Walsall player 150. Dávid Gróf

Dávid Gróf (born 17 April 1989) is a Hungarian footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Berliner AK. Gróf started his senior career with Scottish club Hibernian, making one appearance during the 2008–09 season before being released from his contract. He subsequently played in England for Notts County, Tamworth, Mansfield Town and Walsall.
Gróf started his professional career with Hibernian, making his professional debut in their 4–3 defeat by Greenock Mortonin the Scottish League Cup on 26 August 2008.
Later that season, Gróf was convicted of a drink driving offence and was consequently banned from driving for two years. Hibs also disciplined the player, who made a public apology through the club’s website. He was relegated to the status of fourth choice goalkeeper at Hibs after the arrival of Grzegorz Szamotulski during January 2009. Gróf went on trial at West Bromwich Albion, but was released by Hibs towards the end of the 2008–09 season, despite having 18 months left on his contract
Following his release by Hibs, Gróf trained with English League Two side Gillingham, featuring in a reserve team match against Lewes.
Gróf went on trial with League One club Notts County in July 2010. He agreed a deal to sign for the club, subject to medical. On the same day as the deal with Notts County was announced, Gróf played for Tamworth in a friendly match against Aberdeen. He completed the move on 26 July. On 4 August 2010 it was confirmed that Gróf would be joining The Lambs on a one month loan deal in time for the new season Just six days later Gróf was recalled by his parent club.
Gróf signed on loan with Conference National club Mansfield Town on 31 January 2011. Grof played an integral part in Mansfield’s FA Trophy run which saw the Stags lose to Darlington in the final at Wembley on 7 May. Despite not being permitted to play in the final itself, Grof became a hero to the Mansfield fans due to his performances in both the FA Trophy and the Conference National, and appeared before the game against Darlington to a standing ovation from the 15000 strong travelling Mansfield fans.
Despite rave reviews of his performances at Mansfield, Grof was waived by Notts County at the end of the season alongside defender Graeme Lee
Following a trial spell, Gróf signed a one year contract with Football League One side Walsall in July 2011.  Gróf made his full Walsall debut against Bournemouth, keeping a cleen sheet in a 2-0 win, and then made his home debut the following game—a Football League Trophy first round fixture against Shrewsbury Town, which Walsall won 2-1.. On 17 March 2013, Gróf announced that he was moving to France to pursue a career away from the Saddlers, having fallen down the pecking order at Walsall behind a string of successive loan goalkeepers manager Dean Smith had signed due to his poor early season form
On 18 March 2013, Gróf began his trial with Clermont, successfully completing the first part of his medical and training with the first team later that day.
In November 2013, Gróf moved to German side Goslarer SC, where he remained until the end of the season before signing for Berliner AK.
Gróf’s father Attila also played professionally as a goalkeeper, for Vasas Budapest, Újpesti Dózsa, Videoton, Honvéd and Hungary.
Gróf was convicted of a drink driving offence and banned from driving for two years. He was charged with another drink driving offence in April 2009

Personal information
Date of birth	17 April 1989 (age 27)
Place of birth	Budapest, Hungary
Height	1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Playing position	Goalkeeper
Club information
Current team	Budapest Honvéd
Number	TBA
Youth career
2006–2008	Hibernian
Senior career
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2008–2009	Hibernian	0	(0)
2010–2011	Notts County	0	(0)
2010	Tamworth (loan)	0	(0)
2011	Mansfield Town (loan)	13	(0)
2011–2013	Walsall	23	(0)
2013–2014	Goslarer SC	14	(0)
2014–2016	Berliner AK	10	(0)
2016-	Budapest Honvéd	0	(0)

Walsall player 65. Derek ‘Doc’ Pace

Derek ‘Doc’ Pace

Personal information
Full name Derek Pace
Date of birth 11 March 1932
Place of birth Bloxwich, England

Date of death 17 October 1989 (aged 57)
Playing position Striker

Youth career
Walsall Schoolboys
Bloxwich Scouts
Bloxwich Wesley
Walsall Wood
Senior career
Years                         Team                Apps       (Gls)
1950-1957              Aston Villa              98        (40)
1957-1964            Sheffield United     253        (140)
1964-1965                 Notts County        29        (15)
1966                           Walsall                 5          (1)
1950-1966                               Total    284       (196)
Derek ‘Doc’ Pace (born 11 March 1932, in Bloxwich, England – died 17 October 1989)
He went to Essington Junior School in Essington and was captain for Walsall Schoolboys playing at centre half. On leaving school, he went on to play for amateur sides Bloxwich Scouts in the Bloxwich Combination, Bloxwich Wesley in the Walsall Minor League and had a spell with Walsall Wood in the Walsall Senior League during the 1948-49 season.
Derek was signed by Aston Villa from Bloxwich Scouts in September 1949, not long after his signing for Villa; he was called up for two years National service in the Medical Corps where he obtained the nickname “Doc”. Derek was small in stature for a centre forward at five feet eight inches, and less than 12 stone, but was nonetheless hardy and tough, and a real problem for defenders to cope with. He came out of the Army in June 1953.
He played as an inside-forward with Aston Villa, and although he enjoyed lengthy runs in the side, he did not quite fully establish himself at Villa Park, although he did score on his debut against Burnley on 17 March 1951.
In 1953-1954 season, Derek was one of seven forwards who appeared for Aston Villa following the departure of regular forward Trevor Ford – who had joined Sunderland. He seized his opportunity and scored six goals from six league matches. The following season, he played in 18 league matches scoring one goal also made one appearance in the FA Cup.
In 1955-56, Villa were next to bottom of the league three points behind Sheffield United with three matches remaining. Sheffield United manager Joe Mercer had tried to sign Pace in mid-season, but his attempts were blocked by Villa. And in the closing games it was Derek’s goals that did a great deal to save Villa from relegation, they eventually finished third from bottom on goal difference and avoided relegation. In 1956-57 Derek played in 21 league matches scoring six goals and in six cup games scoring two goals. Although he missed out on being selected for the Aston Villa 1957 FA Cup Final side, being twelfth man after playing in all the rounds up to the semi-final.
He started the 1957-58 season with Villa and played in 12 games scoring three goals – including the Charity Shield side that was beaten by Manchester United. In total he scored 42 league and FA Cup goals in 106 matches for Aston Villa.
On 26 December 1957, he was finally signed by Sheffield United manager Joe Mercer for £12,000. It was with the Blades that he began to excel as a striker. He made his debut for United on the day he had signed – scoring after just eight minutes, against Blackburn Rovers at Bramall Lane on 26 December 1957.
At Sheffield United he switched his playing position to centre-forward, and met with increasing success. Pace was a superb header of the ball and some of the goals he scored with his head were spectacular. He could also shoot with both feet and had outstanding anticipation and timing. Many of his goals were scored from half chances in the goalmouth.
He was an ever present in the side when United achieved First Division status again in season 1960-61 with Pace scoring 26 goals, including a FA Cup run in which the team reached the Semi-finals. He became a great favourite with the Blades fans, who warmed to his enthusiasm, sportsmanship, quick shooting and brilliant heading ability, and his signing was undoubtedly a major factor in bringing better days ahead to the Lane.
Immediately after his signing, the improvement to the Blades team was instantly apparent. Between 22 February 1958 and 5 April 1958, United won eight consecutive league matches, with Pace scoring nine of the goals in this period. The spell included one of United’s most memorable FA Cup victories. The occasion was a 4th Round against Tottenham Hotspur atWhite Hart Lane in front of 51,536 spectators. Pace put United ahead in the first minute and United won the tie 3-0. Pace was a consistent scorer for the Blades, and started 1960 in great form. Between 2 January and 5 March that year, he scored 16 goals in eight matches, including a hat-trick against his former club and (at the time) Division Two league leaders Aston Villa at Villa Park on 27 February 1960. His last match for Sheffield United was against Burnley at Bramall Lane on 29 August 1964. In total he had scored 140 goals in 253 league appearances (175 goals in 302 league and cup games) for United. He was the Blades top scorer for six successive seasons.
In December 1964, he moved to Notts County where he scored 15 goals from 29 matches. He then left to join Walsall in July 1966, only playing four matches plus one as substitute, and scoring one goal – a flying header at Grimsby Town on 27 August 1966.
In his career he scored a grand total of 233 goals in 444 games.
After retiring from football Derek became a sales representative for Churchfield Springs Ltd of West Bromwich. He died on 17 October 1989.

Walsall player 37. Karl Hawley.

Personal information
Full name Karl Leon Hawley
Date of birth 6 December 1981 (age 34)
Place of birth Walsall, England

Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Playing position Striker

Club information
Current team StourBridge

Number 23
Senior career*
Years                                 Team                            Apps                     (Gls)
2000–2004             Walsall                                         1                      (0)
2002–2003             Raith Rovers (loan)               17                       (7)
2003                          Hereford United (loan)           6                       (1)
2003                          Raith Rovers (loan)                  9                        (2)
2004                          Hednesford Town                     1                        (0)
2004–2007              Carlisle United                      118                       (47)
2007–2009              Preston North End                 30                       (3)
2008                         Northampton Town (loan)     11                       (2)
2009                           Colchester United (loan)         4                        (0)
2009–2012               Notts County                             81                        (5)
2012                           Crawley Town (loan)               4                         (0)
2012–2013                Scunthorpe United                 39                        (11)
2013–2014                Torquay United                       25                         (3)
2014– 2015                Alfreton Town                         33                        (10)

2015                              Stourbridge                        46                     (24)
National team
2004–2005                    England C                          2
Born in Walsall, West Midlands, Hawley started his career for his hometown team Walsall but only played one league game. While at the Bescot Stadium he also spent loan spells at Raith Rovers and Hereford United, where he scored once against Burton Albion.
After his release by Walsall in 2004, Hawley joined Southern Football League side Hednesford Town, but only made one start for the Pitmen, playing in a league game against Hinckley United. He was again released towards the end of the 2003–04 season. Hawley joined Conference team Carlisle United in the summer of 2004 and played a part in their return to the Football League. He was the League Two top scorer in the 2005–06 season, forming a successful partnership with Michael Bridges as Carlisle achieved a second successive promotion to League One. Hawley was voted League Two Fans’ Player of the Year and was part of the League Two Team of the Year. In May 2007, Hawley was offered an improved contract by Carlisle manager Neil McDonald, but Hawley rejected the offer and left the club on 11 May 2007. In three seasons for Carlisle United he was the club’s top scorer.
He signed for Championship side Preston North End on 14 June 2007, on a three-year contract. After making 26 appearance and 3 goals in League and 2 in FA Cup at his first season for Preston, Hawley suffered poor forms for Preston in his second season and got less playing time under manager Alan Irvine. Also during his time at Preston, Hawley also struggled to replicate the goal scoring form he showed at Carlisle and joined Northampton Town for a one months loan where he made 11 appearance and scoring two. Afterwards, Hawley returned to the club despite Northampton Town was keen to extend his contract. Afterwards his loan finish with Northampton, Hawley returns to Preston and as made just five substitute appearances in the League and 2 starts in League Cup and eventually Hawley join Colchester United on month loan deal along with Neal Trotman and made 4 appearance.
He signed for League Two side Notts County on 3 August 2009, on a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee to revive his career. In his first season for Preston, Hawley made total of 38 appearance(31 in League, 6 in FA Cup, 1 in League Cup and 1 in Football League Trophy) and scoring 4 (3 in league and 1 in FA Cup). Under manager of Cotterill, Short, Paul Ince and Martin Allen, Hawley fell out with favour due to that he has struggled to make an impact for Notts County and his poor performance struck again. In May 2012 he was released by Notts County, along with 12 other players.
On 31 January 2012 Hawley signed, on loan until the end of season, for Crawley Town. However, Hawley made four appearance and return to Notts County, with another disappointing loan spell.
Having been released, Hawley went on a trial at Doncaster Rovers. On 7 September 2012, he signed a short term deal with League 1 side Scunthorpe United. At Scunthorpe United, Hawley made an impressive display at the club, with five goals in seventeen appearance. In January, Hawley signed a new contract, with the club until the end of the season as his old deal expires in January.
On July 1 2013 Hawley signed a two-year deal with Torquay United scoring 3 goals in 30 appearances. However on 29th August 2014 Karl and the club agreed to terminate his contract by mutual consent. On 5 September 2014 Hawley signed a one-year deal with Conference Premier Alfreton Town.When this contract finished Karl signed for Stourbridge