Simon Osborn once worth £1.1 million

Simon Osborn, who has signed for Hereford United, started his career at Crystal Palace as a trainee in 1990, and made over 70 appearances for the Eagles before joining Reading for £90,000 the following year. A Successful season with the Royals 'Ossie' netted five goals in 31 appearances, prompting a swoop for the talented midfielder by Queens Park Rangers who paid £1.1 Million for his services. Osborn's last game for the London club saw him score the opening goal in a 2-1 victory over Bolton Wanderers.

In 1996 Wolves manager, Mark McGhee, paid £1 Million to take the midfielder to Molineux where he spent five seasons, making over 170 appearances and netting 14 goals. Two loan spells followed with Tranmere Rovers and Port Vale before Gillingham manager Andy Hessenthaler signed the Croydon born playmaker on a free transfer.

Osborn quickly won the Gills faithful over with his performances during the 2001/2002 season and was instrumental in helping the Gills to a 12th place finish. The club's highest ever league placing in their 108-year history.

However he had injury problems whilst with the Gills.

The latest long-term injury victim to climb onto our treatment table is none other than Simon Osborn who is now recuperating from a nasty Achilles injury and has decided to come to the best place for treatment, Lilleshall Hall.

Osborn ruptured his Achilles but there have been no setbacks with it and it repaired within a day of the operation. The scars have healed very nicely.

Later at a question and answer session Osborn talked about his injury:

Q - WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO ATTEND LILLESHALL HALL?

I have been battling on at Gillingham but unfortunately one of our physiotherapists has suffered a heart attack so at present there is only one physio. For him to look after a lot of players is hard work and obviously he has to see the lads who are in with a chance of playing primarily. I needed to see where I am at with my recovery and wanted some fresh ideas about whether or not the Achilles is becoming stronger.

Q - WHAT WAS THE VERDICT ON YOUR ACHILLES?

I had an assessment at the start of the week and basically the verdict was that my flexibility was good but the actual strength in the area was not so good and we decided to do a lot of strengthening work on my calf and Achilles area.

He moved to Walsall in July 2003.

Colin Lee was the Walsall manager at the time.

"Simon is an experienced midfield player who knows the First Division scene," he told the club's official website.

"In many ways he is my kind of player, a good playmaker and an excellent passer of the ball.

"I first spotted him playing for Crystal Palace reserves, and took him to Reading during my time there. He eventually moved to QPR for £1million, before moving on to Wolves.

"He has been a regular performer with Gillingham for the past couple of seasons, and at the age of 31, we have him at the peak of his career.

"This signing will be a big boost for our centre midfield. I am confident he will do well for us."

34 year old Osborn was released by Walsall manager Richard Money last May.

An article in the Birmingham Mail explained Osborn's thoughts.

Osborn will now seek to extend his playing career elsewhere after being called in by chief executive Roy Whalley on Monday to be told that a "boardroom decision" had been taken not to offer him another contract.

After three turbulent years with a foot in both playing and coaching camps at Bescot, a fresh challenge will probably do the midfielder no harm.

"It was disappointing to get released in pretty abrupt fashion," Osborn said. "But after three tough years it will be nice to go somewhere and just play."

He had a trial at Stafford recently and played against his former club in a friendly late last month.

Graham Turner, talking to Jon Wells, has made this comment on the player.

"If he's fit enough he can play, there's no doubt about that.

"We'll have a fortnight together and see how everything goes."

(Report complied from various sources)

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