Ecclesfield Red Rose 1915 teenager Liam Childes’ recent appearances for Brighouse Town in the Northern Premier League is a great story for the EV2 Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League.
That’s the view of Brighouse boss Vill Powell who fielded Ecclesfield regular Childes in two games last month following an injury crisis.
Powell also says it shows the County Senior League is a great place for young players to develop.
“Yeah it is a great story (for the County Senior League),” Powell told Non League Yorkshire.
“There’ll always be a gem at a lower level however how far you look.
“If you’re a 16 or 17-year-old playing County Senior Football, it is good preparation for the Non League steps higher up.
“Non League is not just about players dropping in from league clubs, Non League Football also nurtures its own players who might come from the County Senior League and other Step 7 leagues.
“That’s a pathway for players.
“Everyone develops at different stages and everyone finds their level eventually.
“I’m not bothered where players come from.
“Other managers may look at the history of a player and say ‘has he played here or there’.
“That’s irrelevant to me.
“In Non League Football there’s not the scouting networks there is at league clubs where players get picked up straightaway.
“A player could be playing for a lower level team simply because they haven’t been in the spotlight or no-one at a higher level has seen him play.
“As a Non League player, unless you have the network or contacts or in an environment where someone is going to push or promote you, you’re at that level until someone spots you or recommends you to someone higher up.”
Powell has not ruled out playing Childes again in the future as he was impressed.
“We were in a situation where we had too many injuries,” he said.
“My assistant manager (Stacy Reed) knew Liam and he came into the group and did well in the two games he played.
“Liam had never played at this level before.
“He’s got a great attitude and he’s athletic, physical and he gets forward and can deliver a ball well.”