I went to the annual POTY award at the Belmont club in Hoyland last night and as usual it was a cracking night.It was very well attended and the good people were entertained by Here's Johnny who were very good.It was also emotional at times as people remembered Mark Wildsmith who passed away this year and it was fitting that his son Liam presented the Mark Wildsmith young player of the year to a lad called Smith,sorry I didn't catch the first name.Martin Craine won the player of the year and was presented with the trophy by Bruce Dyer.Ben Mansford said a few words and he was full of praise for the towns supporters.He also mentioned at the close of play yesterday the club had sold 2.500 season tickets to which the club are grateful and delighted.
Two and a half thousand season tickets sold before the end of April (even though this is influenced by the Early Bird offer) by a club staring relegation in the face? Not bad,not bad at all.
I've seen him a few times for the U21's and he seems comfortable at that level. Whether he can make the step up to the first team squad, I simply don't know. Over the years, I've seen plenty of young lads seemingly destined for a league career, only to fail at that last hurdle (eg. Ian Burgin, Dave Markham, Colin Marshall, Tom Baker). Others who weren't stand out players when I saw them, probably caught them on a bad day, then proved to be capable of making that final step (eg. Glyn Riley, Ian Banks, Carl Tiler, Nicky Eaden).
He looks oreight, last few for me that I`ve thought would make the step up, not that I see that much of em, but Anthony Kay, Danny Rose and Sam Paterson although he were a central midfielder when I first saw him and last few times have seen him he`s playing Reight back.
Whilst we all like players to slide straight into the side playin at their peak or picking up the pace of a game straight away after coming off the bench it still dunt stop me not allowing them that time for adjustment that most players need. In the cool light of day I can but not at the time of it happening. Oh Sean McClare I thought he were gunna be a good and young Barra.
