Please do something for these teams that are struggling, Macrae tells FA

Friday 29th January 2010

DARTFORD goalkeeper coach John Macrae says the Football Association should bend over backwards to support non-league football clubs that produce players for professional football clubs, writes Stephen McCartney.

This follows the news this week that former Maidstone United defender, Chris Smalling, 20, has signed a four-year contract with global giants Manchester United for an undisclosed fee (reported for £7m in some newspapers) from their Premier League rivals Fulham, who snapped up the defender from the Ryman Premier League club eighteen months ago.

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson, who was speaking to the club’s official website www.manutd.com, says the Greenwich born player will be a great asset to the club.

“Chris is an extremely talented young defender, who we have been monitoring for some months,” he said.

“He’s very quick and reads the game well. He will be a great asset to the club, playing alongside some of the best defenders around and we’re delighted to have secured his signature.”

Smalling was reported by the national press to have turned down a move to north London club Arsenal and he spoke about the move to Old Trafford as an “unbelievable opportunity.”

“My time at Fulham has been great and I have learned a lot about the game from Roy Hodgson and the coaching staff,” he said.

“But the chance of coming to the biggest club in the world is something I just couldn’t turn down.

“I’m very excited about working with Sir Alex and the fantastic players in the squad.

“I’ve played a few times in the Europa League this year, but the thought of making the step up to the Champions League next year is great. I can’t wait!”

Smalling’s profile was initially boosted while playing for England Under 18 Schoolboys in a 2-0 win against Scotland at Wembley Stadium in June 2008 - whilst on Maidstone United’s books.

He was, at the time, on the verge of signing for Middlesbrough after then boss Gareth Southgate had spotted him during the Centenary Shield campaign that season.

Shortly after the International at Wembley, Southgate offered him a contract at the Riverside, but Smalling made a dramatic last minute u-turn and decided to stay in London with family and friends and opted to sign for Fulham instead.

But whilst the central defender can now look forward to the riches and fame of becoming a professional footballer, playing for one off the world’s greatest football club’s, Maidstone United have been left with a goodwill gesture from Fulham.

“Unfortunately, to play for England Schoolboys, you can’t be on contact, so that was the problem,” Macrae told www.kentishfootball.co.uk tonight.

“Maidstone were good enough to say we won’t sign the player on contract so he could play for England and it backfired on them. They done it for the right reasons to enable him the honour to play for his country.”

And Macrae, who runs a goalkeeping school of excellence at Maidstone United’s league rivals Dartford, has tonight revealed another player that has the potential to follow in Smalling’s footsteps.

He said: “The reserve goalkeeper Adam Molloy, a seventeen-year-old goalkeeper, will make his debut for England Schoolboys Under 18 against Australia on Sunday, following Chris Smalling’s footsteps so to speak.

“That’s where Smalling made his mark, in England School’s Under 18s.”

He added: “It’s the first international that we’ve had at the club, not signed on (to the first team), from going through the ranks since pre-war.

“I’m absolutely delighted. I’m meant to say, to have that on my CV - I’ve been coaching Adam for two seasons and I’m delighted for the lad. It shows what you can achieve with determination - and having a bit of talent.”

The academy coach also revealed that Dartford have as well as Molloy, Dartford have the Kent Schools Under 18 reserve goalkeeper, the Kent under 16 keeper on the books at the Princes Park club.

First team keepers, Adam Young, Daren Ibrahim and Tony Kessell, meanwhile, are all undergoing their coaching badges with the Welsh FA.

“I’m sure I can hand over my mantle to one of those guys,” added Macrae.

With talent emerging from within two Ryman Premier League clubs here in Kent, Macrae demands more financial backing from the Football Association.

Had Smalling been under contract and Fulham sold him to Manchester United, I’m sure that the club would have raised enough funds through the transfer from Craven Cottage to Old Trafford to enable the struggling Kent club to build a stadium at James Whatman Way and end their 20-plus year exile.

“Have the Football Association got the will to do it?” asked Macrae. “The opportunity has been there for however long they wanted to do something for non-league and grass roots football. They talk about it enough, but where is it physically happening?

“Trevor Brooking bands on about grass roots football, but please do something for these teams that are struggling!”

Maidstone United were unable to afford to pay their players since 5th December, due to a lack of home games at their shared home at Homelands Stadium, Ashford.

In fact, landlords Ashford Town played their first home game for 95 days last Tuesday, a 2-2 draw against Walton Casuals in the Ryman League Division One South, which attracted a crowd of just 83.

Premier League clubs must sit up and take notice - football clubs cannot survive on crowds that small!

And when they sign players from non-league football clubs, they should put their hands in their pockets and support us!

Not ever football club has the backing of their local council, as is the case with Dartford. Most of them are struggling to make ends meet.

Macrae agrees, saying, “We know Dartford are lucky and we know we’re lucky, but there’s club’s in equal standing and have been in towns and villages for 100 years.

“Who helps them? There’s enough money to pay to agents!

“Think about us (non-league football clubs) in a positive way rather than looking at us as small fry, because I think we are in the pyramid. If the base goes, the top collapses.”

This match was originally scheduled for Shrewsbury Town, but has been switched to New Saints FC. Admission charges are just £3 (adults), whilst children can watch the action for free.

England Schoolboys v Australia Schoolboys

England Under 18 Schools International

Sunday 31st January 2010

Kick Off 10:00am

At New Saints FC, Park Hall Stadium, Burma Road, Oswestry, SY11 4AS