We reveal the next batch of Non-League talents snapped up by Football League clubs
NEIL SMITH saw another of his star performers make the move up to the Football League and admitted “I can’t wait for the transfer window to close”.
The Bromley boss was left reeling after League One Portsmouth triggered an automatic release clause in the contract of talented winger Reeco Hackett-Fairchild before completing a club record transfer.
In the week of his 22nd birthday, Hackett-Fairchild now joins a number of players including Louis Dennis, Josh Rees, Luke Woolfenden, Brandon Hanlan, Rarmani Edmonds-Green and Alfie Doughty who have all gone on to play in the Football League following spells with the Ravens.
Buzzing
And although the Bromley boss takes huge personal pride in the development of these players, he admits he can’t wait to take the rest of his star performers out of the shop window so he can concentrate on fulfilling the club’s promotion dream.
“I just want to the window to close now,” Smith told The NLP. “We have a few players who are playing really well at the moment and, as we found out with Reeco, these things can happen very quickly.
“This is the silly season. As soon as you start talking to a player in January the price tag goes up, similarly, if a club is looking at
player then the club is looking to get the best deal it possibly can. “We’re disappointed to lose Reeco, of course we are, but at the same time we are very pleased for him and proud of the part that the club in helping him make the move. It’s a massive achievement and it shows that we’re doing something right.” Hackett-Fairchild has been a revelation for Smith this season, scoring eight goals since joining from Charlton Athletic in the summer.
“I’ve known of the interest for a couple of weeks and was immediately buzzing because this is such a big club and nobody’s going to let the opportunity pass,” the playmaker said.
“It’s always been my ambition to play as high as I possibly can and so it’s something I’ve grabbed with both hands.”
With Adam Mekki joining Ebbsfleet on loan, Smith has brought in former Dayour genham & Redbridge attacker Corey Whitely, on loan from Newport County, but has faith in the side which sit fourth in the National League and have emerged largely unscathed from a tricky festive period with the injured Hackett-Fairchild sat on the sidelines.
Attitude
Smith’s side make the trip to league leaders Barrow in a crunch BT Sport clash on Saturday evening and has also strengthened defensively with the signing of 6ft 5in centre-back Michael
Chambers, following his departure from Wrexham.
Chambers spent his youth down the road from Hayes Lane at Dulwich Hamlet and Crystal Palace, before joining Welling United and then returning to Dulwich to help them win promotion to the National League South, earning a move to Wrexham in the summer.
“Michael’s a local boy with a great attitude who wanted to come back down south,” Smith added.“We’ve lost players through injuries and suspensions so he’s a good fit for us.”