Former scholars round up (08/11/20)

There's various ways to begin this month's article on the former Doncaster Rovers scholars.

One (quite recent) ex-scholar bagged a 'worldie' in the FA Trophy, a 'blast from the past' has took the managerial reigns on a temporary basis at a local club, one former forward is already amongst the top scorers in his team's division, whilst at least two others have made goalscoring starts at their new clubs.

Myron Gibbons (L) and Cody Prior (R) in action during their DRFC days.

Probably the best place to start is 10,000 miles away at Adelaide Comets in Australia who've captured the signing of last season's youth team title-winner Nathan Dimou. The 'Comets' compete in the National Premier League South Australia which is the joint-second tier in Australian football, and the centre-back has helped his new team reach the play-offs in their respective league.

Amongst Dimou's team-mates at Cantley Park was Kian Johnson - a goalkeeper who is contracted to Worksop, but was between the sticks for Rossington Main's record-breaking 7-2 win at Harrogate Railway and then in the Tigers' FA Trophy game at St Neots. 

It was the first time that Rozzo have ever scored seven goals in an away fixture in the Northern Counties East League since joining the set-up almost 30 years ago. Amongst the scorers was Jack Watson who bagged a hat-trick to take his tally for the campaign to six goals. Rossington, currently in fifth position, have been in good form and have a few ex-scholars on their books including right-back Elliott Walker and Cameron Barnett, although the midfielder was red carded in a 4-1 win over Glasshoughton. Josh Meade, who's played higher up the pyramid at Buxton and Matlock amongst others, also made his long-awaited comeback from an ACL injury (which has kept him out for the past year) in Rozzo's 3-3 draw at Emley.

Scott Brown - the face of Worksop Town (or something like that)...

Worksop, incidentally, also recently signed Scott Brown - a scholar during Paul Dickov's tenure. He shouldn't be confused with the Celtic player who shares the same name, even though some Rovers fans managed to do just that back in the day!

In Ireland, Will Longbottom has been primarily used as a substitute since joining Waterford. The Blues are in fourth position in the Irish Premier League ahead of their final game of the season at Finn Harps on Monday which is a 'must win' as anything other than three points will put paid to their chances of qualifying for European football next season.

Armthorpe Welfare can only dream of competing on the European stage but they've arrested their fortunes in recent weeks with a good run of form since Adam Lee took temporary charge at the club. He was on Rovers' books at the same time as Craig Nelthorpe (now at Belper) and Rob Pacey, who runs a very successful podcast nowadays. Armthorpe parted with their long-term boss in mid-October and have since picked up six points in the NCEL (Division One) with back-to-back wins at Brigg and top of the table Campion. Their squad includes three other ex-scholars; Conner Williamson, Tyler Walker (elder brother of the aforementioned Elliott Walker) and Jordan Linley who joined early last month.

Slightly further up the pyramid, AJ Greaves, still on the books at DRFC, was on the score-sheet as Gainsborough lost 4-2 at Peterborough Sports in the FA Trophy Qualifying last weekend. The tenacious midfielder has been a regular in Trinity's team since joining them on loan in September, though 'WLWLW' form means they currently occupy a mid-table position. Goalkeeper James Leverton has also been on the bench for them in their last couple of games following a spell in isolation.

Another player who scored a goal in the FA Trophy Qualifying was Cody Prior who bagged this stunning strike for Sheffield in a defeat to Runcorn Linnets. The midfielder has been a regular in Gavin Smith's team who compete at 'Step 4' on the non-league pyramid, so far this season.

A few miles down the road from Dronfield (where Sheffield's Coach & Horses Ground is located) is Chesterfield. The Spireites haven't had the best of starts to the new Vanarama National League campaign having taken only six points from as many matches. Liam Mandeville has appeared in every game but is yet to get his name on the score-sheet whilst Jack McKay has featured for just 23 minutes in a defeat at Torquay.

Defender Paul McKay (Jack's twin brother) has scored for Airdrieonians, however, where he's been pretty much been a permanent figure. His goal, just after half-time, came in a 2-0 win at Stenhousemuir. The Diamonds, as they're nicknamed, are currently mid-table in Scottish League One and smashed local rivals Clyde, 5-0, only yesterday!

Stocksbridge Park Steels' Reece Fielding is another who has been on the score-sheet as he found the target in a narrow home defeat to Newcastle Town, whilst striker Joe Pugh also made a goalscoring start to life at Knaresborough; converting a penalty in a draw against Goole after his move from NCEL (Premier Division) rivals Staveley.

Pugh has essentially been replaced by Rieves Boocock at Staveley and arguably the most natural finisher in Rovers' academy ranks wasted no time in getting started with his new club. Boocock bagged on his debut against Knaresborough, incidentally, then scored again at Barton Town where Myron Gibbons was credited with an assist by the commentator - despite the fact he was an unused substitute! Chaz Fisher (a real 'blast from the past' who was a scholar in Sean O'Driscoll's reign) was in Barton's starting line-up in that game whilst Matty Davies also appeared for Staveley. It ended in a 2-2 draw.

Boocock and Gibbons also played alongside left-back Branden Horton whose loan from DRFC to Redditch has just come to an end. Horton appeared in every game for 'The Ditch' who compete at 'Step 3' in the Southern (Central) Premier Division which has only been running for a couple of years.

Plenty of other former scholars are still playing at various levels of the game. They include Harry Middleton (Cleethorpes), Morgan James (AFC Mansfield), Jack Muldoon (Harrogate Town), Cameron Foulkes (Bottesford), Waide Fairhurst (Hallam), Mitchell Lund (Bradford PA), Liam Nelthorpe (North Ferriby), Andrew Boyce (Eastleigh), James Husband (Blackpool) and Alex Peterson (Belper), Brad Grayson (Frickley), Matt Parkin (Staveley).

There are also a handful of ex-scholars in America such as Evan Finnegan, Lewis Scattergood and James Morris along with possibly more who I haven't yet found out about!