Connect with us

Features

The Step 3 & 4 stars all the scouts are watching…

There’s plenty of hidden gems in Non-League.

mikel-miller-640x459

By Jon Couch
Carshalton Athletic striker Mikel Miller has been given a chance of top-flight football – at Scottish Premiership side Hamilton Academical.
The 21-year-old fans favourite has scored 21 goals in 32 games for the Bostik South Robins this season, including the fifth in Saturday’s 5-1 victory over East Grinstead Town.
Miller, who made his first-team debut at the club as a 17-year-old, attended Jamie Vardy’s V9 Academy last season, earning himself a summer trial at Sheffield Wednesday.
Now, however, he is set to ply his trade north of the border after the Robins agreed terms with the Accies as they bid to maintain their top-flight status in Scotland.
His move comes in a week where two more Step 3 players have attracted the attentions of Football League scouts.
Stratford Town striker Ben Stephens, 21, was rewarded for his 17 goals in the Evo-Stik South this season by being invited by Coventry City for a trial.
Stephens, who recently turned down a move to league rivals Banbury United, has also been invited to train with Championship side Ipswich Town next week.
Stratford boss Carl Adams said: “Whilst we wish to retain our talent at Stratford, we will not stand in the way when we receive the right opportunities for our players.
“We are pleased Ben is being given these opportunities, with the latest being at Coventry.”
Another player looking to make the step up is Brightlingsea Regent midfielder Rob Harvey, who has been invited to train with Championship side Millwall this week.
Harvey, who has previously trialled at Ipswich and West Ham, has attracted a number of scouts to the Taydal Stadium this season and will play in an in-house Lions’ Under 23 fixture on Thursday.
Regent boss Tom Rothery said: “Everyone should be striving to be the best they can be, either by moving up with the club, as has happened in the past, or naturally outgrowing the club and moving onto bigger and better things.
“I don’t want players here who are just content to stay at this level. I don’t want them to be satisfied with that. I want them to become better and we’re at that level now where other clubs – professional clubs, in some instances – come and watch players.
“It’s a great shop window for all the players and everyone has to have that dream and ambition.”

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Tackle the News

- Sign Up for our weekly Non-League Newsletter
Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.
My Betting Sites
Pro Direct
Isuzu

free bets

online bettingbest-betting-sites-by-betinireland-banner

free bets

More in Features

  • HOLS LEFT ON HOLD AS AL BEGINS REBELS ROLE

    By Jon Couch RETURN: Alan Julian is back in the hotseat at Slough ALAN Julian has revealed the driving force behind a productive first week in the Slough Town manager’s office – his understanding wife Jo! The 43-year-old cancelled his family summer holiday in order to take up office at...

  • With a glut of goals and a sprinkle of stardust , i’ll get the fan’s Seal of approval

    CHESTER FC MANAGER PHIL PARKINSON By CHRIS DUNLAVY MAKING NOISE: Phil Parkinson is back in the manager’s hotseat at Chester PICTURE: Jonathan Moore PHIL Parkinson has spent the last six weeks watching Chester, so he knows exactly what is required to turn the Seals into a National League North force...

  • York City arrive at the Crown Oil Arena with promotion in sight in a blockbuster National League decider York City arrive at the Crown Oil Arena with promotion in sight in a blockbuster National League decider

    The 2026 NGAs: Ollie Pearce is chasing a Player of the Year double

    As we celebrate the end of another rollercoaster season, the National Game Awards are once again preparing to honour the great and the good for their part in another memorable campaign.

  • Denis and Viv’s 80s heroes left me Radio Ga Ga

    FANS’ FORUM I REMEMBER vividly when York City accumulated over 100 points in the 1983-84 season. I attended many games at the old romantic Bootham Crescent ground, where strikers Keith Walwyn and John Byrne spearheaded a great team, under the capable management of Denis Smith and Viv Busby. It was...