Nowadays, Albion’s squad features players from all over the world but there was a time when 99% were from these shores.
The year 1983 will always be remembered for the FA Cup final appearances and being a kick away from lifting the trophy.
A few months later Chris Cattlin offered a trail to a young Dutchman by the name of Hans Kraay, would go on to become Albion’s first Continental player to appear in the first team during peacetime.
The 23-year-old could operate in defence or midfield and arrived from NAC Breda. After being crowned Player of the Season in 1982/83, in his last match he pushed the referee over, which led to a lengthy ban in the Netherlands.
This serious misdemeanour didn’t perturb the Albion boss who was won over by Kraay’s unbridled enthusiasm, and commitment to the cause. He made his debut at the Goldstone Ground, against Fulham, and endeared himself to the Hove faithful with his wholehearted displays, and his habit of bouncing up and down in front of the opposition goalkeeper at corners in a manoeuvre that would become known as the ‘pogo’. The North Stand faithful would pay homage by replicating it behind the goal.
In February 1985, Cattlin had described Kraay as the ‘finest professional footballer I have known’. When you consider he’d played alongside Mark Lawrenson and Peter Ward, to name but a few, that is quite some accolade. Unfortunately, he couldn’t live up to his manager’s plaudits and they had a very public spat when the player threw his shirt to the ground after being substituted.
His disciplinary record while on the south coast was appalling – numerous yellows and two red cards in just 23 appearances for the Albion. This ultimately cost him his position in Hove and he was released in September 1985.
He returned home and pootled around the Dutch leagues until the late 1990s before moving into management, and a career on television, hosting sports programmes and You’ve Been Framed-style shows. He also had a number three single in the charts.
A colourful character, Kraay’s last managerial role at a football club, FC Lienden, ended in 2018.