Football historian LEIGH EDWARDS profiles every Walsall player from 60 post-war League seasons.

SAMASSI ABOU: Previously with FC Martigues, Lyon and Cannes, this French Under-21 striker joined Walsall on loan from West Ham United in October 1999 and made eight first division appearances whilst at Bescot Stadium. He was later loaned to Troyes and Kilmarnock, then played for Ajaccio and Lorient.

GARETH AINSWORTH: Experienced winger who played for Northwich Victoria, Preston North End, Cambridge United, Lincoln City, Port Vale and Wimbledon before joining Walsall on loan in December 2002, scoring once in five League games for The Saddlers. He moved via Cardiff City to QPR in July 2003.

ARTHUR ALDRED: Former Aston Villa winger who joined Walsall in May 1948 and scored once in 11 third division (south) games for The Saddlers before rejoining Hereford United in July 1949, then played for Kidderminster Harriers, Cheltenham Town and Rugby Town. He died in Birmingham in May 2002.

GRAHAM ALLEN: Young centre-forward who scored on his League debut in Walsall's 3-1 defeat at Southend United in April 1954. The local amateur also played in the final match of that season, a 1-1 draw at Gillingham, as The Saddlers finished bottom of the third division (south) for the third consecutive year.

JACKIE ALLISON: Winger who played for Blyth Spartans and Chesterfield prior to joining Reading in January 1949. He moved to Walsall in June 1950 and his solitary goal in 47 League games for The Saddlers came on his debut against his former club. Settling back in his native North-East, he died in January 1985.

NORMAN ALLSOP: Inside-forward who played for West Bromwich Albion, Worcester City and Hednesford Town before moving to Walsall in October 1953. He made nine League appearances and also scored in the FA Cup first round win at Bath City. Joining Brierley Hill in July 1954, he remained in the West Midlands.

GILBERT ALSOP: Ace marksman who scored in Walsall's epic 1932-33 FA Cup third round defeat of Arsenal and had spells with West Bromwich Albion and Ipswich before rejoining Walsall in November 1938, netting 151 goals in 195 League games. He died in April 1992 and had a stand named after him here at Bescot Stadium.

COLIN ANDERSON: Versatile defender who played for Burnley, North Shields and Torquay United prior to joining West Bromwich Albion in March 1985. He moved to Walsall in August 1991 and scored twice in 26 League games before joining Hereford United in August 1992, then played for Exeter City and Dawlish Town.

CARLOS ANDRE: Portuguese midfielder who briefly played for Walsall during the 2001-02 campaign. Previously with Estoril, Beira Mer, Gil Vicente and Vitoria Guimaraes, he joined The Saddlers in December 2001 and made five League appearances before returning to Portugal with Sporting Braga in March 2002.

GEORGE ANDREWS: Striker who scored Walsall's winner against Newcastle United in the 1974-75 FA Cup fourth round and netted 38 goals in 159 League games prior to joining Worcester City in July 1977. He later played for Telford and Dudley, since working on the parks and gardens for the council in Tipton.

KEITH ANDREWS: Midfielder who joined struggling Walsall on loan from Wolves in March 2004 and scored twice in ten League outings whilst at Bescot Stadium. He had signed professional for Wolves in September 1997 and was also loaned to Oxford United and Stoke before joining Hull City in July 2005. Linked up with MK Dons early in the 2006/07 campaign.

BRETT ANGELL: Much-travelled striker who joined Walsall from today's visitors Stockport County in July 2000 and featured in the 2000-01 promotion campaign. He netted 16 goals in 61 League games prior to joining Rushden in February 2002, then played for Port Vale, QPR and Linfield before coaching at Portsmouth for a spell in 2005/06.

ZIGOR ARANALDE: Spanish left-back who featured in Walsall's 2000-01 second division play-off Final triumph. Previously with Albacete, Marbella, Seville and Logrones, he joined The Saddlers in August 2000 and netted five goals in 195 League outings before moving to Sheffield Wednesday in March 2005. He then joined Carlisle United and helped them to promotion into League One at the end of 2005/06.

DAVID ARTHUR: Former West Bromwich Albion right-back who joined Walsall in August 1982 and made nine League appearances for The Saddlers before joining Harrison's in July 1983. He spent 16 years working for Ammeraal Ltd. in Cannock and now runs his own company, AF Belting (Midlands) Ltd. in Brownhills.

COLIN ASKEY: Former Port Vale winger who scored 12 times in 83 League games for Walsall before joining Mansfield Town in June 1962, then played for Wellington, Stafford, Winsford and Macclesfield. Now living in Milton, he spent 30 years with Refuge Assurance in Hanley until retiring in October 1997.

PHIL ASTON: Wing-half who joined Walsall from Measham Imperials in December 1951 and made ten third division (south) appearances for The Saddlers before moving to Rugby Town in July 1952, then played for Burton Albion and Brush Sports. He is now retired and still lives in his native Measham.

TAIWO ATIENO: Young striker who turned professional with Walsall in July 2004 and made his League debut in the Saddlers' 2-2 draw at home to Barnsley the following month. Loaned to Rochdale, Chester City and Darlington, he made five League One appearances for The Saddlers before being released this summer. He linked up with Dagenham and Redbridge at the start of the 2006/07 season before moving on to Tamworth in September 2006.

PETER ATKINSON: Young goalkeeper who joined The Saddlers from Walsall YMCA in November 1949 and made his League debut in place of Jack Lewis in the 1-1 draw at Reading five months later, also featuring in the 8-0 defeat at Norwich City in December 1951. He died in Surrey in January 2000.

NICK ATTHEY: Long-serving favourite who was a key figure as Walsall reached the FA Cup fifth round in 1974-75. He scored 17 times in 439 League games before joining Telford United in July 1977, then played for Tamworth and Rushall Olympic. Now living in Aldridge, he is a garden furniture salesman.

TERRY AUSTIN: Striker who was Walsall's leading marksman in 1978-79, scoring 19 times in 47 League outings prior to joining Mansfield Town in March 1979. He later played for Huddersfield Town, Doncaster Rovers, Northampton Town and Stamford and is now an independent financial adviser in Mansfield.

ALF BAILEY: Previously with Darwen, this amateur centre-forward made his solitary third division (south) appearance for struggling Walsall in the 1-0 victory at home to Southampton in September 1953, The Saddlers' first win of the season. He subsequently resided in Fleetwood until his death in August 1978.

STEVE BAINES: Central defender who netted five goals in 48 League outings for Walsall prior to joining Scunthorpe United in August 1982, then played for Chesterfield, Matlock, Alfreton, Gainsborough Trinity and Burton Albion. He subsequently became a Football League referee and is now a property broker.

CHRIS BAIRD: Northern Ireland International right-back who joined Walsall on loan from Southampton in September 2003 and made ten League appearances while at Bescot Stadium. He had played for Saints in the 2003 FA Cup Final and, following a loan spell at Watford, has now secured a regular first-team slot.

ALAN BAKER: Ex-England Youth midfielder who played in the top-flight for Aston Villa prior to joining Walsall in July 1966. He helped The Saddlers take Liverpool to an FA Cup fourth round replay in 1967-68 and netted 31 goals in 137 League games until retiring due to injury, becoming a leather cutter in Walsall.

HARRY BALDWIN: Former West Brom and Brighton goalkeeper who joined Walsall from Kettering Town in December 1953, making 37 League appearances for The Saddlers before moving to Wellington Town in July 1955. He then ran two engineering companies in the Midlands and now lives in Kenilworth.

KEITH BALL: Goalkeeper who made 47 League appearances during three spells with home-town Walsall. Signing professional in January 1959, he later rejoined The Saddlers from both Worcester City and Port Vale, then played for Darlaston, Nuneaton Borough and Kidderminster Harriers and still lives locally.

DAVE BAMBER: Giant striker who netted seven goals in 20 third division outings for Walsall before moving to Portsmouth in December 1984, then played for Swindon Town, Watford, Stoke City, Hull City and Blackpool again. He has settled in Blackpool and now runs his own damp proofing company.

DALE BANTON: Former West Ham, Aldershot and York City striker who joined Walsall in October 1988 and made ten League appearances before returning to Aldershot in August 1989. He was later Goole Town's player-boss and settled in York, becoming sales manager for Nilfisk industrial cleaning machines.