Toolstation NCEL Division One
Ben Hunter says Rossington Main are building a fantastic track record for developing players who have been recently released from Football League academies.
Hunter’s Rossington is mainly made up of young players around the age of 21 – which makes their shock promotion push even more of a stunning achievement.
A number of his troops have been released from the professional game in the past two years and Hunter says his approach is preventing players from leaving the game totally.
“Rossington is a great club and has great facilities with a great surface and what we try to do is play good football so it is quite attractive to the younger generation of players,” Hunter told Non League Yorkshire.
“But they also need to learn the physicality of the game and play against experienced players – that’s what they miss at academies.
“It is very pass, pass, pass, possession-orientated.
“It is a completely different game and sadly we see a lot of players fall out of the game because they have been at an academy and they go to a Conference or NPL team and they’re not ready for it.
“I think there’s a genuine ridge we can offer.
“We can offer valuable minutes rather than them sitting on the bench at other teams.
“That’s what the model is and if you can prove it works once (you can attract other players) and players contact us now.
“I have the links with Doncaster Rovers but we have players who have been at Sheffield Wednesday, Sheff United that are in similar positions.
“If they are a good fit for us then we will do everything we can do to help them progress and then hopefully move on up.”
At least three have already successfully won moves far higher after playing for Rossington.
Adam Watson joined Worksop Town in the summer while Elliott Walker went to Stocksbridge Park Steels.
Manasse Kianga joined Grantham Town but is now with Worksop.
Bizarrely all of the current players who were released from pro clubs are currently injured.
Jack Watson, Cameron Barnett and Kian Johnson came from Doncaster Roverrs while Niall Doran joined from Hull City and Bailey Conway arrived from Sheffield United.
“There’s a few (success stories) to be honest,” Hunter said.
“Adam Watson is now at Worksop, Elliott Walker is at Stocksbridge.
“There’s several I can give you.
“Players on our team have been approached by teams in the Northern Premier League this season but it hasn’t been quite right for them because they’ll go as impact substitutes.
“We have created a culture that want to be part of and then they’ll go as a high recruit next season.
“They know we’re not holding them back, we want them to make the right moves for them.
“They know we do it for the right reasons.
“Yeah we want to win but I get a buzz from seeing them playing three or four leagues above.”
But Hunter is keen to point out that Rossington don’t have a total open door policy for players released from academies each summer when asked if there will be a new batch arriving next June
“It is a good question, obviously there will some (released players) available,” he said.
“We have to find the right kids.
“We need people who are willing to work hard and graft.
“Some who get released from pro clubs still expect to be in the full-time game.
“We look for the person who fits our culture.
“It is not a case of ‘you’ve played for a pro club, we’ll take you’.
“Technical ability is important but it is secondary for we need to get into our group.
“I’ll always have an insight into those kids who get released but we don’t want it to be mass fire-sale every summer.”
When Hunter spoke to Non League Yorkshire last month, Rossington were top.
They are now fourth – ahead of the home clash with Selby Town – Hunter says his men have done well in the past four weeks considering the injury list.
“When spoke to you last time I didn’t think we were in a false position because we had been playing really well,” he said.
“But we have had a lot to contend with and for Rossington to still be in and around it is great.
“Our target is to get in the play-offs.
“When we first started the season everyone looked at us and thought ‘hopefully top ten’.
“For us it is about picking up points and we’re hopeful of getting four-or-five lads back after Christmas which will help us.
“We’re really light in terms of numbers in the squad.
“It is injury after injury at the minute but that’s football.”