BARRY SILKMAN

Born: 29 June 1952

Came from: Crystal Palace   Went to: Manchester City

First game: 14 October 1978   Last game: 27 January 1979

Appearances: 15 (15/0)   Goals: 2

The Stepney-born midfielder played for ten League clubs in his career, failing to put down roots anywhere for very long. Of Jewish faith, he was at one stage in the early 1980s offered a contract and Israeli citizenship by Maccabi Tel Aviv under the 'Law of Return' in the then 'no-foreigners' Israeli top-flight, but declined once it became apparent that he would also have to serve in the Israeli Army. Silkman started his career with non-league Barnet before coming to the attention of League new boys Hereford United in 1974, where he played 37 times. Moving to Crystal Palace in 1976, he played 48 times before moving to Home Park in October 1978, signed by Malcolm Allison.

Silkman's silky skills endeared him to the Home Park faithful, but when Allison left for Manchester City the following January, the new man at the helm, Bobby Saxton, was less impressed. He was loaned briefly to Luton Town before following Allison to Maine Road, with Argyle making a handsome profit out of his five-month stay. With City struggling in the top flight, the move didn't work out and with just 19 appearances and 3 goals to his name, he moved to Brentford in 1980. After just 14 appearances for the Griffin Park side, Silkman moved on again, this time to Queens Park Rangers for the remainder of the 1980-81 season, where he played 23 times. A rare period of stability then followed with Leyton Orient, for whom he played 140 times, scoring 15 goals in a four-year stay. He then played 40 games for Southend United in the 1985-86 season before two final appearances as a non-contract player with Crewe Alexandra in 1986. He later wound down his career with non-league Wycombe Wanderers before moving to Staines Town.

After retiring from the game, Silkman became a successful greyhound trainer, Sky Sports pundit and a licensed football agent. He was cited in the 2007 Lord Stevens' Report into transfer 'bungs' through his relationship with controversial fellow agent, Pinhas Zahavi. He also attracted notoriety in 2008 when taped transcripts of an unsavoury spat with the late Sir Bobby Robson were publicly released after both parties fell out over the transfer of Chilean striker Clarence Acuna to Newcastle United in 2001.