There were several English players who featured overseas yesterday, taking centre stage with many leagues having a rest week due to the international break.
Belgium: Woluwe-Zaventem 0-3 OH Leuven (Belgian Second Division)
John Bostock was once one of the most highly rated English players on the scene when he made his debut for Crystal Palace at the age of 15.
Now seven years on, the midfielder is playing for second division Belgian side OH Leuven and is slowly, but surely, rebuilding his reputation. After being a regular for Antwerp in the same division last year, Bostock made the move to Leuven for the 2014/15 season.
It would seem a smart career move with his new club currently sitting in 6th place, with his old Antwerp languishing in 12th.
Yesterday, Bostock played the full ninety as his side cruised to a comfortable 3-0 win over bottom-of-the-table side Woluwe Zaventem. The only surprise was that the former Tottenham player didn’t score. He has five goals already this season, having only managed one all last season.
Belgium: Bocholter VV 3-1 KVK Tienen (Belgian Third Division)
Staying in Belgium, but a division lower in the pyramid, English defender Amardeep Singh started for KVK Tienen as they travelled to Bocholter VV for a Belgian Third Division match.
Singh has been at Tienen since 2008 but his appearances have been sporadic. After his debut in 2008, the defender waited three years before featuring for the side again, who at the time where in the Second Division.
The 2012/13 saw him become a regular at the back for Tienen and he has returned to the side again this season, where he has missed just one game this year.
Yesterday though, was not a good match for Singh and his team-mates. Having taken the lead early on, Bocholter hit back with three second half goals to secure a 3-1 victory. Singh played the full game though, with his side now 12th in the league.
India: Northeast United 0-0 Pune City (Indian Super League)
After watching two matches from the bench, Jermaine Pennant finally got to make his long awaited debut for Indian Super League franchise Pune City.
In the end, 31-year-old failed to have the impact he would have hoped as he was substituted in the 79th minute with the game heading for a dull goalless draw.
The winger will be hoping his side can improve their form so that they can make the playoffs, with Pune currently sitting in 5th, one spot out side the playoffs.
New Zealand: Southern United 2-1 Waitakere United (ASB Premiership)
18-year-old Derice Richards‘ first ever senior goal was not enough to secure victory for Waitakere United as they slipped to a 2-1 defeat away to Southern United.
The young striker was making just his second appearance for Waitakere since joining the side from Stoke City this summer. The English forward made 10 appearances for Stoke’s under 21 side last term, scoring two goals.
Richards’ goal in the 59th minute equalised for Waitakere but Southern hit back with a goal seven minutes later to secure victory and condemn the away side to a second consecutive loss.
English forward Adam Dickinson also featured for Waitakere in the loss.
Spain: Mallorca 1-1 Alcorcón (Segunda Division)
Alcorcón recorded a solid draw away to Mallorca, in a match which included three red cards and one English defender.
Charlie I’Anson played the full 90 minutes in defence as he guided his team to a draw, despite his side playing with just 9 men for the last seven minutes.
I’Anson is on loan at second-tier side Alcorcón from Elche, having made two appearances in La Liga last year for his parent club – and over 30 for Elche’s second team in the third tier.
Yesterday was his seventh start of the season but he saw his side goal 1-0 down after just four minutes. However, they hit back through Verdés on the stroke of half time to secure a 1-1 draw.
I’Anson also avoided being caught up in the ill-tempered affair as he did not receive any cautions in a match which saw seven players booked, two straight red cards and another player sent off for receiving two yellow cards.
Spain: Marino 0-0 Tenerife B (Tercera Division)
Dropping down two divisions in Spain, Jordan McCourt started for Tenerife B as they travelled to top-of-the-table Marino in the Tercera Division.
Jordan, the single name he is known by in Spain, joined Segunda Division side Tenerife from Marino in the summer but was featuring for the club’s second team in the fourth tier yesterday.
He lined up against his former team in an important clash in the Tercera Division Group 12 as it was first against third.
In the end, the two sides cancelled each other out as they battled out a goalless draw, with 22-year-old midfielder Jordan securing a vital point for his side.
Germany: Regionalliga round-up
Three Englishmen were involved in Regionalliga match day squads, with two of the players featuring in matches.
The one player to start was Kris Thackray. The Newcastle-born defender is in his second year of German football, having also enjoyed spells in Malta and Italy. He played for the full ninety, keeping a clean sheet, for second place Alemannia Aachen in a 0-0 away draw to Verl.
Francis Williams was another expatriate to feature. The 30-year-old forward came on as a substitute at half time with his Rödinghausen 2-0 down at home to Bochum II. However, he was unable to help his team come back, as they fell to a an eventual 2-1 loss.
Finally, English defener Rhys Tyler, who is in his fifth year of German football, was an unused substitute as his side Rot-Weiss Oberhausen defeated Viktoria Koln 2-1.
Tomorrow’s update has the chance of including updates from Germany, Italy and Portugal, depending on whether players feature or not.
English Players Abroad 