Tuesday 13 March 2007
Players from the non-league that have made it*
This is a list of players that have 'made it' after stepping up from the non-league to sign for Charlton. Some players became heroes and some were called Laurie Abrahams! Now these are only players from my time as a Charlton fan (about 30 years). For my slightly older readers they may remember the signing of a certain Derek Ufton from the then Bexleyheath & Welling.
Here we go in alphabetical order:
Laurie Abrahams 1977. Signed from Barking.
Had a most ridiculous running style if I remember rightly but made it quite big with The New England Teamen in the NASL.
Leroy Ambrose 1979. Signed from Croydon
Another popular striker who never scored.
Gary Churchouse 1978. Signed from Windsor & Eton.
Basically rubbish.
Paul Gorman 1990. Signed from Fisher
I liked him, he had balls but wasn't quite good enough ultimately.
Sasa Illic 1997. Signed from St Leonards Stamcroft
Hero on one particular day at Wembley.
Scott McGleish 1994. Signed from Edgware Town
Banging in goals for Wycombe, his 10th league club.
Paul Mortimer 1987. Signed from Farnborough Town
He also worked in a bookshop and was a master find by Lennie. 200 apps for the club in two spells.
Colin Powell 1972. Signed from Barnet
Legend.
Peter Shaw 1977. Signed from Staines Town
Took a long time to settle but was eventually captain. One for those who would like the old days back!
Paul Williams 1987. Signed from Woodford Town.
Another Lawrence gem. Was sent on loan to Brentford and came back a goalscoring machine. He never did quite recreate it after he left us though.
And there you go, just proving how hard it will be for Chris Dickson to make it and although it is hard to believe that professional clubs' scouting networks can miss good young players these days there are a host of reasons why players end up in non-league football and as our recent academy products have proven that is not necessarily the answer in finding tomorrow's stars either.
*Made it is defined by making the first team in whatever level Charlton played in at the time. ¶ 23:41
Here we go in alphabetical order:
Laurie Abrahams 1977. Signed from Barking.
Had a most ridiculous running style if I remember rightly but made it quite big with The New England Teamen in the NASL.
Leroy Ambrose 1979. Signed from Croydon
Another popular striker who never scored.
Gary Churchouse 1978. Signed from Windsor & Eton.
Basically rubbish.
Paul Gorman 1990. Signed from Fisher
I liked him, he had balls but wasn't quite good enough ultimately.
Sasa Illic 1997. Signed from St Leonards Stamcroft
Hero on one particular day at Wembley.
Scott McGleish 1994. Signed from Edgware Town
Banging in goals for Wycombe, his 10th league club.
Paul Mortimer 1987. Signed from Farnborough Town
He also worked in a bookshop and was a master find by Lennie. 200 apps for the club in two spells.
Colin Powell 1972. Signed from Barnet
Legend.
Peter Shaw 1977. Signed from Staines Town
Took a long time to settle but was eventually captain. One for those who would like the old days back!
Paul Williams 1987. Signed from Woodford Town.
Another Lawrence gem. Was sent on loan to Brentford and came back a goalscoring machine. He never did quite recreate it after he left us though.
And there you go, just proving how hard it will be for Chris Dickson to make it and although it is hard to believe that professional clubs' scouting networks can miss good young players these days there are a host of reasons why players end up in non-league football and as our recent academy products have proven that is not necessarily the answer in finding tomorrow's stars either.
*Made it is defined by making the first team in whatever level Charlton played in at the time. ¶ 23:41
