The concept of signing non-league players to help bolster squad depth, or possibly more, is a fairly untraditional one and, although still not unheard of, it seems that this method of raising talent on-the-cheap may create openings for the non-league scene’s hottest prospects.
And with the finances of league clubs in England very much on its knees, such measures will undoubtedly become more and more common as the never-ending, ever-growing list of clubs begin to fall into to the hands of administrators orders or to the mercy of their creditors.
However finding players with the sufficient attributes to hold their own at a higher level is a process requiring the ultimate patience as only a very select few have ‘what it takes’ to succeed at this level or higher.
A prime example of semi-professional players making an impact is
It is a little known fact that Pearce began his career with Wealdstone, where he spent 14 months as a sprightly full-back in his early twenties, before a move to Coventry City worth £25,000 – an absolute steal considering the ridiculous fees hurled at clubs these days – got the ball rolling as-it-were for what went on to be an illustrious career spanning 19 years, making 570 league appearances for Wealdstone, Coventry [52], F*rest [401], Newcastle [37], West Ham [42] and Manchester City [38].
Pearce also rightfully won 78
And with players such as Psycho leading the way for players in the semi-professional circuit, there seems to no reason why other players can’t follow in the footsteps of this living legend into the Football League’s very own little stratosphere.
Players like Watford’s Scott Fitzgerald.
Watford snapped up the then 23-year old on a free transfer from Ryman league Division One outfit, Northwood, where the striker had spent one-and-a-half seasons with the club.
His move to Vicarage Road in February last year came in the wake of the striker’s brief trial spell with – get this – Chelsea (pre-Roman revolution).
And by the time Watford had caught wind of Fitzgerald’s assets, it took little convincing to snap him up on a Bosman – although, in truth, 3 goals in 6 reserve outings did Fitzgerald’s cause no harm.
Since then the prolific goal-scorer in the Ryman’s League Division One has gone on to pull on the Hornets’ colours 33 times in the league, registering 10 goals for his new club.
And after leap-frogging a total of six leagues, Fitzgerald can still boast a goal-scoring record of around one goal every three games – impressive.
Another example can be found a little closer to home however in our very own, Ian Richardson.
‘Richo’, as he is now known, has become a firm fan’s favourite at Meadow Lane after spending the best years of his career at the ‘Lane.
Although Richardson’s arrival in Nottingham from non-league football came via Birmingham City after the Blues had brought Richardson to St. Andrews from Dagenham and Redbridge in the 1995/96, only for Ian to be on the move once more as he was loaned out to Notts in January ’96 before joining permanently two months later.
The Notts captain is now in his ninth season here and is now just 13 starts short of his 225th in black and white – a colour which he now bleeds, apparently.