A few very recent examples of players to make the step up are Michael Boateng who this week transferred from Ryman Premier Division Carshalton Athletic to League One side Bristol Rovers and Lowestoft Town's Curtis Haynes-Brown who has been taken on trial at Yeovil Town after an unsuccessful try out at Crewe Alexanda along with Bury Town's young goalkeeper Nick Pope who has moved to Charlton Athletic.
The Cold End has compiled the following list of the players I know who are currently on the books of League clubs who have previously played for Isthmian clubs at some stage or another. I have not included players who have played on loan from league clubs which negates one Peter Crouch who spent some time with Dulwich Hamlet in 2000 on loan from his first spell at White Hart Lane. It is not an exhaustive list so if you know of any other players please email the cold end.
Jermaine Beckford - Everton - Wealdstone (03-06)
Troy Hewitt - Queens Park Rangers - Harrow Borough (2010)
Marvin McCoy - Wycombe Wanderers - Leyton (07) Harrow Borough (07) Wealdstone (08-10)
Carl Martin - Crewe Alexandra - Wealdstone (03-09)
Albert Adomah - Bristol City - Harrow Borough (05-08)
DJ Campbell - Blackpool - Chesham United (00-01) Billericay Town (02) Yeading (03-05)
Craig McKail Smith - Brighton - St Albans City (00-03) Arlesey Town (03-04)
Nathan Smith - Chesterfield - Enfield FC & Potters Bar Town
Rob Edmans - Dagenham & Redbridge - Witham Town
Quade Taylor - Crystal Palace - Dulwich Hamlet (09-10)
Paul McCullum - West Ham United - Dulwich Hamlet (09-11)
Josh Scott - Dagenham and Redbridge - Hayes (03-04)
Jon Jo Bates - Dagenham and Redbridge - Hendon (2010)
Cody McDonald - Norwich City - Witham Town
Mark Marshall - Barnet - Carshalton Athletic (05-07)
Nick McKoy - Northampton Town - Enfield Town (08-09)
George Elokobi - Wolverhampton Wanderers - Dulwich Hamlet (03-04)
Chris Smalling - Manchester United - Maidstone United (07-08)
Lyle Taylor - AFC Bournemouth - Concord Rangers (09-10)
Gareth McCleary - Nottingham Forest - Slough Town (05-06) Bromley (06-07)
Sam Wood - Brentford - Cray Wanderers (04-05) Bromley (05-07)
Mus Dumbaya - Doncaster Rovers - W&F, Grays Athletic & Potters Bar Town
Bradley Johnson - Norwich City - Waltham Forest (03-04)
Wesley Thomas - Crawley Town - Waltham Forest (05-06)
Byron Harrison - Stevenage - Worthing (2006) Boreham Wood (06-07) Harrow Borough (07)
Ashford Town (Middx) (08-10) Carshalton Athletic (10-11)
Sam Saunders - Brentford - Ashford Town (01-03) Carshalton Athletic (03-05)
Alex Revell - Leyton Orient - Braintree Town (04-06)
Charlie Taylor - Barnet - AFC Hornchurch (04) Fisher Athletic (04-05) Margate (05-08)
Dulwich Hamlet (08-09) Sutton United (09-10)
Stefan Payne - Gillingham - Sutton United (2009)
Jon Nurse - Dagenham and Redbridge - Sutton United (03-04)
Soloman Taiwo - Dagenham and Redbridge - Bromley (04) Maidenhead United (04) Tooting & Mitcham (05)
Chesham United (05) Windsor & Eton (05) Bromley (06)
Sutton United (07-08)
Michail Antonio - Reading - Tooting and Mitcham United (2008)
Mitchell Nelson - Bournemouth - Tooting and Mitcham United (2009-10)
Leon Legge - Brentford - Tonbridge Angels (08-09)
Ben Williamson - Port Vale - Worthing (09-10)
Scott Griffiths - Peterborough - Aveley (02-04)
(Currently on Loan at
Chesterfield)
Michael Boateng - Bristol Rovers - Carshalton Athletic
The management team of John Still, Terry Harris and Wayne Burnett at ex Isthmian League side Dagenham & Redbridge are the undisputed kings of picking up non league players and converting them into accomplished football league players. The Daggers have continued their bargain hunting this week with the signing of Great Yarmouth Town striker Jake Reed. Reed will be hoping to be as successful as Craig McKail Smith and Paul Benson who were both plucked from non-league obscurity by the East London side.
Throughout the season the cold end will highlight some of the good work these players are doing and that there are many players ready to make that step if given the chance!! I think the fact the list includes player's such as Chris Smalling, DJ Campbell, Craig McKail Smith, Bradley Johnson, Jermaine Beckford and George Elokobi shows that non-league football is good place to learn your trade. The combined transfer fees for these six runs into millions of pounds.
The first player on the list that the cold end will highlight is Nick McKoy who made 21 appearances for Enfield Town in the 2008/09 season. He has recently joined League One side Northampton Town from Blue Square Premier Kettering Town where he played last season. He has played for The Cobblers in the pre-season games against Brackley Town, Oxford City and Nottingham Forest. Hopefully he will be a permanent fixture in Gary Johnson's side for the forthcoming season. McKoy is the first* player to play for Enfield Town and make it into the football league so I'm sure all Town fans wish him all the very best.
* Goalkeeper Mark Cousins also played for Town 9 times in the 2005/06 season but was on loan from his parent club in Colchester United.
Keep reading the cold end for more news on ex Isthmian League players in the football league.
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