After initially starting these blogs out of boredom, I have to admit that I have found myself thoroughly enjoying writing these. Today, we’ll be looking at my “Top Five Non-League Players”, all of whom I have seen play. Whilst at some points these players may have played in the Football League, when I saw them play, they were Non-League, anyway enough rambling.
- Rocky Baptiste (Hayes FC)
Whilst researching this blog, I was shocked to discover that Rocky had only been at Hayes for a season, as I remembered him being a player for Hayes for longer than that, then again he represented Hayes back in 2000 which was twenty years ago so I think my poor memory can be forgiven. I’m unsure of when I first saw Rocky play, but I watched him on a couple of occasions, and he must have struck a chord with me as I kept an eye on his career for as long as he played.
Starting his career as a junior at Chelsea and Brentford, Baptiste began playing for Wealdstone before moving to Hayes, where in 2000 he scored six goals in fourteen matches earning himself the attention of Luton Town who at the time were playing in the Second Division at the time, which was a notable step-up from the Conference. Luton were struggling at the time, and Baptiste made three appearances as a substitute and failed to score in any of them. When Joe Kinnear became Luton manager, Rocky found himself out of favour and he returned to Church Road on loan, where he scored five times in seven games.
Following his departure from Luton, Rocky signed for Farnborough, much to my disappointment as I had hoped that he would re-join Hayes. Baptiste stayed with Farnborough for two years, scoring thirty goals in forty-nine appearances, including Farnborough’s lone goal in their FA Cup Fourth Round defeat at the hands of Arsenal. In 2003, Baptiste followed former-Farnborough manager, Graham Westley to Stevenage Borough where he played twenty times, scoring four goals before departing for Margate in 2004. In total Rocky played fifty-four times for Margate, scoring seventeen goals. Baptiste’s next club were Gravesend & Northfleet, however he made no appearances for the club now known as Ebbsfleet, before moving on to Havant & Waterlooville. In his longest spell at any club, a grand total of three years, Baptiste made one-hundred and fifty-eight appearances, with a phenomenal goal tally of eighty-six goals. In 2008, Rocky scored the equaliser against Swansea City in an FA Cup Third Round tie, forcing a replay which Rocky scored in as Havant won 4-2 setting up a tie against Liverpool in the Fourth Round.
Rocky spent the first half of the 2008/2009 season at Maidenhead United where he scored three goals in twenty-one appearances, before he continued his journeyman career by joining AFC Wimbledon with whom he made one appearance and had a 100% scoring rate, as he scored one goal. Next up were Harrow Borough, who Rocky represented between 2009/2011, gaining nationwide notoriety as he infamously missed an open goal from six yards out smashing the ball against the left-hand post after beating the defence and keeper. Ultimately Baptiste made seventy-six appearances for Harrow, scoring fifty goals.
From Harrow, Rocky moved to Thurrock of the Conference South, where he made three appearances before joining Kingstonian of the Isthmian League in August 2011. At Kingstonian, Baptiste made two appearances before returning to Thurrock where he made a further four appearances. In his time at Thurrock and Kingstonian, Baptiste scored no goals in what must have been a disappointing chapter of his career. Baptiste’s final appearances came at Wingate & Finchley where he scored once in four appearances during the 2012/2013 season.
2. Danny Allen-Page (Hayes & Yeading United FC)
The second player of this list who I saw grace the pitch at Church Road, Danny Allen-Page was an attacking right-back who I feel deserved a chance at a higher level. Consistent and composed, Allen-Page was a threat down the right wing, equally good at attacking and defending, I would have loved to have seen him don the Blue & Amber of Shrewsbury Town, unfortunately for whatever reason Allen-Page spent the majority of his playing days in Non-League football.
Starting his career as a schoolboy with Crystal Palace, Danny moved to Brentford as a trainee, signing his first professional contract in 2002. At the Bees he made one substitute appearance against Peterborough in a 3-2 defeat, his debut only lasted a few minutes as he came on in the 88th minute of a Football League Trophy match. In March 2004, his Brentford contract was cancelled by mutual consent, and Allen-Page moved to Farnborough Town where he went on to make fifty-five appearances in two- and a-bit seasons. His only goal for Farnborough was a “stunning drive” against Accrington Stanley in October 2004.
Due to the instability at Farnborough, Danny Allen-Page moved to Yeading in July 2006, making thirty-nine appearances, including the FA Cup Second Round 5-0 defeat at the hands of Nottingham Forest in a game placed at the City Ground. As Hayes and Yeading merged in 2007 to make Hayes & Yeading United, Danny remained with the new club, where he made one hundred and eleven appearances over three years, scoring four times. Having started his time with Hayes & Yeading United in the Conference South, Danny finished it in the Conference Premier, where in the 2009/2010 season he played thirty-eight times and scored three times, which makes his release at the end of the season even more baffling.
Following his release from Hayes & Yeading, Danny moved to Hampton & Richmond Borough of the Conference South, where he played fourteen times before joining Merstham who seem to have been Danny’s last club. It’s a shame that Danny retired when he did, as he can only have been around thirty years-old which in a footballer’s career is a rather early age to retire at. I can only imagine what could have been if Danny had been given the chance, he deserved in the Football League and I am still amazed that he wasn’t picked up by someone like Dagenham & Redbridge who have helped themselves to a few Hayes & Yeading players over the years.
3. Ram Marwa (Hayes & Yeading United FC)
Another player who graced Church Road and another player who I feel deserved a chance in the Football League, Ram Marwa was a right-footed central midfielder who had a good eye for a pass. Capable of controlling a game from the middle of the pitch, Marwa was a hard-worker and should have played at a higher level.
Starting his career at Leyton Orient, Ram left the Orient in 1999 when he joined Erith & Belvedere, and apart from a spell at Ilford, Marwa remained with Erith & Belvedere for four seasons, before joining Grays Athletic in 2003. During his one season at Gray, Marwa made twenty-eight appearances during the 2003/2004 season in a team where he would have played alongside Freddy Eastwood in the Isthmian League. Grays were promoted to the Conference South following this season, yet Ram Marwa moved to St Albans City who were also promoted to the Conference South as a result of the restructuring of the Non-League Pyramid. During his first season he made thirty appearances for in the 2004/2005 season scoring on four occasions. Ram then spent time at Dagenham & Redbridge during the 2005/2006 season, his first time at the top of Non-League football. During the 2005/2006 season, Marwa also played for St Albans City who he scored eight goals for in eighteen appearances.
St Albans were promoted from the Conference South to the Conference Premier during the 2005/2006 season as they beat Histon in the Play-Off Final. In his first season in the Conference Premier, Ram played twenty-nine times, and scored four times as St Albans were relegated back to the Conference South. During the 2007/2008 season Ram only played four times for St Albans before joining Hayes & Yeading United. Ever-present during the 2008/2009 season Marwa played forty-one games and scored eight times, again ever-present Marwa made forty appearances for Hayes & Yeading in the 2009/2010 season finding the net on four occasions.
Following two years at Hayes & Yeading, Marwa moved to Ebbsfleet United where he remained for three seasons playing fifty-two times in his first season, 2010/2011, scoring twice. In his second year at Ebbsfleet, Marwa played forty-four matches, scoring nil. Surprisingly in his third year for Ebbsfleet, Marwa only played seven games, and at the end of the 2012/2013 season, Ram left Ebbsfleet for a return to St Albans City. Spending one season at St Albans City, Ram made forty-six appearances before seemingly retiring.
4. Andrew “Andy” Teague (Chorley FC)
Moving away from former Hayes/Hayes & Yeading United players, we now move up north to Andy Teague, who has become synonymous with Chorley FC. A towering centre-back who I wouldn’t fancy playing ninety minutes against, Andy has played for Chorley since 2011, around the time I began supporting Chorley.
Starting his career with Macclesfield, with who he made forty-three appearances scoring twice, Teague began his footballing days in the Football League and should have remained in the Football League, in my opinion. With excellent positioning, marking, and tackling as well as a penchant for wondergoals, Andy was unfortunate to break his leg in a collision with Jonny Brain, who also suffered a broken leg, in a match against Stockport. Aged only twenty years-old, Teague fractured his tibia and fibula, spending three months with his leg immobilized.
This injury signalled the end of Teague’s professional playing career and in January 2008, he joined Hyde United on loan after spending time on loan at Tamworth where he made one appearance. During his time at Hyde United Teague played eight games, before being released by Macclesfield in the summer of 2008. Following his release, Andy joined Lancaster City with who he played between 2008 to 2011. Unfortunately, I’ve been unable to find out how many games Teague played for Lancaster.
In January 2011, Andy Teague was bought to Chorley by then-manager Garry Flitcroft and since then he has been ever-present for the Magpies. Our captain for goodness knows how long, Teague has made the number four shirt his own, seemingly never having played in any other number for the Magpies. In three hundred and sixty-nine games for Chorley, Teague has scored on thirty-five occasions, popping up with crackers such as his volley against AFC Telford. In fact, Teague’s love of bombing forward to join the attack actually had my father convinced that he was a striker as Teague spent more time in the opposition box during our game against Kidderminster Harriers in the 2018/2019 season.
A brilliant man on and off the pitch, Andy Teague has been a fantastic presence at Victory Park and I would love to see him manage the club one day, although I’d rather he continued to play for as long as possible as it’ll be a sad day when he does retire.
5. Josh Wilson (Chorley FC)
Finally, we have Josh Wilson and it as this point that I must point out that these lists are in no order other than the age I would have been when I saw them play. Josh is one of football’s unlikely players, with his long hair and casual style making him look more like someone that you would meet on a night-out in Ibiza. Calling him the non-league Dimitar Berbatov wouldn’t be an unfair comparison, which is probably the main reason Wilson is a favourite of mine, that, and his ridiculously white teeth, which could probably be used as a replacement for the floodlights.
Starting his career with Northwich in 2007, where he made twenty-seven appearances. Next came Leigh Genesis, where I have been unable to find a record of his appearances and goals, nor have I been able to find any detail of his time at Burscough. In 2010, Wilson moved to Vauxhall Motors where if the internet is to be believed he made two appearances in two years. Finding reliable information about Josh’s career has been difficult with one website stating that he played seventeen times for Guiseley where another says he played twice, what I can say is that Josh Wilson played for Guiseley in the 2012/2013 season and scored twenty goals for them.
Following his time at Guiseley, Wilson moved to FC Halifax Town where he made thirty-four appearances, scoring seven goals during the 2013/2014 season before moving to AFC Fylde in 2014, where he spent two years, making an unknown amount of appearances, and scoring an unknown amount of goals. After AFC Fylde came AFC Telford, and according to the internet he played eight games and scored fifteen times, which is an amazing record if true, and it’s a wonder why a Football League team didn’t go for his signature.
As it was, James joined Chorley in 2017, spending two years with the Magpies between 2017 and 2019. Making eighty-four appearances and scoring twenty-six goals for Chorley, Wilson was key during our promotion season making it even harder to take when he left at the end of the 2018/2019 season. Unfortunately work commitments had made it difficult for Josh to attend training, and the extra travelling involved with playing in the Conference National would have seen him unable to play some games. As a result of this Josh moved to Ashton United where before the enforced early end of the season, he had made thirty-four appearances and had scored seventeen times.
One thing that I am hopeful of, is that if Chorley are relegated back to the Conference North then I would like to see Josh return to Victory Park. A decent team-player, Josh had a habit of popping up and scoring at vital times.
David's Adventures in Groundhopping 