Taundry aims to emulate O’Connor

Tuesday 26th May 2009, 11:00AM BST.

taundryWalsall midfielder Richard Taundry has spoken of his desire to emulate Saddlers legend Martin O’Connor.

The 20-year-old has been under the tutelage of assistant boss O’Connor, who spent three spells as a player with the club, since he arrived with manager Chris Hutchings in January.

Now he feels determined to fill O’Connor’s shoes on the pitch and drive the Saddlers forward.

Taundry said: “I knew Martin when I was a kid, as he knew my dad.

“Growing up as a Walsall fan he was one of my favourite players. I can see similarities between him and me.

“We’re both Walsall lads and he had an aggressive style of play, which is how I am as a player.

“He was born just around the corner from me and I want to emulate what he achieved at this club.”

Taundry, who made 39 appearances last season, recognises the significance of local players breaking into the first team.

He said: “It’s important that clubs have local players, who the fans can really relate to.”

Taundry wants to shine next season and is contracted at the Banks’s for another year, while the out of contract players are set to resolve their futures in the next few days.


  1. 1
    wacca

    Let’s hope you can be half the player O’C was. You put in plenty of effort so hopefully with the right training you can improve.

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  2. 2
    shaka

    if he is as good as Oconner he wont be here five minutes.

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  3. 3
    Mike

    If you have nothing of value to say Taudrey….. keep your mouth shut. Practice playing football instead.

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  4. 4
    Charlie

    A Walsall boy speaks of his desire to play for the club he loves … and you go and slag him off Mike. What a big tough boy you are.

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  5. 5
    Mike

    The point is it is a worthless un-newsworthy comment. WFC will get nowhere with players of his calibre and commitment.

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  6. 6
    desben

    Mike is obviously a mental, just back away slowly people and don’t make eye contact.

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  7. 7
    QM Saddler

    Yes I feel our friend Mike falls into the category of the “let’s slag off our club rather than support them” mob. Taundry is a young player with tons of commitment despite limited technical skills. I’d rather have 11 like him than foreign imports or loan players who have to plug in the sat-nav to get to the ground.

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  8. 8
    Beaky Saddler

    Just give the kid half a chance. He says he wants to improve, whats wrong with that? If anyone can bring him on, MOC can!!

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  9. 9
    Mike

    I see that “desben” instead of advancing his argument by supporting information merely reverts to name calling. I fear you have lost the argument.
    Dear QM saddler, I have supported WFC for 40 years and find that the last season’s performance was just unacceptable. If he has “limited technical skills” I’m worried as he is supposed to be a professional footballer and I pay good money to watch.
    Would you like to fly on a plane were the pilot has limited technical skills but tries hard?

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  10. 10
    Saddler4eva

    Haha i dont like the guy but the guys got a point. but to be fair flying a plane and playing football is slighty different. but yeh riduclous to slate the team so early or management, im optimistic that we can do well this season but with leeds, charlton, southhamton, norwich, Mk Dons, Millwall it will be difficult. if we are to achive play-offs then we will have to play like weve never played before. if not better that we did when we got automatic with fulham and man city. its possible, im sure wen we brought in the old dogs life rammell, barras, tilson, goodman that you Mike felt they woudnt do a thing. well they did. lets hope who ever he brings can bring a touch of magic to the club. never say never.

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