Tranmere Rovers
Born:
Joined the Tigers:
10th January 1984, Liverpool
22nd August 2005, from Liverpool (loan)
4th January 2006, from Liverpool (permanent)
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Seen by some on Merseyside as the next Steven Gerrard, Scouser Welsh joined City in August 2005 initially on a season-long loan. He signed permanently for the Tigers in January 2006 as make-weight in a swap deal for promising Liverpool-bound youngster Paul Anderson. One of the first tangible transfer benefits to arise from Peter Taylor's role as England Under-21 manager, Welsh is a combative and creative midfielder who found it a struggle to establish a first team place in Phil Parkinson's City side despite his clear footballing qualities. Put in the team by successor Phil Brown Welsh broke his leg in January 2007 in a reckless challenge, only regaining fixtures in the closing months of 2007. He joined Chester City on loan for a month during January 2008 to re-establish fitness, but that didn't prompt a return to Tigery action as the club moved up to the Premier League. Further loan spells at Chester and Bury ensued before his release at contract's end in June 2009, and he returned to his Merseyside roots signing for Tranmere Rovers.