VAN’S THE NEXT MAN TO BOOST TONY’S CV

LEGENDARY manager Tony Hesketh has spoken of his pride after seeing another of his graduates make a stunning start to life up the Non-League food chain.

Debutant Matt Van Wyk powered home a 97th minute header for 10-man FC United of Manchester to beat Guiseley 1-0 on Tuesday night – just 48 hours after signing from Step 7 side Fulwood Amateurs.

The striker’s last-gasp winner at a raucous Broadhurst Park earned Neil Reynolds’ side a valuable three points in their promotion bid in the Northern Premier League Premier Division.

For Fulwood boss Hesketh – who has managed Barrow, Morecambe, Chorley, Lancaster and Bamber Bridge – Van Wyk is the latest star off the production line following Guy Hall’s move to FC United last year and the transfers of Ellis Wallbank and Lucas Weaver to Northern Premier League West side Colne in the summer.

And he couldn’t be happier for 21-year-old Van Wyk.

“We are so proud of Matty, he’s an exceptional young man,” said Hesketh.

“We were at training on Tuesday night and saw he had got the winner in injury time.

“He’s been the best striker in our league and the league above for a while now and his debut couldn’t have gone any better and we’re delighted for him.

“We had a good half hour chat on Wednesday and he was full of beans after that. He was nervous on the way to the game but he’s at home on the pitch. Neil’s got a real gem.”

Hesketh is close friends with FC United boss Reynolds, who had been monitoring Van Wyk for the last few years.

Following Regan Linney’s recent move to National League Premier side Altrincham after 25 goals in 33 appearances this season for the Rebels, Reynolds was in the market for a replacement striker.

And he made a call to Hesketh to see if it was time for Van Wyk, who is studying for a Finance and Economics degree at Lancaster University, to step up from the West Lancashire League.

Hesketh added: “Matty has been hot property for the last three years and played a few friendlies for FC in 2020 but then Covid hit and he suffered a bad back injury that kept him out for 12 months.

“He’s a very level-headed lad and he wanted to finish his studies.

“He was still learning and developing and he trusted us to sort a move for him when it was right for him.

“His parents trusted us – and that’s not always the case, sadly. Some want it too soon and aren’t patient. We didn’t want him to move and be a fringe player but go somewhere and be effective.

“And to his credit Neil put him straight in and by the end of the night he had over 1,000 fans shouting his name.

“Neil’s always had his eye on him. We spoke last Saturday night and he asked me if Matty was ready. I didn’t hesitate.

“The signing was done on the Sunday. The way FC went about it was so professional, I can’t praise them enough.

“It is four divisions higher but he’s at a great club with a great manager and I have every confidence he will be a great player in the Northern Premier League.”

After the 1-0 win over Guiseley, Reynolds said: “I’ve got to thank Tony Hesketh and Dean Crossen at Fulwood Amateurs for being so accommodating.

“That league is a really good standard of football and if we can keep finding and developing gems then we will do that.”

While Van Wyk faced Lancaster City yesterday (Saturday 11) with his new teammates – the Giant Axe ground is just a few minutes from his university digs – Fulwood were without their star man in the West Lancashire League.