Former scholars round-up (21/01/22)

It's been a hectic past couple of months for both current and former scholars of Doncaster Rovers with many moves, plenty of mayhem and quite a few enjoyable landmark moments.

There's several places where I could start this article whether it be in the North-East where Will McGowan is getting acquainted to a 'Premier League legend' of a new gaffer, with Cameron Foulkes who has just gone 'Down Under' or with Liam Mandeville after his exploits in the FA Cup!

Branden Horton has made 36 appearances for Rovers (Photo: CameraSport).

Nevertheless, it's probably best to begin by recapping events at the Keepmoat which has now officially been re-named the Eco-Power Stadium until the end of the 2025/26 season.

Wing-backs aren't renowned for their goalscoring exploits which is what makes Branden Horton's efforts particularly notable. The left-footer bagged his first senior goal (and the first in Gary McSheffrey's managerial tenure) against Mansfield Town in the FA Cup and followed it up with his first ever league goal against Oxford United three days later - although both games sadly ended in defeat.

Despite Rovers' current struggles, Branden has now made 36 appearances in all competitions since his debut in September 2018 and, in my opinion, if he's able to earn a new deal and stay injury-free over the next year or two, there's every possibility he'll get close to eclipsing Harry Middleton's 79 first team outings - the record for an ex-scholar since the academy was resurrected in 2004.

Lirak Hasani and Ben Blythe (both vs Oxford United) and Liam Ravenhill (vs Sunderland) have all also made the first league starts of their fledgling careers; Louis Jones has returned between the posts at the expense of the now-departed loanee Pontus Dahlberg in recent weeks whilst AJ Greaves (not long back from injury) featured for the final 10 minutes against Wigan Athletic.

Goalkeeper Ben Bottomley hasn't yet made his senior debut for DRFC but the first-year pro is back at the club after a brief loan spell at Tadcaster Albion. He also kept goal in the youth team's most recent fixture as they lost to Lincoln City at the start of last month.

Meanwhile, there's been a 'good news' story with youth team centre-back Bobby Faulkner penning his first professional contract. His no-nonsense style and physicality has earned him several admirers and having been on the first team bench on a handful of occasions (though still yet to make his debut), he's just agreed a month-long loan to Frickley Athletic.

Bobby Faulkner on the day he signed his pro contract (Photo: Doncaster Rovers FC).

The efforts of Rovers' current youth squad haven't gone unnoticed either and when the first team visited Scunthorpe United for their Papa John's Trophy game in November, no fewer than 12 current or ex-youth team players were included in the matchday squad - something which, unsurprisingly, is a club record.

In that number were seven present youth teamers - namely Tavonga Kuleya (who started), Will Hollings and Jack Goodman (who both came on as substitutes in the second half) plus Alex Wolny, Jack Raper, Alex Fletcher and Corie Cole. Wolny was ready for action and waiting for a break in play to be brought on but Rovers' late, late capitulation in conceding twice in as many minutes kiboshed that plan! 

Youth team skipper Dan Wilds, along with Tom Henson (voted 'Player's Player Of The Season' by his peers in 2020/21), were both unused subs during the home defeat to Mansfield Town in the FA Cup and will be hoping they can follow in Bobby Faulkner's footsteps and sign a professional deal in the near future.

Jack Goodman, Tavonga Kuleya and Will Hollings at Scunthorpe (Photo: Heather King).

Elsewhere, not many ex-scholars have played at Stamford Bridge against the reigning European Champions, but Liam Mandeville has done just that in recent weeks.

The former youth team talisman struck a wonder goal in Chesterfield's FA Cup Second Round victory at Salford City, which was later voted the 'Goal of The Round', and it set up a visit to the Champions League title holders in Round Three.

The Spireites lost that game 5-1 and Mandeville came off the bench to feature for the second half, though he might end this season with a title winners medal given Chesterfield are very much amongst the front-runners in the National League right now. In total, he's made 24 appearances this term - scoring three times; the most recent of which came in a 1-0 win over relegation-threatened Kings Lynn Town on New Year's Day.

One of Mandeville's old partners in crime is none other than Jack McKay and prior to his move from Curzon Ashton to York City in December, he got on the score-sheet in a bizarre FA Trophy tie with Chester which was temporarily halted because the referee had to move his car! The incident caused quite a few laughs on social media and when the game resumed about a quarter-of-an-hour later, McKay bagged - thus helping the 'Nash' book their place in Round Two.

In total, McKay scored five times in 19 outings for Curzon and he's featured prominently for York (now managed by John Askey) since his arrival at the brand-new LNER Community Stadium.

McKay poses for the cameras after his arrival at York (Photo: York City FC).

Also at York is Lewis Cunningham and the left-back recently got his first experience of men's football during a loan stint at Warrington Rylands. His debut ended in disappointment though as Rylands (the current FA Vase holders) were beaten away on Leek Town's sloping pitch.

Cunningham has also played regularly for York's youth team - managed by a certain Tim Ryan, this term - and was briefly their joint-top scorer at one point. Renowned for his free-kick potential, he still needs to work on his penalties, however, because his miss in a shoot-out against South Shields in the National League Youth Alliance Cup was 'so high it cleared the Angel Of The North' accoring to various sources.

That brings us nicely on to Will McGowan who is flourishing in South Shields' first team as they bid to win promotion to the National League North. The diminutive-yet-mercurial midfielder got the only goal in a home win over Scarborough Athletic on New Years Day (where the attendance was over 2,000!) and also has a new gaffer in the shape of Golden Boot winning ex-Premier League striker and second tier promotion-specialist Kevin Phillips who certainly shouldn't be a bad person to learn from!

Another team by the seaside, this time Blackpool, is where James Husband (below) can be found nowadays and he finally made the 250th appearance of his career as the Tangerines held promotion-chasing West Bromwich Albion to a 0-0 draw at Bloomfield Road two months ago.

James Husband on the night of his landmark appearance (Photo: Adam Fradgley).

The winds of managerial change have also swept through Staveley Miners Welfare since the last update as well as Brett Marshall, who'd been in charge at Inkersall Road for five years, stood down after a heavy defeat to Penistone Church in November - one week on from this 4-0 success at Athersley Recreation where current youth team 'keeper Luke Chadwick (now recalled) kept a clean-sheet. 

Declan Howe got a goal in that game and at present, he's scored 15 goals this term to establish himself as one of the most prolific strikers in the NCEL (Premier Division). Rieves Boocock has also returned to Staveley's starting line-up since the managerial change and has bagged a handful of goals - including one in a somewhat controversial defeat at Barton Town last weekend.

Five straight wins over the festive period and into the New Year has helped transform Staveley's campaign and they've gone from just outside the drop zone to a comfortable top half position. Charlie Bell, still in his first year in men's football, has been a regular in their line-up; performing admirably enough to have the most assists of any player in their team this season.

Cody Prior has also linked up with Staveley having chosen to depart struggling Sheffield FC last month, but someone who has left Inkersall Road (and a coaching position in the DRFC Academy) is Cam Foulkes - choosing to go 'Down Under' and moving to Australia earlier this week! 

Everyone who knows Cam will testify that he's a top lad with a great attitude who has done so much for so many people, so good luck on your new challenge, enjoy every aspect of it, and rest assured I'll be checking on your progress once the season gets underway in Oz!

Elsewhere, not many players who depart Doncaster Rovers go on to play in the Isthmian League but that's precisely what Aron Gordon is doing nowadays and his displays for Grays Athletic earned him the much-coveted 'Player Of The Month' award for November, but better still, he even managed to keep his eyes open for the presentation photograph (below) this time!

He continued his good individual form by scoring against Tilbury Town in December - a goal which you can watch here. Grays are currently just outside the Play-Off positions in sixth spot in the Isthmian Division One (North) and will be hoping for a positive result this weekend when they travel to Romford.

Aron Gordon picks up his Player Of The Month award (Photo: Unknown).

Meanwhile, Morgan James was involved in an incident in late November which caused Maltby Main's game versus Garforth Town to be abandoned. The old youth team captain inadvertently clashed heads with a team-mate which left both needing lengthy treatment on the pitch and the referee eventually opted to abandon the game altogether. Ironically, the game only started after passing a pitch inspection as snowy weather put paid to many local fixtures on that particular weekend.

Maltby reached the Sheffield & Hallamshire Senior Cup Final earlier this week along with Worksop Town who beat Rossington Main infront of a 500-strong crowd at Oxford Street.

Kian Johnson (who has recently spent time at Derby County) was between the sticks for the big game, Myron Gibbons started up front, Ryan Wharton came on during the second half, but Conner Williamson was an unused substitute and didn't feature. Both Jack Watson and Cameron Barnett remain long-term absentees due to injury.

Rozzo took the lead on 22 minutes but eventually succumbed to the team from two divisions higher with Worksop bagging twice after half-time.

In NCEL (Division One), Rossington are still competing for promotion despite indifferent form since they hit top spot around the time the clocks went back. 'Gibbo' bagged back-to-back braces on visits to Dronfield Town and Hallam in November, whilst Conner struck a consolation in a 4-2 defeat at Ollerton Town just before Christmas.

In other news...

- Danny Amos recently left Port Vale, for whom he made three appearances, and joined Grimsby Town - making his debut in a 2-0 win over Altrincham last Saturday.

- Brad Grayson is still going strong at Gainsborough Trinity and bagged his latest goal against Nantwich Town last week. He's now scored eight times since his move from Grantham Town.

- Josh Meade, who is still at Grantham, hasn't featured much recently for the Gingerbreads who parted with ex-England international Carlton Palmer as their manager in November.

- Elliott Walker has featured quite often at right-back since joining Stocksbridge Park Steels last summer but hasn't yet got on the score-sheet.

- Ethan Bojang, nowadays at Peterborough United's U23s and starring at the U20 AFCON this time last year, recently got his first taste of men's football with a loan spell at Spalding United.

- Harry Middleton joined Barton Town from Cleethorpes Town on a dual-registration deal in November and has featured on a handful of occasions since then.

- Andrew Boyce rolled back the years with a sterling 'Man Of The Match' display which got him in the Vanarama Team Of The Week as Eastleigh beat Notts County in November.

- Jack Muldoon has seven goals in 29 outings at present for Harrogate Town this term; his latest effort coming in a Papa John's Trophy tie with Tranmere Rovers in December.

- Thorne Colliery, where Matt Gains and Evan Fortune-West play, seem set to battle it out with Newark Town in the Central Midlands League in order to win promotion to NCEL (Division One).

- Craig Nelthorpe enjoyed a blistering November - scoring three times for Belper Town, including two penalties. Alex Peterson is also part of the Nailers' squad whilst Liam Nelthorpe (Craig's younger brother) was on the front cover of the programme as his North Ferrby side recently hosted Retford.

- Paul McKay has established himself as one of first names on the team-sheet at Queen Of The South who compete in the Scottish Championship.

- Matt Parkin has scored three goals since leaving Staveley for Retford; the last of which was in a comfortable 3-0 win over Glasshoughton Welfare just before Christmas. 

- Ex academy striker Ben Andreucci was statistically one of the top performing strikers for Leeds United's U18s during the first half of the season. However, he was on the wrong of a cup upset as the Whites lost at Cambridge United in the FA Youth Cup earlier this week.

Harry Middleton joined Barton Town in November (Photo: Barton Town).

Finally, Joe Pugh has had a few clubs since leaving Rovers and actually signed for Armthorpe Welfare earlier this week but his 'managerial' exploits haven't gone unnoticed.

He's currently in charge of a Sunday League team called Windmill who beat Stainy S4all last weekend. Declan Howe got two goals as did Tyler Walker (currently at Goole AFC who face Winterton Rangers in the NCEL Premier Division tonight).

Apologies if I've missed anything and for the lack of any update in December - quite simply I needed a break from blogging and football in general for a few weeks, but there'll be frequent updates every month between now and the end of this season.

In the meantime, feel free to click on the following links if you've missed any previous articles on former DRFC scholars which features dozens more names: November | October | September | August | July |.