DANIS SALMAN

Full Name: Danis Mahmut Mehmet Salman

Born: 12 March 1960

Came from: Millwall   Went to: Torquay United

First game: 20 March 1990   Last game: 14 March 1992

Appearances: 84 (81/3)   Goals: 5

Salman was born in Famagusta in Turkish-occupied northern Cyprus but raised in London from the age of two. He began his career with Brentford, progressing through the youth ranks at Griffin Park, and was capped by England at schoolboy and youth levels. He made his Football League debut whilst still at school, on 15th November 1975 at the age of just 15 years and 248 days, making him one of the youngest debutants in the League's history.

Over 30 years later, he was still within the Top 10 youngest to have made their League bow. In an 11-year spell at the West London club, the speedy defender amassed 325 games and eight goals, including a game at the old Wembley in the 1985 Freight Rover Trophy Final. He also remains in Brentford's Top Ten of all time appearances and was awarded a Testimonial by the club in May 1986, with Tottenham Hotspur the visitors.

Despite being tipped for the top from his early days at Brentford, it was a seemingly low-key move to Millwall that finally beckoned. He played 93 times in a four-year spell at The Den, which included Millwall's two seasons in the top flight, and was voted The Lions' Player of the Year for the 1987-88 season.

David Kemp brought him to Home Park for £50,000 in the second half of the 1989-90 campaign and he went on to spend three seasons at the club before Peter Shilton released him. However, with Messrs Shilton & McCauley holding out for a fee, a return to Brentford under Steve Perryman was curtailed in favour of a loan move to Peterborough, who promised a loan payment if promoted.

A return to Griffin Park then dropped from the agenda because Perryman had left, so Salman moved the short distance to Plainmoor to play 20 times for Torquay United before calling time on a league career that spanned almost 20 years and 500 League appearances.

After hanging up his boots, he spent some time as Torquay's Youth Team Manager, and at one stage declined the Caretaker Manager role, before joining the Press Association, a capacity in which he was often seen on matchdays at Home Park.

In March 2009 he became a Patron of the UK-based Turkish-Cypriot human rights group ‘Embargoed!'.