Pair that left Birmingham City this summer feature in free agent showcase match

Finley Thorndike and Rico Browne who departed Birmingham City in the summer has taken part in a showcase of free agents. The scheme has been launched by the PFA, who are providing additional support to those currently without a club after the season began on Saturday.

Thorndike was allowed to leave St Andrew’s this summer, and he is yet to find a new club. Despite loan moves at Boston United and Alvechurch, he’s not signed terms with any new team yet. The 22-year-old never played for the first team but joined Birmingham having previously been at Aston Villa and West Brom.

As for Browne, he is two years younger than Thorndike and has experience of playing in the National League North. The 20-year-old centre-back was on loan at Rushall Olympic last term. Browne like Thorndike didn't feature for the first team, but was part of Steve Spooner's under-21s team that was successful at academy level.

To help the pair fit and match ready, the PFA have provided him with support, and gave him along with many other free agents an opportunity to play a match. A 10-week training camp which involves training, and playing games against a variety of opposition teams. Last week Browne and Thorndike were listed to take part against Stratford Town.

Brown and Thorndike were in a squad fronted by the likes of Ciaran Clark, the 36-time Republic of Ireland international, and Todd Kane, who had previously been at Chelsea. Former West Brom midfielder Romaine Sawyers and ex-Brentford winger Kadeem Harris were also included.

Marko Marosi was inked with a move to Birmingham City by the Shropshire Star this summer also played. Blues opted to sign Bailey Peacock-Farrell and Ryan Allsop, so a move for the goalkeeper who was Shrewsbury Town’s first choice last season is extremely unlikely. 

Since the match, Jake Caprice has joined Oldham Athletic and made his debut at the weekend. Scouts are invited to attend training sessions and matches as players network to try and find their next move.

PFA squad v Straford Town: MArko Marosi, Jordan Amissah, Todd Kane, Charles Dunne, Nesta Guinness-Walker, TJ Eyoma, Danny Amos, Jake Caprice, Ciaran Clark, Charlie Owens, Rico Browne, Romaien Sawyers, Finley Thorndike, Kadeem Harris, Brendan Kiernan, Mustapha Carayol, Milan Lalkovic and Saleem Akanbi.