CATCH OF THE DAY FOR COD!
HIGHLY-RATED Ashley Nadesan became the latest Non-League prospect to take his talents to Fleetwood Town, but then warned: ‘Don’t call me the next Jamie Vardy!’
The 21-year-old McDonald’s worker this week sealed a move to the League One Cod Army after scoring 99 goals in two seasons for Combined Counties League outfit Horley Town.
It came almost four years to the day that Vardy made the same switch to Highbury Stadium from FC Halifax Town, before eventually going on to win the Premier League title with Leicester City.
But Nadesan, who put pen to paper on a three-year deal with the Cod Army for an undisclosed fee, dismisses any comparison with the England striker and says he wants to be recognised for his own achievements.
Quality
“A lot of people are calling me the new Jamie Vardy by comparing me to him, but I don’t want that pressure because I’d rather be the first Ashley Nadesan,” he said.
“I’m buzzing to be here especially after all the recent speculation about my future. I’m so happy and can’t wait to get going. Fleetwood are a quality team.
“The past two seasons have been incredible for me. The manager at Horley (Anthony Jupp) played me where I wanted to and the team around me have all been quality.
“If it wasn’t for them I wouldn’t have scored 99 goals. I also broke the Combined Counties League scoring record recently which was nice.”
Nadesan attracted interest from no fewer than 11 different professional clubs after another storming season which yielded a record 55 goals for Horley.
Proud Clarets’ boss Jupp said: “With full-time professional coaching the sky is the limit and I can see Ashley going a very long way and having a great football career.
Prolific
“It has been an honour to work with him and looking back from day one of having him four years ago to now is a massive change. Ashley is a great lad to coach and manage. He will be sorely missed by the club, team mates and supporters.”
Chairman Mark Sale added: “We have seen Ash develop into the prolific striker who scored 99 goals in two years. Much of the credit for his development must go to our management team, Anthony Jupp and Chris Weller, who played him in our youth team and could see Ash’s potential.
“We shall certainly miss him not just for the goals but because he is a really nice lad who has appreciated all the help that everyone has given him and kept his feet firmly on the ground.
“It is a special moment when a club like Horley Town sees one of our lads make a dream a reality and I doubt that there is a prouder chairman at this moment anywhere.”