Welcome aboard the Goodship England!

By Matt Badcock
Brandon Goodship is proud to be the only player from Step 3 in the latest England C squad – and his Weymouth manager Mark Molesley has told him it will be a career highlight.
The Terras hitman has been selected in Three Lions boss Paul Fairclough’s 16-man squad for their game against Wales C at Salford City on Tuesday, March 19.
National League high-flyers Leyton Orient have starlets Josh Koroma and Marvin Ekpiteta named, while AFC Fylde duo Ryan Croasdale and James Hardy – on loan at FC Halifax Town – also return.
Along with Hartlepool’s Luke James, Darlington defender Luke Trotman and Gateshead’s Greg Olley, Goodship is one of four new faces and he can’t wait to stake his claim for the England jersey.
“It’s a real honour to be called up, it’s great recognition and that’s exactly what other people have told me,” Goodship told The NLP.
“My manager at Weymouth was part of the England C team when he was playing in Non-League and he told me he looks back at it as one of the highlights of his career.
“The history of the team is great and that just reiterates how delighted I am to have got the call up.
“Being the only Step 3 player in there when the majority of players are from big National League teams is quite a big thing for me. To know my goals and performances have been noticed, is a really pleasing thing for me. I’ve just got to keep building on that and keep doing the business, hopefully.
“I can’t wait to get a taste of it and hopefully if I get a chance I can take it. I’m quite a patriotic person – no matter what you’re doing, to represent your country in any sport or anything in life is a real honour and that’s no different for me.”
Goodship scored 40 goals for Weymouth last season and has backed that up for the Southern League Premier South title chasers with 30 so far this campaign.
“I had a good season last year and people were, not questioning if it was a one-off, but they wanted to know if I could do it again,” Goodship said.
“Luckily so far this season I feel like I’ve done quite well and managed to replicate that form I had last year.
“Obviously we’ve got a lot of games to go and we’re in a promotion push so I’m just focusing on putting in the performances for Weymouth and hopefully helping the team get to top spot.”
England C v Wales C – Tuesday, March 19
Salford City FC
£10 for adults,
£5 concessions and U5s free
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Ryan Huddart (Boreham Wood), Ben Killip (Braintree T)
Defenders: Marvin Ekpiteta (Leyton Orient), Daniel Jones (Barrow), Laurence Maguire (Chesterfield), Jon Mellish (Gateshead), Luke Trotman (Darlington)
Midfielders: Ryan Croasdale (AFC Fylde), James Hardy (AFC Fylde), Greg Olley (Gateshead), Tom Walker (Salford City) Edward Williams (Kidderminster Harriers)
Forwards: Brandon Goodship (Weymouth), Luke James (Hartlepool United), Josh Koroma (Leyton Orient), Alfie Pavey (Dover Athletic)