WELCOME TO NON-LEAGUE'S TOP TABLE - DORKING WANDERERS

"Money Talks" and "Amazing what bundles and bundles of money does" are some of the phrases I picked up off of social media yesterday after Dorking Wanderers achieved their promotion to The Vanarama National Division in the most dramatic of fashion with a 3-2 victory over Ebbsfleet United.

It doesn't take a genius to work out that for a squad to be built with the aim of promotion from Step Two to Step One does cost money as you need good players but to say "Money Talks" is being a little harsh I think - Anyone not in the know from reading those comments may think the club has brought in players with Vanarama National and/or football league experience but that's far from the case as you'll see below.

Two of the players involved yesterday were playing at Step Three (Dan Lincoln - Farnborough and Jordan Cheadle - Carshalton Athletic) and one was in Step Four (Darren Oldaker - Hythe Town) at the beginning of this season!

Harry Ottaway was also signed in January from Step Three Carshalton Athletic but wasn't in the squad yesterday.

I think it takes a combination of things in respect of players, management, coaching and behind the scenes graft by many people to have a successful squad.

The Dorking Wanderers manager Marc White divides opinion with some fans but love him or dislike him you can't help but admire what he had done with the club he formed in 1999 along with Mark Lewington, Ian Davidson, Lee Spickett and Penny Gregg. I'm sure he wouldn't of thought Wanderers would be rubbing shoulders with teams like Oldham Athletic and Scunthorpe United in non-league's top division in 2022 when they first took to the field in the The Crawley & District League at The Big Field in Brockham which was the first pitch they played on.

Wanderers moved into Meadowbank in the summer of 2018 which had been the home of Dorking FC who had been dissolved in 2017. The ground had been shut since 2017 as it had been shut due to it failing to meet health and safety requirements. Millions of pounds have been invested in the upgrade of the stadium and its now a community sports facility and the home to the Surrey County Football Association.

Where other historic grounds have been lost to property developers we should be celebrating that Meadowbank is still here and thriving despite the loss of the original Dorking FC who played in the Isthmian League and Combined Counties League.

Below is the current squad for Dorking Wanderers - I'm sure they'll be some movement both in and out of the club following their promotion as some players always move on with the increase in travelling in The National League.

STARTING XI YESTERDAY

DAN LINCOLN - 26 year old goalkeeper signed from Step Three side Farnborough in November 2021. Started his career as a professional with Reading from 2013 to 2015 spending time on loan with Harrow Borough, Met Police, Farnborough and Nuneaton Town. Since his release from Reading he has played for a number of non-league sides and is most known for his time with Bognor Regis Town from 2016 to 2019 who he helped with promotion from the Isthmian Premier to the Vanarama South. Has also played first class cricket for Middlesex and Kent.

FOOTBALL LEAGUE APPEARANCES - 0

BARRY FULLER - Hugely experienced 37 year old defender who started his career with Charlton Athletic spending time on loan away from The Valley with the League Two side Barnet before a permanent move to Stevenage Borough in 2006 who were then playing in the top level of non-league football. He moved up to football league side Gillingham in 2008 and went on to play for Barnet, AFC Wimbledon and have another spell with The Gills prior to his move to Meadowbank in 2020.

FOOTBALL LEAGUE APPERANCES - 393

JORDAN CHEADLE - Signed from Isthmian Premier side Carshalton Athletic in December 2021. Has also played for Walton Casuals and Kingstonian. He made 143 appearances for The Robins.

FOOTBALL LEAGUE APPEARANCES - 0

DAN GALLAGER - Signed from Isthmian Premier side Leatherhead in the summer of 2019. Started his career with AFC Wimbledon where he made just one football league apperance as a late substitute against Plymouth Argyle in 2015. He spent time on loan with Kingstonian before joining The Tanners in July 2017.

FOOTBALL LEAGUE APPEARANCES - 0

LUKE MOORE - Yesterday's game against Ebbsfleet United would of been bitter sweet for Moore. He started his career with his home town club in 2006 after coming through the academy ranks with The Fleet. He moved on to AFC Wimbledon in 2009 and was part of the team who won promotion to the football league in 2011. He left The Dons in 2014 and has since played for Margate, Billericay Town and Leatherhead. Age 34. Has been with The Wanderers since 2017.

FOOTBALL LEAGUE APPERANCES - 82

JOSH TAYLOR - 27 year old midfielder who joined the club last summer for Havant & Waterlooville. Has also played for Sutton United and Maidstone United.

FOOTBAL LEAGUE APPERANCES - 0

JAMES McSHANE - Attacking Midfielder who is regarding as one of Molesey FC's greatest every players. He joined The Moles from Staines Town in 2009 and made over 200 appearances for them. Had a short spell away from Molesey in 2012 with Chipstead, Egham Town, Walton Casuals and Walton & Hersham. Played for Clyde and East Stirlingshire as a youngster. Now in his sixth season with Dorking Wanderers,

FOOTBALL LEAGUE APPEARANCES - 0

NICKY WHEELER - Signed from Eastbourne Borough in January 2020. Stated his career in the Charlton Athletic academy before playing for Lewes, Burgess Hill Town, Tonbridge Angels, Dagenham & Redbridge, Billericay Town and Woking.

FOOTBALL LEAGUE APPERANCES - 0

JIMMY MUITT - Singed in the summer of 2019 from Bognor Regis Town - Started his career with Brighton & HA before moving to Lewes before joing The Rocks.

FOOTBALL LEAGUE APPEARANCES - 0

ALFIE RUTHERFORD - 23 year old centre-forward who signed from Havant & Waterlooville in 2020 from Havant & Waterlooville. Also counts Bognor Regis Town, Eastbourne Borough (loan) and Moneyfields as a former clubs. Rutherford is a fantastic player and I'm sure will play in the football league sooner rather than later.

FOOTBALL LEAGUE APPEARANCES - 0

JASON PRIOR - The fourth former Bognor Regis Town player in the starting XI yesterday. Now aged 33 he started his football career in the Wessex League with AFC Newbury and Moneyfields where he moved from midfield to striker and never looked back. His goal-scoring alerted Bognor Regis Town whom he joined in 2009 scoring 95 goals in 126 games for The Rocks where he had a trial with Newcastle United. He moved to League Two side AFC Wimbledon in January 2012 but was injured in his debut game following by a leg break in his second game back in April 2012. He spent time on loan with Dartford and then joined The Darts on a permanent basis before playing for Gosport Borough (loan) and Margate before a move back to Nyewood Lane where he scored 40 goals in 52 games in the 15/16 season. He moved on to Havant & Waterlooville from 2016 to 2018 before joining The Wanderers.

FOOTBALL LEAGUE APPEARANCES - 9

SUBS

KANE WILLS - Joined in 2020 from Eastbourne Borough having previously played for Worthing and Ebbsfleet United. Started his career with Brighton & HA academy. Another player to count Bognor Regis Town as a former club.

FOOTBALL LEAGUE APPEARANCES - 0

DARREN OLDAKER - 23 year old midfielder signed from Isthmian South side Hythe Town in November 2021. He came through the academy ranks of QPR and Gillingham where he spent time on loan with Hythe Town. He then dropped into non-league with Billericay Town, Westfield and Welling United.

FOOTBALL LEAGUE APPEARANCES - 21

BOBBY JO TAYLOR - Signed from Ebbsfleet United in 2021. Played in the Chelsea, Gillingham and Cambridge United youth systems before signing as a professional at The Abbey Stadium in 2012. He made 7 football league appearances for The U's in the 2014/15 season before moving on to Maidstone United in 2015 whom he helped to promotion against Ebbsfleet in the National South play-off final on 2016. He has since played for Aldershot Town, Bromley and Dover Athletic.

FOOTBALL LEAGUE APPEARANCES - 7

SAMI EL-ABD - Defender and the sixth former Bognor Regis Town player involved yesterday. He signed from The Rocks in 2018. He has previously played for Peacehaven & Telscombe, Whitehawk, Chelmsford City, Lewes, Hayes & Yeading and Team Bath.

FOOTBALL LEAGUE APPEARANCES - 0

ED HARRIS - Another player who joined from Havant & Waterlooville. Has been with the club since 2019 and previously played for QPR, AFC Wimbledon and Dover Athletic.

FOOTBALL LEAGUE APPEARANCES - 0

FORMER ROCK'S SAMI ED-ABD, KANE WILLS, JASON PRIOR, ALFIE RUTHERFORD, JIMMY MUITT and DAN LINCOLN ALL INVOLVED FOR DORKING WANDERERS IN YESTERDAY'S GAME.