The Fall From Plaice - Part 9

By: Gainsbro Mariner
Date: 18/02/2013

IN 2003 Stoke City manager Tony Pulis added a promising young forward to his squad, the forward was Jermaine Palmer. Who?...Jermaine Palmer! Following three first team outings for The Potters Palmer was sent packing on loan to Icelandic side Vikingur where he went on to impress in the 3 months he spent there.

Meanwhile back in Cleethorpes it was Grimsby Town's reserve side that was making the headlines during the 2004-05 campaign as Russell Slade's second string progressed into the Pontins Holidays Reserve League Cup Quarter final against giants Manchester United...reserves.

With the fixture looming over the club, Slade brought on Palmer on trial, a seemingly big deal at the time, why? We don't know, Stoke fans at the time were bigging him up but if he was that good why didn't we sign him on loan and use him in the first team? The game ended 2-0 to United but Palmer earned enough plaudits to mean that he was the first new face to arrive for the 2005-06 season. Signed presumably as a first team player he began the season nowhere near it and was loaned out to Scarborough and York City in the opening months. He returned in November and participated in what would be his only first team appearance for Town, a 1-1 draw at home to Morecambe in the LDV Vans Trophy. Incidentally Palmer had come on as an 87th minute substitute but ended up playing an extra half hour when the game went into extra time and an eventual defeat on penalties.

Come early 2006 he found himself with Conference North title challengers Alfreton Town for a two month loan which culminated 1 goals in 10 games, by the end of the season and with Slade himself leaving, Graham Rodger released Palmer from his contract. Palmer then signed for GTFC....Grantham Town Football Club, but several months later he joined Hinckley United where he had previously had a loan spell whilst a junior at Stoke. A month later and another club came calling as he signed with Halesowen Town where he remained at least until the end of the 2006-07 season.

The following year brought moves to Ilkeston Town, Worksop Town and a return to Halesowen before Palmer joined Corby Town in August 2008. After 6 months with Corby he moved on to Lincolnshire minnows Holbeach United and Leicestershire side Quorn. In 2009 Palmer briefly returned to a recognisable level by joining cash-strapped Conference strugglers Weymouth where he made 7 appearances without scoring and was present for the club's relegation. In the summer that year he moved to Boston Town where he linked up with former Town player Jonathan Rowan and the pair became a half decent strikeforce during the 2009-10 season. Palmer's performance earned him a move back up the league ladder and a return to Ilkeston Town. The move didn't last long and Palmer again returned to Holbeach which is amazingly where he has now been for over 2 years.

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