Hidden Diamonds
Finding lower league treasure
Sending scouts to Non-League football in the hope of unearthing a diamond in the rough may seem idealised fantasy, but it can work. Rather than exclusively looking abroad the Evo-Stik Northern Premier could be home to untapped potential. Headlines declaring ‘Non-League wonderkids’ may be over-exaggerating but there are undoubtedly talented players capable of playing at a higher level.
The era of Football Manager has brought great intrigue to the idea of recruiting from lower divisions. Computer-generated players can be plucked from obscurity and painstakingly nurtured towards stardom. A Google search of the topic brings up many forums filled with people discussing fictional footballers; where they found them, their qualities and how they turned out.
In reality, most players are playing in lower leagues for a reason. Non-League generally consists of what you would expect: 4-4-2, long ball tactics and terrible pitches. However, everyone has to start somewhere and there are some examples of success. Much like actually digging for diamonds, lower league recruitment is unglamorous and time-consuming but can be fruitful.
Most recently the media have gushed over the meteoric rise of Jamie Vardy – from Stocksbridge in the Northern Premier League to beating Manchester United in the Premier League. It is a classic tale of a late-bloomer: struggles with discipline eventually subsiding towards hard work and reward. It is a journey that also illustrates the potential of lower league scouting.
Vardy’s career path of Stocksbridge, via Halifax and Fleetwood to Leicester City is hardly a typical one, but it is one that shows with the right skill set, determination and luck you can make it. He has been a prolific goal scorer at every level he has played at so far and the £1m Leicester parted with shows just how confident they were he would succeed.
If his terrorising of Manchester United’s defence last month is anything to go by, the Foxes’ transfer policy appears particularly well-judged.
Another current Premier League player who began his senior career in Non-League is Crystal Palace striker Dwight Gayle. Although not quite as prolific as Vardy so far, Gayle has not looked out of place at the highest level.
He began his career at Stansted before joining Dagenham & Redbridge. A goal-laden loan spell at Bishop’s Stortford saw him picked up by Peterborough United before Crystal Palace saw enough potential to sign him.
Gayle is an example of targeted scouting. His pace, tenacity and natural finishing ability are exactly the kind of traits every manager looks for in a striker. These assets are essential at every level of football and with the right work ethic and coaching lower league footballers can be moulded into top flight players.
Of course it does not always work out. Kwesi Appiah was signed by Crystal Palace a year before Gayle but has so far struggled to make the step up. Appiah, 21 at the time, was signed from Non-League Margate by manager Dougie Freedman in 2012 on the back of a goal-a-game season. After failing to score a goal in 10 appearances for Palace he has since been loaned out six times in two years.
Despite his struggles, Appiah’s story shows the low-risk nature of lower league recruitment. Now 24 and on-loan at Cambridge United, if he fails to make the grade Palace will more than likely be able to offload him for a small loss.
Vardy and Gayle may be exceptional examples but one League One club have made a habit of astute Non-League signings. Peterborough United represent a model of successful recruitment. They can be credited with developing players like Britt Assombalonga, currently the Championship’s top scorer at Nottingham Forest and Lee Tomlin, making an impact at Middlesbrough.
Peterborough have developed a reputation of Non-League finds which has seen them yo-yo between the Championship and League One. Their current crop of Non-League recruits are leading their scoring charts. At the time of writing Kyle Vassell, signed from Bishop’s Stortford, Marcus Maddison, from Gateshead and Conor Washington, from Newport County, have all contributed five goals. Maddison has particularly impressed, scoring an array of stunning free-kicks.
As these examples show recruiting from the lower leagues can be a viable option, especially for cash-strapped clubs. Goal scoring is a skill that is transferable across divisions. While overseas signings often struggle to adapt to the English game, the physicality of a Non-League football education can provide the basics. With the right nurturing, natural ability can be harnessed.
Football League clubs should pay more attention to the lower divisions; there is talent to be found. With transfer fees sky-rocketing and foreign scouting markets becoming ever more competitive, the lower leagues could provide a cost-effective alternative.