HARVEY SAUNDERS wants to keep firing in important goals as Darlington fight for a National League North play-off place – just two years after the teenager got back into the game thanks to an Indian restaurant!
The 19-year-old forward has made his mark for the Quakers in recent weeks, scoring the late equaliser at Worcester City before netting the winner against Bradford Park Avenue.
Saunders, from nearby Staindrop, is playing for his local club just a couple of years after thinking his football dreams were over.
After boyhood club Barnard Castle FC folded, Saunders fell out of the game and was brought back into it by chance after taking a job at Indian restaurant Spice Island.
“From the age of six or seven until Under 14s I played for my local team Barnard Castle but they folded and it was a small area so there wasn't any other teams around I could join,” he told The NLP.
“I'd go to the local rugby team for a run out if they needed me but that was it for me football wise. I ended up working full-time at an Indian restaurant. They entered a football competition and asked if I fancied a kick about so I thought ‘ why not?'.
“We ended up winning it and then I got into playing Sunday League before Darlington RA's Under 18s picked me up. That season I was playing in the Northern League Division Two for the seniors – it was crazy!”
Saunders' pace and goals soon caught the eye at Darlington RA before spells with Bishop Auckland and Durham City gave him precious game time.
Darlo boss Martin Gray soon snapped the youngster up and Saunders continued his Northern League education this season with loan spells at Ryhope CW and Dunston UTS while also battling with a broken collarbone.
“I started at Darlington RA and I couldn't have gone to a better club to begin with, they really were a rough bunch!” Saunders, nicknamed Rooster, joked.
“I got a few kicks in training but as soon as you got on the pitch you knew they would have your back. I was only 17 at the time and a skinny lad so it was a fantastic experience for me.
“When I stopped playing I thought that was it for me. I was over the moon to join Darlington RA, I thought I'd made it because I didn't have to pay subs!
“I scored a few goals and my phone went berserk. I couldn't quite believe it but the fact that Darlington came in for me, my local team, was a dream come true.”
Now he's starting to make waves in the National League North. The Quakers are just two points adrift of the play-off places and Saunders may just be the ace up their sleeve.
Darlo face a crucial game this Saturday as they welcome play-off outsiders Tamworth knowing they need to pick up as many wins as possible to put pressure on the teams above them.
And Saunders hopes he can recreate the feeling from his first two Darlington strikes and help his side into the top five.
“I've scored two important goals and it's been an incredible feeling,” he said. “The first was against Worcester in the 94th minute – that was my first for Darlington.
“The winner against Bradford was my first goal at home and was my first touch after I came on – that was even better!
“It's great to be amongst the lads at Darlington, they've never once doubted the fact that we are play-off contenders. There is plenty of belief and quality in the squad.
“This has all come extremely fast for me. I just want to focus on getting in the first team and progressing. I only live 15 minutes from the ground so it's a dream to play for your local team at a great level.
“With the squad and coaching staff we've got, there's a great mentality. Even after a defeat, people but it behind them and focus on the next game. We're confident that if we play like we know we can, we'll get into the play-offs.”
