Latest news with #non-League
Daily Mirror
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
From Man Utd failure to shot at Wembley glory for EFL's most under-rated manager
Richie Wellens is aiming to bring Leyton Orient to the Championship on Sunday having learnt up close from Sir Alex Ferguson when a young player at Manchester United Twenty five years have passed but Richie Wellens still wakes up regretful about the opportunity not seized. By his own estimation Leyton Orient's manager had all the ability to be a fixture at Manchester United during the peak of Sir Alex Ferguson 's reign. 'I was talented enough,' he says. 'But I just didn't dedicate myself.' Rather than linger on his failure to 'max out', though, Wellens has channelled his disappointment into ensuring the young players he is developing in East London do not fall into the same trap. It is certainly working. If he can seal promotion to the Championship in Sunday's play-off with Charlton, the rest of English football will have their eyes opened wide to one of the country's most impressive homegrown managers. Wellens arrived at Brisbane Road in March 2022 with Orient staring a return to non-League in the face. They are now one win away from their first season in the second tier since 1982 and a club that has long felt it does not deserve nice things has flipped the narrative. 'A bit like Tottenham,' Wellens says, with a sigh that reflects the hurt at seeing how far his boyhood club have slipped. But his experience at United, featuring in underage teams alongside Wes Brown and John O'Shea before making a solitary first-team appearance, served as the foundation to his management. Seeing the intensity of Roy Keane in training, learning from the methods and manipulations of Ferguson instilled a winning mentality. 'What I saw was a manager whose will to win filtered down no matter what it takes,' he says. 'The late goals were unbelievable. People called it Fergie Time but it was a pure belief that we were going to win. 'If you wanted to play football, he'd out-football you. If you wanted to fight and scrap against him, he'd have a fighter. The mentality they had. Football 's a bit different now, back then they could kick you, but they left an imprint on me.' Still, he is more than aware how much has changed since those infamous days when young players at the training ground would be locked into tumble dryers and skips. 'It was brutal but back then it was the norm. Would I have changed it? Not at all, not a little bit.' That his own sons - Charlie, recently released by Reading, and Alfie, at Orient - are charting their own paths informs his thinking further. 'Would I like to seem treated how I was when I was 16 or 17? No,' Wellens admits. 'But it put me in a position where I could play for 20-odd years and now I can be a manager and no matter what anybody throws at me it doesn't affect me because I'm quite strong-minded and resilient. Maybe I built that up over a period of time.' When he took his first job in management - at Oldham in 2017 - Wellens was afraid to call Ferguson up for advice. But when he guided Salford City to the EFL Trophy in 2021, a congratulatory text arrived. Is he hoping for another one on Sunday afternoon? "It'd be nice," he says. "He's the best Britain has ever produced." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
South Wales Argus
17-05-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Non-league club 'delighted' as community work rewarded
The Lancashire side have gone above and beyond in ensuring that there is something for everyone at Victory Park, whether it's the Chorley Community Friendship Group, Blokes United, Walking Football, AndysManClub or Soccer Schools, all provided by the Chorley FC Community Foundation. Last Christmas saw the club go viral on X after announcing that they would be throwing open their doors for anyone that wanted to join them and one of the foundation's trustees Alistair Leggett, who accepted the award at the NGAs, emphasized Chorley's commitment to serving all members of its community for whatever they might need. He explained: 'A football club is the heart and hub of the community and it can't just be a place where people go to watch a game on a Saturday. 'The foundation and the club work in association to support and assist the community in any way that we can. We run a number of sessions including walking football each week to bring together people who perhaps have gone past the stage of playing competitive football. 'As part of society, it's imperative that the local football club does its bit. It's vital and it has to give something back, whether it's something tangible or providing support like we did on Christmas. 'There were people who attended on Christmas Day who had no interest in football and never been to a football club before but they were just delighted to be part of something." The National Game Awards is a celebration of the non-League season - highlighting the community, fans, on-field, and off-field successes of the game outside of the Football League. The ceremony is held annually by the Non-League Paper, the UK's number one selling football title and the best place for your non-league news, with this year's edition hosted at Plough Lane – home of AFC Wimbledon. Leggett added: 'It's a real privilege. I speak for all the trustees and everyone associated with the foundation that we don't do it for the awards or recognition. 'When we see the appreciation shown to us and you consider how many clubs there are in the country all doing exceptionally good work, this just gives you a warm feeling to know that you have contributed in some way. 'I'm delighted to have been here and to accept this award.' The Non-League Paper is the UK's number one selling football title, available every Sunday. For more information please visit
Glasgow Times
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
Non-league club 'delighted' as community work rewarded
The Lancashire side have gone above and beyond in ensuring that there is something for everyone at Victory Park, whether it's the Chorley Community Friendship Group, Blokes United, Walking Football, AndysManClub or Soccer Schools, all provided by the Chorley FC Community Foundation. Last Christmas saw the club go viral on X after announcing that they would be throwing open their doors for anyone that wanted to join them and one of the foundation's trustees Alistair Leggett, who accepted the award at the NGAs, emphasized Chorley's commitment to serving all members of its community for whatever they might need. He explained: 'A football club is the heart and hub of the community and it can't just be a place where people go to watch a game on a Saturday. 'The foundation and the club work in association to support and assist the community in any way that we can. We run a number of sessions including walking football each week to bring together people who perhaps have gone past the stage of playing competitive football. 'As part of society, it's imperative that the local football club does its bit. It's vital and it has to give something back, whether it's something tangible or providing support like we did on Christmas. 'There were people who attended on Christmas Day who had no interest in football and never been to a football club before but they were just delighted to be part of something." The National Game Awards is a celebration of the non-League season - highlighting the community, fans, on-field, and off-field successes of the game outside of the Football League. The ceremony is held annually by the Non-League Paper, the UK's number one selling football title and the best place for your non-league news, with this year's edition hosted at Plough Lane – home of AFC Wimbledon. Leggett added: 'It's a real privilege. I speak for all the trustees and everyone associated with the foundation that we don't do it for the awards or recognition. 'When we see the appreciation shown to us and you consider how many clubs there are in the country all doing exceptionally good work, this just gives you a warm feeling to know that you have contributed in some way. 'I'm delighted to have been here and to accept this award.' The Non-League Paper is the UK's number one selling football title, available every Sunday. For more information please visit
Powys County Times
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Powys County Times
Golden boot winner can't think of a higher accolade to win
Ramsgate legend Joe Taylor says he can't think of a higher accolade to win after clinching the SK Kits Golden Boot award for the second time in as many years at the National Game Awards in association with Isuzu. Hometown hero Taylor bagged 48 goals in all competitions, with 40 of them in the Pitching In Isthmian League South East Division to help Ramsgate romp to the title and further assert his reputation as one of the deadliest marksmen in Non-League. The Rams captain and record goalscorer admitted he was delighted to receive recognition for his exploits in front of the net for a second successive year. Taylor said: 'It's the highest personal accolade I can win as someone playing Step 2/3/4 football. 'To do it in back-to-back seasons is something I'm not sure anyone has done before and to do it makes me really proud. 'The Non-League Paper has shown great support for me as someone who has played in the Isthmian Leagues for most of my career. 'There are so many good people here and it's really nice to talk to them and be amongst it. It's a great occasion and I get to sit down with something I've won.' The National Game Awards is a celebration of the non-League season - highlighting the community, fans, on-field, and off-field successes of the game outside of the Football League. The ceremony is held annually by the Non-League Paper, the UK's number one selling football title and the best place for your non-league news, with this year's edition hosted at Plough Lane – home of AFC Wimbledon. Taylor recently announced his departure from the Rams in search of a new challenge but he was quick to reveal that he would look back on his time at Southwood Stadium as amongst the best in his career. He added: 'Ramsgate gave me a call 2 years ago when I was playing in a higher league and they talked about their project of wanting to get promoted and made me captain. 'We've now just been promoted and I'm the club's leading goal scorer in their history so it couldn't have gone much better. 'I'm happy with how it's went but it's the right time to leave and I'm looking forward to a challenge. 'I have nothing but good things to say about the club and best of luck to them. 'I'm proud of what we achieved over the past two seasons. I'll look back at that as maybe the best time of my career in non-league.'
South Wales Guardian
16-05-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Guardian
McLean believes the best is yet to come from award winner
And McLean, who accepted the award on Pearce's behalf, has backed the 28-year-old to add more to his trophy cabinet. He said: 'Ollie is somebody I have watched for a few years and I had no doubt he could make the step up and replicate the numbers and the performances he has had. 'He is a very talented young man and somebody who is just going to continue breaking barriers and keep scoring goals. As well as being a brilliant footballer, he's a great lad as well. 'Sometimes players take time to adapt to surroundings and a higher standard of football but he has taken to it like a duck to water and his performances have been nothing short of magnificent. 'He fully deserves the award and I'm sure it won't be the last of his career.' The National Game Awards is a celebration of the non-League season - highlighting the community, fans, on-field, and off-field successes of the game outside of the Football League. The ceremony is held annually by the Non-League Paper, the UK's number one selling football title and the best place for your non-league news, with this year's edition hosted at Plough Lane – home of AFC Wimbledon. McLean, who spent his early footballing years in Non-League with Aldershot Town and Grays Athletic between 2003 and 2007 in a career that eventually saw him feature for Hull City in the Premier League in 2013, expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to be involved with the awards. He revealed: 'At the end of the season, to be able to honour those in Non-League is exceptional and is something I'm privileged to be part of. 'I love it. It's my first time at these awards and it's something that hopefully in the years to come I'll be involved in and see all the faces and celebrate the things people do on and off the pitch." The Non-League Paper is the UK's number one selling football title, available every Sunday. For more information please visit
