rodh
15th-May-2008, 09:47
Having made contact with the Non League Radio show towards the end of last season we now receive an article every week which we started to include in the match day programme. As it is now the close season I will post the article on the forum until the new season programmes are issued. If we use the articles in the new season I will add them to the site after home games. The BBC Non League Football Show can be found every Monday from 9pm via www.bbc.co.uk/nonleague
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In the nearly immortal words of Gavin and Stacey, "even Barry Island's packed" the summer must be here, so what to do? Well, we could in time honoured fashion pick up the paint brushes and get going on the clubhouse, or how's about checking out the traditional football club trials?
That's right, no time like the present, only wimps take holidays right? Such is the increased interest in Non League football at the moment, everyone wants to be part of it and then some. Even AFC Liverpool (that new club up north) held trials only the other week and hundreds of players turned up, from midfield dynamo to defensive rock.
So, you've got the boots, the swagger, but what does it take to make a Non League footballer? David Rainford, formerly of Dagenham and Redbridge, thinks he knows. He's only gone and left the Daggers to pursue his teaching career and is now on the look-out for a local grassroots club to call his own.
The 29-year-old has combined both jobs for the past two years and last season was the only part-time player in the Football League. Having seen him a couple of times (and shared a room with Willie Wordsworth - Chief Scout at Cambridge!) I'd say he's worth a look.
But where should Dave lay his boots? The Blue Square Premier is largely full time, the South and North are heading that way, so that leaves my club, Chelmsford City, Dave.
Obviously players like David are a rare find, but what else should a Non League team be looking for in the summer recess? In an age when so many pro footballers are finding themselves without clubs, the first thought would be pick the best. But, are they necessarily going to be suited to Non League? How many times have we seen a player turn up for friendlies with a list of Football League experience as long as his kick, but not have the right mettle to make it at our level?
So, who will pick a winner? Let's face it, when the friendlies roll in, we’ll all pat ourselves on the back and remark on the calibre of the gaffer’s “finds”, but the only true test will come on those bloomin’ cold November nights, “let’s see your Cruyff turn now shorty”
A word of caution, therefore, in your ear good friend, take a look at any of the Non League websites this week and you’ll see club after club releasing six, eight, even ten players, and they’ll sure as might need to replace them.
There’s plenty of competition for that gem, so don’t wish away the summer too soon, you might need all the time you can get to bag the Herculian forward ready to deliver you to the promised land.
************************************************** *******
In the nearly immortal words of Gavin and Stacey, "even Barry Island's packed" the summer must be here, so what to do? Well, we could in time honoured fashion pick up the paint brushes and get going on the clubhouse, or how's about checking out the traditional football club trials?
That's right, no time like the present, only wimps take holidays right? Such is the increased interest in Non League football at the moment, everyone wants to be part of it and then some. Even AFC Liverpool (that new club up north) held trials only the other week and hundreds of players turned up, from midfield dynamo to defensive rock.
So, you've got the boots, the swagger, but what does it take to make a Non League footballer? David Rainford, formerly of Dagenham and Redbridge, thinks he knows. He's only gone and left the Daggers to pursue his teaching career and is now on the look-out for a local grassroots club to call his own.
The 29-year-old has combined both jobs for the past two years and last season was the only part-time player in the Football League. Having seen him a couple of times (and shared a room with Willie Wordsworth - Chief Scout at Cambridge!) I'd say he's worth a look.
But where should Dave lay his boots? The Blue Square Premier is largely full time, the South and North are heading that way, so that leaves my club, Chelmsford City, Dave.
Obviously players like David are a rare find, but what else should a Non League team be looking for in the summer recess? In an age when so many pro footballers are finding themselves without clubs, the first thought would be pick the best. But, are they necessarily going to be suited to Non League? How many times have we seen a player turn up for friendlies with a list of Football League experience as long as his kick, but not have the right mettle to make it at our level?
So, who will pick a winner? Let's face it, when the friendlies roll in, we’ll all pat ourselves on the back and remark on the calibre of the gaffer’s “finds”, but the only true test will come on those bloomin’ cold November nights, “let’s see your Cruyff turn now shorty”
A word of caution, therefore, in your ear good friend, take a look at any of the Non League websites this week and you’ll see club after club releasing six, eight, even ten players, and they’ll sure as might need to replace them.
There’s plenty of competition for that gem, so don’t wish away the summer too soon, you might need all the time you can get to bag the Herculian forward ready to deliver you to the promised land.