Players will keep moving up the ladder

THE MANAGERS probably won’t thank us for saying it but it’s always great to see NonLeague talent move up into the Football League. We’ve seen a host of players make the step up just in this past week – all with their own stories to tell.

Josh March has worked his way up the divisions with Alvechurch and, after hitting 24 goals in 27 games for Leamington, is moving up to League Two with Forest Green.

March told us this week of how Non-League football has prepared him for the step-up – one he wasn’t ever sure he’d get a crack at a few years ago.

Reeco Hackett-Fairchild quickly made an impression with Bromley during this campaign and he’s been snapped up by Portsmouth.

Then Barnet’s Jack Taylor is stepping up to Peterborough United – a club well known for mining NonLeague over the years with great success.

Our columnist Adam Virgo recently wrote that Taylor is the best midfielder in the National League. Perhaps Posh were reading!

The moves didn’t stop there with Rob Atkinson joining Oxford United from Eastleigh. The young defender has impressed for the Spitfires this season having joined in the summer from Basingstoke Town. It just goes to show how much talent there is throughout Non-League football.

Of course, for the managers it’s not great timing. They’ve lost important players and an important part of the season. It’s not as straightforward as just going out and handpicking a replacement.

It does, however, reflect well on them and their clubs. Non-League football thrives and survives on giving young footballers the opportunity to showcase their talent and the platform to push onto the League.

Are there more footballers just waiting for their chance. You can be sure of it.