Off The Line Blog

Over the years, we have seen a number of players make the step up from non-league to the EFL, with Swindon Town one of those that have profited with recent captures of Ricky Aguiar (Worthing) and Morgan Roberts (Banbury United).

We have also seen the likes of Jesurun Uchegbulam plucked by National League high-flyers Chesterfield in the summer.                         

As such, the lower reaches of the non-league pyramid are certainly a hotbed for up-and-coming talent, and sides higher up the pyramid and showing increased eagerness to take their chances on an unknown that has the potential to go on and do well; you only need to look at the success of Andre Gray, Dwight Gayle and Charlie Austin to realise the potential of the lower leagues.

Thus, we have picked out 10 players currently playing at Step 3 or below that could well be worth a shot from sides in the EFL or the upper echelon of non-league.

Jordan Hunter (South Shields)
One player who I will continue to bang the drum for is defender Jordan Hunter. A long-time admirer of the former Black Cats youngster, he is one of the best full-backs in the non-league scene, certainly with his athleticism and ball-carrying qualities to provide an attacking outlet on the right-hand side. And, I think that he would be worth a move up the pyramid.

Hunter has shown over the last few years that he is a player with all the qualities to play higher in non-league, with his ability to get up and down the right flank, his technical quality on the ball, as well as his composure and craft in the final third. The modern-day full-back, Hunter may well get to experience Step 2 football with South Shields next year, however I think he is easily capable of making the step up now.

Josh Stokes (AFC Sudbury)
The winger has already garnered a lot of interest from sides higher in the pyramid, with a number of sides reportedly circling to sign him after his impressive displays for an AFC Sudbury side sitting top of the league. And, with the composure and confidence with which he struts his stuff, I can see him being on the wish list of a number of sides in January.

He is still only a young player, but the evidence thus far is that he has a massive future ahead of him. An all-action wide player, he has pace and mobility by the bucket load. He is confident and indeed comfortable with both feet, can go on the outside or bring the ball inside, manipulates the ball in tight areas with his close control and trickery, and is a player that always causes defences problems. He is a superb young talent, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see someone take a gamble on him.

Nathan Odokonyero (Bognor Regis Town)
Bognor Regis Town have done well recently in developing players, with Tommy Leigh the latest during the summer to make that step-up into the Football League, and while the EFL is potentially a step too far at this stage, I can certainly see sides higher up the pyramid than where The Rocks are clamouring for his services.

Odokonyero has started the season really brightly as one of the leading scorers for not just Bognor Regis Town, but in the whole division. He provides a good balance between a more physical type at the top end of the pitch and a forward that can play in behind with his pace, given that he has both sets of skills within the locker. He is of a good size and has a strong leap on him, and is a hard-working forward. Players get better and better under Robbie Blake, and it looks like the forward is the latest of those.

Regan Linney (FC United of Manchester)
FC United of Manchester manager Neil Reynolds has shown throughout his time with the Manchester-based club that he knows to develop a player and to give them the platform to shine. And, it looks as if striker Regan Linney is the latest to thrive under his management.

Linney is a former Bamber Bridge front man, a club themselves with a good reputation within the lower leagues for developing talent, and he has certainly excelled for them this term. He is already well into double figures for the campaign and has been a real pest for opposition defences with his tireless work ethic to fashion chances, his relentless running style and energy to attack spaces, and also then the athleticism and willingness to run in behind. A player that has a yard of pace and a real composure in front of goal, he looks like a top young player in the making.

Dan Sweeney (Bromsgrove Sporting)
Sweeney is a player that has impressed me so far this term, someone that has been instrumental to Bromsgrove Sporting’s campaign to date. And, when you look at what you would want from a forward player to be able to play at a higher level, I think that Sweeney has a really nice sets of qualities which would make him ideal for the step-up.

Already well into double figures for the campaign, Sweeney is a versatile player that can play through the middle or out wide. The physicality you need to play in the National League he has, a player that has a real aggression and power to his game. He is quick, can beat a man, carries the ball well, and has the presence and composure within his build to be a threat to the opposition. A powerful strike on him, he was formerly on the books of Solihull Moors and such has been his form over the last 12 months, I can see him potentially returning to that level in the not too distant future.

Brady Hickey (Barwell)
Another midfielder playing below Step 2 who I think should easily be plying their trade at a higher level is Barwell man Brady Hickey. With his team struggling in the league, Hickey has again stepped up to the plate and performed in their absence and once again provided evidence of why he is one of the most exciting midfield players in the non-league scene.

For teams looking for that player that can arrive into the box from deep and grab a goal, Hickey is ideal. An attacking midfielder with a super engine to him and a really impressive work-rate, he has the intricacy and trickery to his game that allows him to evade challenges and play in and around the opposition on the edge of the box. He picks up nice spaces between the opposition defence and back four, with the craft in possession to be able to work it in tight spaces. He is energetic and a real livewire, and he has the end product to match. A good leader for his age, I think that there is a real player in there and worth a shot at a move higher up the leagues.

George Sykes (Aveley)
Aveley have shown themselves to be one of the top sides at this level within the past few years, and one player that has been instrumental to that as a talismanic figure at the top end of the pitch is forward George Sykes. He has played at a higher level, and with the way he has started the campaign – with 16 in 24 – there is no reason why he can’t return to that level.

The sort of player you can always rely on to be in the right place in the right time, he has good movement in and around the box and is technically very good, always getting off a good shot with real composure. He is an energetic, all-action type of forward that is capable of dropping shorter and mixing his play, or then having the presence of mind and pace to get in behind and cause the opposition defence problems that way. He is a top forward who is always there or thereabouts in the scoring stakes, and I am surprised that someone hasn’t taken a chance on him.

Lloyd Humphries (Weston-super-Mare)
Weston-super-Mare lead the way in their division, playing some lovely football, and a key component of that is midfielder Lloyd Humphries. Humphries is a former Cardiff City academy player and has those underling qualities and technical ability that you would expect, and he has been a joy to watch for the Southern-based side so far this term.

Humphries has always been a player of real quality, one of the best midfielders at that level, and he is showing it this term. Capable of playing with both feet, he has a good range of passing over both short and long distances, is able to link the play really with the way in which he can turn on a sixpence and pick a pass in the final third, and he is the sort of player that never looks rushed. He is a player so silky and cultured with the ball, and is metronomic in the way he goes about his business. He may well get a chance to play in the National League South with Weston-super-Mare next year, but he is a good player.

Kyle Egan (Truro City)
Truro City managed to land the services of Kyle Egan in the summer form Tiverton Town, and with it they managed to sign one of the best full-backs outside of the top two tiers of the non-league pyramid. He has been one of the top performers for Tiverton Town, and he has improved even more so playing for The Whites this term.

Exeter City have a long association with being able to produce players, and it is no surprise that Kyle Egan is a former Grecians player that has turned to local football, but can equally play higher. While he plays as a wing-back, his experience in the past of playing in midfield enable him to be composed in possession, is able to pick a pass and contribute to the attacking play with a real flair and craft. A confident dribbler, he is athletic and quick, and after a strong season with Tiverton Town last year, he is doing the same for The Whites this.

Finley Walsh-Smith (Gosport Borough)
Gosport Borough have done some good work to give a pathway to their young players to make a name for themselves in the first-team, and one of those that has been in and around the first-team and showing signs of real promise is defender Finley Walsh-Smith. Reportedly of interest to Portsmouth, there is definitely a good player there with the qualities to go far.

While only young and not the most imposing or aggressive of types, he is a composed defender that has a good reading of the game, is diligent and hard-working. He has also been coached to play in the right way, with the assurance and knowhow to play out from the back and bring the ball into midfield, thus making him also comfortable in playing wide of the defence and playing in the channels. There are a couple of players who have burst through and done well with Gosport Borough, but it looks like he may be the pick of those.