a look back at a player who in many ways was our very own Emile Heskey. Minus the goals.
I was fortunate enough to see all THREE (count 'em) goals big Damian scored for the Poppies. There was the all-important 4th goal at home to Gateshead, when the away team were already contemplating the coach journey back up the A1. There was his curious, slow-motion, dibbly-dobbly goal down at Wrexham. And there was the goal against a Diamonds Youth team which aided our Northants Cup run by at least one more round.
And that was pretty much it. He added a couple of more goals for Kiddy during his A.B.K. phase (Anyone But Kettering), but 4 league goals in a season is hardly the sort of return you expect from someone on his reported nigh on £40K p.a.
Damian soon fell foul of the Brit Road moaners. And the Cowper Street ones too. And, probably best not to mention the reaction of the Main Stand.... However, he didn't help himself a great deal by not seeming to put in much effort.
Note for all future Poppies forwards - goals and quality play are second and third on the list of priorities for the Kettering faithful. Lung-bursting running around, no matter if you are never likely to reach the ball, is the pre-requisite talent for any forward we take to our collective bosom.
Damian was OK for flicking the ball on (usually to the opposition defenders as Cooper rarely played a second striker alongside him, even at home), but didn't understand our DESPERATE NEED to see him put in pointless chases after bad passes, and chasing down defenders from 60 yards away.
So long Damian - no doubt your name will come up again one day when a couple of crusty old fans are discussing forwards back in the Noughties, but don't let that go to your head, as you will probably be confused with Jason Lee!
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Damian watches on patiently whilst his colleagues put in effort.