Not everyone appreciated just what Brett ormerod did for Saints in his time here.
When Brett Ormerod signed for Saints in December 2001 its fair to say that Saints fans werent exactly throwing parties in the streets, and that was probably the par for the course during his tenure at St Mary's, because he didnt have the film star looks of James Beattie he wasnt seen as the swashbuckling type of striker we wanted.
But in any team you need your violinists and you need your hod carriers and his work rate was undeniable, but frequesntly he found himself playing second fiddle to Beattie and Marian Pahars after his signing, but in fairness at the time both were in fine form that season.
His chance ame in 2002/03 when Pahars was injured early in the campaign and he struck up a partnership with Beattie, in the premier league that year Ormerod hit 5 goals in 22(9) games which although not a great strike rate has to be viewed alongside Beattie who hit 23 in 35(3) Beattie was in his most prolific spell at the club and it has to be said he was aided by the work of Ormerod.
But it was to be the FA Cup of 2003 that Breet came into his own and particularly in the semi final when he perhaps had his best game for the club scoring the first against Watford at Villa Park and then putting through such a precision cross for the second that the Watford dfender could do nothing else apart from put the ball in before Beattie, this goal probably typified the understanding they both had.
His reward for all of his efforts was to see Kevin Phillips bought, ironically again a team mate of his this season, his chances were limited again starting only 13 games plus 8 off the bench, however he hit another 5 goals and again it was felt that both of Beattie & Phillips played better when alongside Ormerod.
When Peter Crouch arrived for 2004/05 Brett faced being 4th choice striker and indeed when Harry Redknapp arrived his career at St mary's looked over and he was shipped out on loan to both Leeds and Wigan, however relegation meant that he was again back in the Saints side for the 2005/06 season but the club was in turmoil and in January 2006 he was allowed to go to Preston on a free transfer, but his career was far from over and eventually he ended up back at Blackpool where he made his name.
He hasnt played in the Blackpool side since the end of October so is unlikely to feature at St mary's but if he does he should recieve a warm welcome for his time here, a time in which he in all competitions he played 74 games plus 41 as sub scoring 19 times and creating countless others, Brett Ormerod was never a pin up boy, he didnt sleep with Posh Spice either, but he was definaely a player that gave 100% for SFC and should be remembered fondly because of that.