“EXCUSE ME, WHERE IS JOHN SWIFT...?”

Just outside our Top 50, that’s where, and Reading’s midfielder isn’t the only player to narrowly miss out. Presenting: the best at every club not in our chart, from the Championship Boro to League Two’s Boro

COLBY BISHOP

ACCRINGTON STANLEY FORWARD AGE 23 John Coleman recruited Bishop from sixth- tier Leamington – and the local primary school, where he was teaching – and Bishop gratefully bagged 12 goals before Christmas. What a find.

DARYL MURPHY

BOLTON WANDERERS FORWARD AGE 37 The veteran gave Bolton’s tormented season a rare boost in the autumn with goals in five straight league games, featuring three consecutive victories.

DYLAN CONNOLLY

BRADFORD CITY MIDFIELDER AGE 24 The rapid Wimbledon winger has impressed everyone out on loan, or nearly everyone. His role in a win over Plymouth, and superb strike, riled Argyle into filing a bitter rant as a match report.

JONSON CLARKE- HARRIS

BRISTOL ROVERS FORWARD AGE 25 Clarke- Harris scored 23 goals in 2019, though a managerial change has made for a tougher 2020. The frontman is a handful – nobody in the division is fouled more regularly.

SCOTT FRASER

BURTON ALBION MIDFIELDER AGE 25 If this talented Burton team are arguably underperforming, Fraser isn’t to blame: the Scot racks up assists at a fair rate, and averages a key pass every half an hour.

HARRY DARLING

CAMBRIDGE UNITED DEFENDER AGE 20

As a boyhood fan, Darling had hoped to make himself a regular at the heart of the U’s defence – so to do that and also score a couple of goals is pretty special.

HARRY MCKIRDY

CARLISLE UNITED FORWARD AGE 23 Playing in an ordinary Cumbrians side, Mckirdy is a bright spark on the wing who has the potential to go far once he adds more consistency to his game.

LYLE TAYLOR

CHARLTON ATHLETIC FORWARD AGE 30 Charlton’s fast start soon hit the skids after an injury to Taylor, the coolest penalty- taker in the Football League. He may leave for free even if the Addicks stay up.

RYAN BROOM

CHELTENHAM TOWN MIDFIELDER AGE 23 The brightest star in a stellar Cheltenham campaign has been the boss, Michael Duff, but Broom nearly made our Top 50 for his attacking excellence in midfield.

COHEN BRAMALL

COLCHESTER UNITED DEFENDER AGE 23 From part- time football in non- league to Arsenal, Birmingham and now Colchester, Bramall has had some career already. The fast, free- kick- taking left- back won’t be in the fourth tier for very long.

BEZ LUBALA

CRAWLEY TOWN FORWARD AGE 22 The winger is one to watch: creative, lively and more than a little trigger- happy. He has taken the most shots in League Two by – and from – some distance.

BRANDON HANLAN

GILLINGHAM FORWARD AGE 22 While the striker hasn’t exactly replaced Tom Eaves’ goals, his tricky dribbling wins free- kicks and makes space for his team- mates. Defender Connor Ogilvie is also impressing at Priestfield.

JAMES HANSON

GRIMSBY TOWN FORWARD AGE 32 Hanson began his time with Grimsby by putting in man- of- the- match displays virtually every week, so a drop- off after August was forgivable. Ian Holloway has got him firing again in 2020.

JORDAN MAGUIRE- DREW

LEYTON ORIENT MIDFIELDER AGE 22 The fresh- faced wideman has, at times, provided hope for the future during a very difficult season for Orient, after their manager Justin Edinburgh suddenly passed away last summer.

JOE MORRELL

LINCOLN CITY MIDFIELDER AGE 23 Loaned from Bristol City, Morrell ranks highly in League One for tackles, interceptions, key passes and pass success ( above 80 per cent). He’s since worked his way into the Wales senior team, too.

JAMES COLLINS

LUTON TOWN FORWARD AGE 29

“I’ve always wanted to have a crack at the Championship,” he said last year as our best player in League One. Evidently – he had 11 goals before March.

THEO ARCHIBALD

MACCLESFIELD TOWN MIDFIELDER AGE 22 Signing the skilful young Glaswegian was a coup for Macc, which may be why they can’t afford to pay him ( or anyone). The whole squad deserves credit – but the inventive Archibald really shines.

JONNY HOWSON

MIDDLESBROUGH DEFENDER AGE 31 With so many young players in the side, it’s up to Howson to provide the Championship nous, whether it’s in central midfield or at full- back, wing- back, centre- half...

RHYS HEALEY

MK DONS FORWARD AGE 25 He’s played in Wales, Scotland and England’s top five divisions. Now Healey is finally settled – and he just can’t stop scoring. He netted in 12 of 20 games pre- March.

CARLOS MENDES GOMES

MORECAMBE FORWARD AGE 21 Derek Adams likes the verve of this young winger, who arrived at the Lancashire club via Senegal, Atletico Madrid and, er, West Didsbury & Chorlton. Obviously.

JOSH SHEEHAN

NEWPORT COUNTY MIDFIELDER AGE 25 A creator, metronome and ball- winner all in one, Sheehan presses well off the ball and is so dangerous on it that opponents make him the second- most fouled player in League Two.

CHARLIE GOODE

NORTHAMPTON TOWN DEFENDER AGE 24 Goode impressed our League Two voters – which shouldn’t come as a big surprise, given the centre- half makes more clearances per game than anyone else in the Football League.

JONNY SMITH

OLDHAM ATHLETIC MIDFIELDER AGE 22 Another Bristol City loanee turning heads in a lower division, Smith contributed to 15 goals before March. He’s been one of the fourth tier’s best players this season.

TOM POPE

PORT VALE FORWARD AGE 34 The less said about his tweets, the better ( they have resulted in two separate match bans this season), but Pope is still an asset for Vale with his hold- up play and goals at key times.

JOHN SWIFT

READING MIDFIELDER AGE 24 Swift is very unfortunate not to make our Top 50. Statistically the second tier’s most creative midfielder, he’s an assists machine, yet he rarely loses the ball.

IAN HENDERSON

ROCHDALE FORWARD AGE 35 What will Dale do when their hero retires? The tireless Henderson is in his sixth League One campaign for Rochdale, and he’s about to reach 100 goals in that time.

IBOU TOURAY

SALFORD CITY DEFENDER AGE 25 Salford’s first Football League campaign has been strangely low- key, reflected in their best player being a left- back. The Gambian’s crossing is magnificent, mind.

KEVIN VAN VEEN

SCUNTHORPE UNITED FORWARD AGE 28 The Dutchman returned to Glanford Park in 2019 and has plundered goals in a struggling side. His winner in a derby victory over Grimsby ( after his EFL Trophy brace against them) went down well.

OLIVER NORBURN

SHREWSBURY TOWN MIDFIELDER AGE 27 Passing and drawing fouls, Norburn keeps his side ticking. January’s FA Cup revival against Liverpool was the last the Shrews saw of their captain, cruelly ruled out with a knee injury.

ISAAC HUTCHINSON

SOUTHEND UNITED MIDFIELDER AGE 19 While Southend fans have had precious little to cheer on or off the pitch, seeing a teenage talent emerge provides some solace. He always looks to spark life into a largely lifeless team.

PAUL FARMAN

STEVENAGE GOALKEEPER AGE 31 As diabolical as Boro have been, they’ve conceded fewer goals than a third of League Two. Farman is a huge reason why – at times he’s a one- man defence.

KIERON MORRIS

TRANMERE ROVERS MIDFIELDER AGE 25 Tranmere’s relegation battle would be even tougher without their wideman’s League One experience. In several positions, he’s been an asset with his free- kicks and decent turn of pace.

LIAM ROBERTS

WALSALL GOALKEEPER AGE 25 Roberts has strong hands and a stronger spirit: slated by his boss after a loss to Carlisle, he made a match- winning late save against Salford the following weekend.

SAM MORSY

WIGAN ATHLETIC MIDFIELDER AGE 28 The captain has curbed his card- collecting and added the odd vital goal of late. Latics fans voted him their player of the month for both January and February.

LUKE O’NEILL

AFC WIMBLEDON DEFENDER AGE 28 Currently at his 11th club, O’neill would be key to any defence in League One. He’s a very capable ball- winner and creates chances aplenty with his adept crosses.