Signings from non-league football

[the other bob wilson]

The signing of Meite set me thinking about past non-league signings. It was something we did quite often and with some success in the 60's and70's. For example Peter King, Gary Bell, George Andrews, Gary Stevens, Jim Eadie and Bill Irwin all came from outside the Football League. There are two others I vaguely remember from slightly later in the Century. A tall skinny Irishman called John something who played with a lot of promise for us up front and in midfield, was stupidly given a free transfer and went on to have an excellent career as a centre half with Rangers and (Nothern?) Ireland. Also an extremely quick striker who played successfully alongside Jimmy Gilligan. A black lad whose surname began with B I think.Anybody remember those two better than I do or others I have no doubt completely forgotten?

With the exception of Ralls, I don't recall any successful non- league signings in recent years. Is that beacause it's more difficult make the jump now or because our scouting system is rubbish? I suspect it's the latter.

John McLelland was an awful centre forward - I can't agree with you about him showing a lot of promise I'm afraid. I can remember him scoring against Bristol Rovers in a relegation four pointer as it would have been in those days, but he didn't look ready for league football and I was not surprised at all when we released him.

I don't blame the club really about McLelland because he went from a long string of nothing to a really solid citizen during the years he spent at Bangor City I think it was - he looked a natural centreback then and did well in the old First Division with Watford as well as his spell with Rangers, but I'm sure we would have tried him as a centre half if he'd filled out a year or two before he did.

[Nemo]

John McLelland was an awful centre forward - I can't agree with you about him showing a lot of promise I'm afraid. I can remember him scoring against Bristol Rovers in a relegation four pointer as it would have been in those days, but he didn't look ready for league football and I was not surprised at all when we released him.

I don't blame the club really about McLelland because he went from a long string of nothing to a really solid citizen during the years he spent at Bangor City I think it was - he looked a natural centreback then and did well in the old First Division with Watford as well as his spell with Rangers, but I'm sure we would have tried him as a centre half if he'd filled out a year or two before he did.

All about opinions Bob! I thought he showed potential and was disappointed when we let him go. He certainly scored against Rovers. Did he get two that day? Anyway I'm glad I didn't completely imagine him.

[cardiff55]

John McLelland was an awful centre forward - I can't agree with you about him showing a lot of promise I'm afraid. I can remember him scoring against Bristol Rovers in a relegation four pointer as it would have been in those days, but he didn't look ready for league football and I was not surprised at all when we released him.

I don't blame the club really about McLelland because he went from a long string of nothing to a really solid citizen during the years he spent at Bangor City I think it was - he looked a natural centreback then and did well in the old First Division with Watford as well as his spell with Rangers, but I'm sure we would have tried him as a centre half if he'd filled out a year or two before he did.

I remember that game too, he came off the bench and scored to put us 2-1 up if I recall correctly. Frankie Prince equalised fir Bristol Rovers and that was that, we were going down. I think half the squad was released that summer. McClelland cost £5000 from Portadown and went on a free after just one start and 3 sub appearences. After his spell at Bangor he played for Leeds too and won loads of caps for Northern Ireland. He'd filled out a bit by then and was a good centre half but with us he was a young, very lean centre forward.

[cardiff55]

Ray Bishop also came from non league too. He cost £1000 from Cheltenham and did a good job.

[Nemo]

Ray Bishop also came from non league too. He cost £1000 from Cheltenham and did a good job.

He did. I liked Ray. I think Tony Vilars also came from non-league and did very well for a short period.

[MacAdder]

Wasn't Dai Thomas plucked from non-league somewhere?
Chris Pike was another who, I think, played for Park Lawn in the Combination league

[Hot Shot Hamish.]

Paul Parry came to us from Hereford when they were in the Conference and didn't John Lewis come from one of the Welsh League sides?

[BLUETIT]

Ddddddddddarren Addddddams

[the other bob wilson]

I remember that game too, he came off the bench and scored to put us 2-1 up if I recall correctly. Frankie Prince equalised fir Bristol Rovers and that was that, we were going down. I think half the squad was released that summer. McClelland cost £5000 from Portadown and went on a free after just one start and 3 sub appearences. After his spell at Bangor he played for Leeds too and won loads of caps for Northern Ireland. He'd filled out a bit by then and was a good centre half but with us he was a young, very lean centre forward.

I'd seen the name mentioned a few times when he was playing for Bangor and assumed it was the player who had been with us, but then when he came back into league football (I think with Mansfield, but I may be wrong), he looked twice as powerful as the John McClelland who had played for us so I thought it must be someone else with the same name for a while.