Moors’ young gun is no average Joe

By Ben Hart

JOB WELL DONE: Joe Sbarra collects his NGA award from Sportsbeat’s managing director James Parsons

PICTURE: Gary House Photography

JOE SBARRA was so shocked to have been selected for the England C squad that he checked Twitter to confirm it was genuine.

The 23-year-old midfielder enjoyed a fine season with Solihull Moors and was chosen as the Sportsbeat Young Player of the Year at the National Game Awards.

Sbarra weighed in with 18 goals and seven assists as Moors finished third in the National League table, only to miss out on promotion via the play-offs, edged out by Grimsby Town in the promotion final a fortnight ago.

Even still, that setback didn’t detract from a groundbreaking season for the former Burton Albion midfielder – and it was no surprise that his efforts were recognised by England C boss Paul Fairclough.

Well, it wasn’t a surprise to anyone but him, anyway!

“My friend texted me to say congratulations,” said Sbarra, reflecting on his first international call-up against Wales C back in March. “I was just lying in bed daydreaming and then the text came through and I said, ‘what are you on about?’.

“He told me I had an England C cap and I was buzzing.

I then only found out on Twitter, but it was a great moment for me and my family.”

FAMILY TIES: With his parents at the National Game Awards

WHEEL AWAY: Joe Sbarra hit fine goalscoring form this season

“I’d never done anything like that before, going into that environment, meeting new people, and going out of my comfort zone. But it’s something that I’ll look back on with great pride.”

One of Non-League’s top young prospects, Sbarra is settling into life at Damson Park after completing his second full season at the club following a loan in 2018-19.

He started like a train, scoring seven goals in the fierst six league games and never looked back.

No wonder Football League scouts were sniffing around the diminutive midfielder.

Sbarra has aspirations to go back into the EFL, only this time with Moors, despite their disappointing promotion final defeat.

“Solihull Moors is a Football League club; the training ground is unbelievable and everyone there deserves to be in the Football League and it’s just a shame we didn’t do it,” Sbarra said.

“It’s a great club to be at, from the manager and the chairman to the fans. It’s just a shame as one of the main things we wanted to do was to get promoted.

“You have to use the disappointment as motivation, especially as a team. We have to learn from the hurt and use it to make sure we go on and do better next season.”

For the first time, the National League promotion final was played at West Ham’s London Stadium and Sbarra was grateful for the opportunity to play at such an iconic venue.