ONE of the first tasks manager Mickey Adams embarked upon on his cross-capital switch from commanding Fulham to Brentford was to seek midfield muscle.

That arrived in the bulky form of Warren Aspinall, lured from fellow Second Division strugglers Carlisle United to the Bees for £30,000 just over three months ago.

One of Aspinall's final games for the Cumbrians was in the last-gasp 4-3 win enjoyed by York City at Bootham Crescent. He had been involved in a run-in with City fans, first enraged at his reminder of what the score was when Carlisle went 2-1 up and then sniping at Aspinall as City staged a remarkable rally.

That will not have been lost on the burly battler, now aiming to avenge that reversal in the bid to inspire his new Brentford team-mates away from the relegation peril.

Aspinall boasts the necessary experience. Although not long turned 30 years of age, the squat schemer has crammed in more than 400 League and cup games since he made his debut as a teenager with home-town Wigan Athletic.

And while he is now plying his trade near the foot of the Second Division he enjoyed several terms at the top level, starting with Everton, who invested in his burgeoning teenage talents to the tune of £150,000 in 1985 after just ten League outings for the Latics.

However, Goodison Park did not bring the success he craved. His time with the Toffees was brief, figuring in a mere seven League games. But in between he did return to Springfield Park smashing 21 goals in 41 games for the Latics to attract Aston Villa's attention.

The Villans paid £300,000 to take him to the Midlands a decade ago. His tenure at Villa lasted two seasons in which he plundered 14 goals in 44 games mainly from a more withdrawn midfield role.

Next stop was Portsmouth's Fratton Park, Alan Ball paying Villa £315,000 for the midfielder with an eye for goal. The south coast provided Aspinall with his most productive spell.

He starred in two promotion seasons and was in the Pompey team narrowly beaten by eventual winners Liverpool in an FA Cup semi-final penalty shoot-out in 1992.

Six seasons with Portsmouth ended with a brief sojourn at Bournemouth before a move far north to Brunton Park in 1995. All told he made 100 appearances for Carlisle in just over two seasons before another chance at causing southern discomfort to visitors to Griffin Park.

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