Non-League Paper Programme: Anthony Johnson’s Radcliffe stars show hard work pays off

By Matt Badock

Radcliffe joint-boss Anthony Johnson’s recent social media post caught the eye.

Highlighting their three goalscorers – Jordan Hulme, Rio Clegg, and Mikey Afuye – Johnson noted how they progressed from local amateur football, where they used to put up the nets and pay subs, to the positions they now excel in.

His message to youngsters is to not turn noses up at lower levels, but get out and play competitive men’s football.

Those three are now spearheading Radcliffe’s National League North campaign that has got off to a flyer.

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Dedication

It’s interesting as a reminder to young aspiring footballers that there are many ways to make a career in football.

Playing – and being paid – to play part-time at such a good level doesn’t happen by accident. It takes hard work and dedication to achieve.

It’s true there are some youngsters who may sneer at Non-League. Stories of some turning down the chance to go on loan to help with their development do float around.

Perhaps it’s the social media culture where it’s easier to have ‘professional footballer’ written in the X or Instagram bio.

But for those who do play, they can now seize more opportunities than ever to catch the eye of scouts.

Hungry

In recent seasons, The NLP has covered many stories of players earning their chance in the Football League, coming not just from the top of Non-League but from all Steps.

“Let’s use those (Hulme, Clegg and Afuye) as an example,” Johnsons told us. “Rio Clegg has never been hurt by the system.

“Because he’s never come through an academy. He’s never been released by a Liverpool, United, Blackburn and landed at, say, an Oldham and had to start again.

“That leaves a lot of scar tissue, it does. I see it with young players we coach now. Eight, nine, ten-year-olds who have been told they’re not good enough – and people wonder why there’s a pandemic of young lads with mental health!

“We’ve got Rio Clegg, Mikey Afuye and a whole group of that age around the club where we can go: They’re starving hungry.”

Good blend

He added: “Then when you’ve got a Jordan Hulme, who has come from the exact same playground as them, put nets up and, it sounds awful, cleared dog s**t off the local park pitch, paid subs to then getting to paid to play semi-professional football, shows how far they’ve come.

“Yes, you’ve got young hungry lads coming through, but you’ve also got lads at the top end who have been there and done it themselves. That helps keep their feet on the ground.

“We’ve got a group here. Matt Sargent, Danny Greenfield, Michael Afuye and Rio Clegg – who are all 23, 24 – [are] being watched by EFL clubs, and they’re an incredibly talented bunch.

“Then we’ve got the group above them who are coming into their prime. Then we’ve got our experienced group. It’s almost three categories. So we’ve got a really good blend.”

EFL – and even Premier League – teamsheets this weekend will show there are plenty of routes to the same destination.

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