BLYTH TRIO ARE FLYING LIONS FLAG
THE north-east should be proud of the fact that the region has four players named in the latest England C squad.
That is the verdict of former Blyth Spartans manager Tom Wade.
The Northumberland club have made an impressive start to the National League North season and that has led to three players being named in Paul Fairclough’s squad for a training camp at Lilleshall.
Dan Maguire, Ryan Hutchinson and Jarrett Rivers will travel to Shropshire next month, along with the fourth member of the north-east quartet, Darlington’s David Ferguson.
And Wade believes the region should relish the fact that four Non-League players have been handed international recognition.
Honour
“This is a great honour for the region,” said the man that is now joint-manager alongside Steve Harmison at Northern League club Ashington.
“Blyth Spartans, Spennymoor Town and Darlington are three strong sides in the National League North, so maybe this shouldn’t be a surprise.
“England C has been largely southern-based but there are a lot of good, young players in our region and I believe there could be more to come.
“Gateshead have had players in the squad recently and there could be more from Spartans this season as Andrew Cartwright and Nathan Buddle are on stand-by.”
Wade played a big role in the careers of his former Spartans players Maguire, Hutchinson and Rivers before leaving his hometown club last September.
He signed all three players during his four-year stay at Croft Park, bringing Maguire back to the club after an aborted move to FC Halifax Town.
Hutchinson and Rivers joined from Northern League clubs Morpeth Town and Whitley Bay, before going on to play key roles in the club’s recent success, including a run to the third round of the FA Cup and last season’s promotion to Non-League’s second-tier.
Wade insists that all three players deserve recognition for their efforts – as do their senior team mates at Croft Park.
Policy
“It’s all down to hard work and a willingness to learn from those around them,” he added.
“Look at Hutchinson and Maguire, they had been in the Northern Alliance, five levels below where they are playing now. Rivers was in and out of the Whitley Bay side and we got all three in because the budget was cut and we went with a new policy of signing raw youngsters. They have shown remarkable dedication and commitment to get to where they are.
“You have to give credit to the older players like Robbie Dale, Stephen Turnbull and Neal Hooks. They helped guide them on the pitch and the three lads are now top players.”