Viking Supporters Co-operative

Viking Chat => Viking Chat => Topic started by: swain_drfc on May 30, 2023, 05:42:35 pm

Title: Alfie May
Post by: swain_drfc on May 30, 2023, 05:42:35 pm
Anyone got any idea what sell on percentage we receive for any deal for Alfie May? Looks to be on the move this summer.
Title: Re: Alfie May
Post by: telfordrover on May 30, 2023, 06:19:52 pm
Just won goal of the season on central news
Scored against Peterborough from the halfway line
Title: Re: Alfie May
Post by: Goole Rover on May 30, 2023, 09:22:44 pm
Thank you Darren for your incredible foresight.
Title: Re: Alfie May
Post by: WheatleyRover on May 31, 2023, 07:04:16 am
Some of us on here saw how good of a player he was, while most slagged him off.
Title: Re: Alfie May
Post by: rover-n-out on May 31, 2023, 08:28:42 am
I was in your camp Wheatley!
Title: Re: Alfie May
Post by: roversdude on May 31, 2023, 08:30:37 am
Me too
Title: Re: Alfie May
Post by: big fat yorkshire pudding on May 31, 2023, 08:52:11 am
Not me, it was right to let him go at the time imo. That he's improved substantially since is a testament to his attitude and willingness to learn.
Title: Re: Alfie May
Post by: Goole Rover on May 31, 2023, 09:03:59 am
Not me, it was right to let him go at the time imo. That he's improved substantially since is a testament to his attitude and willingness to learn.
I don't agree with your post Pud.
I had a chat to Alfie when I said that I thought that his confidence was growing with every match he agreed so I fail to see how a football league manager could not recognise this.
Title: Re: Alfie May
Post by: jmt23 on May 31, 2023, 09:14:29 am
He was known to be the best finisher at the club, ( I did post this at the time) unfortunately he never got enough consistent game time with us. The moment he did, he began to show what he was capable of.

Moore didn’t play a style that would accommodate Alfie, so it was only ever going to end in him being released.

Most on here wanted rid of him too!

Title: Re: Alfie May
Post by: Colin C No.3 on May 31, 2023, 09:32:51 am
It can’t have been easy playing with Marquis either who had a habit of throwing his arms up in despair every time a missed place pass was aimed at him, an attack broke down or his attacking partner took a shot on & didn’t score.
Title: Re: Alfie May
Post by: DonnyBazR0ver on May 31, 2023, 09:35:34 am
He was known to be the best finisher at the club, ( I did post this at the time) unfortunately he never got enough consistent game time with us. The moment he did, he began to show what he was capable of.

Moore didn’t play a style that would accommodate Alfie, so it was only ever going to end in him being released.

Most on here wanted rid of him too!



I think we need some balance here. I wouldn't say most people were either slagging him off or wanting rid. At the time, we felt we were pushing for the play offs and Championship aspirations. In that sense, the broader concensus was he was limited with doubts he could cope with the rigours of the higher league. He was well liked with his enthusiasm and skill but he wasn't commanding a starting berth. I actually thought he was a new Copps in the making, playing like a no 10 role etc. However, when he and Blair left, because they wanted more football, folk reluctantly agreed it was the right move.
Title: Re: Alfie May
Post by: selby on May 31, 2023, 09:51:56 am
  It was not a case of him not being good enough just that we had better players in his position at the time.
  When with us he didn't see the other players in better positions in the area than himself, needed a touch and lacked composure and rushed and didn't have the composure in front of goal so missed some easy chances and frustrated Marquis, Blair and Coppinger were better wide, and Williams inside.
   We had better players in those positions at the time who were more suited to those positions, but Alfies all out effort attracted supporters rather than ability which is why the managers always marginalised him, they recognised the better players at the time which is what you would expect from professional football men whose job relied on results.
  He showed promise while with us but like many who are a few years older coming from non league, the numbers that go on to do what Alfie has done in that situation is very very small, he has batted against the norm at Cheltenham, so very well done he has taken his chance.
  He has improved since and with his willingness to work hard has obviously done well which is great to see.
  He deserves the reward of a good move and pay day.
Title: Re: Alfie May
Post by: Avsuptem on May 31, 2023, 10:05:31 am
And what a wonderfully enthusiastic and spirited lad he is too. Shortly after he joined us he was playing cup football v Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. Pretty amazing transition from playing in front of a few dozen supporters at a minor league club on the Kent coast.
Title: Re: Alfie May
Post by: Goole Rover on May 31, 2023, 10:42:06 am
  It was not a case of him not being good enough just that we had better players in his position at the time.
  When with us he didn't see the other players in better positions in the area than himself, needed a touch and lacked composure and rushed and didn't have the composure in front of goal so missed some easy chances and frustrated Marquis, Blair and Coppinger were better wide, and Williams inside.
   We had better players in those positions at the time who were more suited to those positions, but Alfies all out effort attracted supporters rather than ability which is why the managers always marginalised him, they recognised the better players at the time which is what you would expect from professional football men whose job relied on results.
  He showed promise while with us but like many who are a few years older coming from non league, the numbers that go on to do what Alfie has done in that situation is very very small, he has batted against the norm at Cheltenham, so very well done he has taken his chance.
  He has improved since and with his willingness to work hard has obviously done well which is great to see.
  He deserves the reward of a good move and pay day.
My point is B that our manager didn't or was incapable of recognising his potential. I recall a Tony Booke stepping up very late in life and adapting very well.
Hope everything is going well at home please pass on my best wishes.
Title: Re: Alfie May
Post by: Bentley Bullet on May 31, 2023, 10:49:40 am
It didn't help sticking him out on the wing, but maybe with Marquis' attitude, it was the best place for him. He was easily good enough for a regular place, and he proved that on the occasion he was actually given one, albeit only a short one. During that period he was getting more confident each game and was feared by the opposition, all despite him not being played in his best position!

Cue BST.........

Title: Re: Alfie May
Post by: In the box on May 31, 2023, 11:36:04 am
It didn't help sticking him out on the wing, but maybe with Marquis' attitude, it was the best place for him. He was easily good enough for a regular place, and he proved that on the occasion he was actually given one, albeit only a short one. During that period he was getting more confident each game and was feared by the opposition, all despite him not being played in his best position!

Cue BST.........
Michael Duff has to be congratulated for seeing in Alfie what no one else could …and helping him fulfil his potential.Rovers got this one very wrong !!
Title: Re: Alfie May
Post by: Bentley Bullet on May 31, 2023, 11:46:51 am
Interesting statement on 3:45
https://youtu.be/osvfavFO2Gs
Title: Re: Alfie May
Post by: Dutch Uncle on May 31, 2023, 12:56:02 pm
What a lovely interview in its entirety, such a positive person and his personality comes across very well indeed
Title: Re: Alfie May
Post by: LincolnDonny on May 31, 2023, 01:31:20 pm
He was known to be the best finisher at the club, ( I did post this at the time) unfortunately he never got enough consistent game time with us. The moment he did, he began to show what he was capable of.

Moore didn’t play a style that would accommodate Alfie, so it was only ever going to end in him being released.

Most on here wanted rid of him too!
what a load of Rubbish on the last line especially
Title: Re: Alfie May
Post by: Campsall rover on May 31, 2023, 01:32:21 pm
Yes Rovers got it wrong obviously. He was not the 1st or the last that Rovers or all Clubs have got wrong about a player.

The fact was we could see potential in him but as Selby said there were players ahead of him in the pecking order when we had him.

His work rate and demeanour was what the fans loved about him.
Most of us just felt he lacked an end product to his game which he did at Rovers. That is an indisputable fact.
Yes he never got the opportunity for an extended run in the team which was obviously detrimental to his progress.

In the last 2 years he would have walked into our team just from where he was as a player when he departed us.

He did though improved immensely under Duff at Cheltenham by getting regular game time.
He has achieved far more than i or let’s be honest, the vast majority of us thought he was capable of at League 1 level.

I am absolutely delighted for him. Shows what hard work and determination can achieve. It didn’t happen by accident.

Very well done Alfie you proved a lot of people and probably a couple of your previous Managers wrong.
Title: Re: Alfie May
Post by: steve@dcfd on May 31, 2023, 01:51:18 pm
At Cheltenham he played in a front two majority of the time same as Watters did at Crawley. Under all managers recently from GrMc , DM, RW, GaMc and DS we never played with a front two. So that might assisted in Alfie’s improvement because playing regularly in a front position.
Also from Summer 2019 when Marquis left to January 2020 when Alfie was sold he played wide.
When Okenbirhie was bought then he played upfront generally.
Title: Re: Alfie May
Post by: MachoMadness on May 31, 2023, 02:03:12 pm
Hindsight is 20/20. At the time he was released we were fishing in a much bigger pond with forward players like a fit Fej, Josh Sims, Taylor Richards, Copps, and so on. Before that we had Marquis, probably one of our best-ever strikers - if anyone had suggested May would have a better career post-Rovers than Marquis, or that we should drop Marquis to give May an opportunity as the main man, at the time they'd be laughed out of the city.

Sometimes players just need a move to fulfil their potential, to a different club, coach, way of playing, lower league, whatever. I don't think May would have fulfilled his potential here if we kept him, and to be fair he gambled on himself and made a success of himself. Fair play. But this happens at every club in the country, remember Chelsea binning off de Bruyne and Salah.

Watters to me is more egregious as he never got a chance in the first team, really.
Title: Re: Alfie May
Post by: Drover on May 31, 2023, 02:05:28 pm
I would suggest the fact we got a fee and a sell on clause shows,the club did see potential in Alfie and we did'nt get it totally wrong.
Title: Re: Alfie May
Post by: 5minstogo on May 31, 2023, 02:16:21 pm
I would suggest the fact we got a fee and a sell on clause shows,the club did see potential in Alfie and we did'nt get it totally wrong.

£5k fee. Any sell in is gonna be minimal I guess
Title: Re: Alfie May
Post by: BillyStubbsTears on May 31, 2023, 02:22:18 pm
Hindsight is 20/20. At the time he was released we were fishing in a much bigger pond with forward players like a fit Fej, Josh Sims, Taylor Richards, Copps, and so on. Before that we had Marquis, probably one of our best-ever strikers - if anyone had suggested May would have a better career post-Rovers than Marquis, or that we should drop Marquis to give May an opportunity as the main man, at the time they'd be laughed out of the city.

Sometimes players just need a move to fulfil their potential, to a different club, coach, way of playing, lower league, whatever. I don't think May would have fulfilled his potential here if we kept him, and to be fair he gambled on himself and made a success of himself. Fair play. But this happens at every club in the country, remember Chelsea binning off de Bruyne and Salah.

Watters to me is more egregious as he never got a chance in the first team, really.

This.

I'm chuffed to bits that May has done so well. He seems like one of the good guys and I take my hat off to him.
Title: Re: Alfie May
Post by: danumdon on May 31, 2023, 03:55:19 pm
Hindsight is 20/20. At the time he was released we were fishing in a much bigger pond with forward players like a fit Fej, Josh Sims, Taylor Richards, Copps, and so on. Before that we had Marquis, probably one of our best-ever strikers - if anyone had suggested May would have a better career post-Rovers than Marquis, or that we should drop Marquis to give May an opportunity as the main man, at the time they'd be laughed out of the city.

Sometimes players just need a move to fulfil their potential, to a different club, coach, way of playing, lower league, whatever. I don't think May would have fulfilled his potential here if we kept him, and to be fair he gambled on himself and made a success of himself. Fair play. But this happens at every club in the country, remember Chelsea binning off de Bruyne and Salah.

Watters to me is more egregious as he never got a chance in the first team, really.

It just goes to show that a manager can come into a club and unintentionally,i think, virtually destroy its future potential by releasing or selling off club assets and bringing in short term loans. It may have looked like the road to go down when he was here but Mr Moore placed the club into virtually free fall after his departure and the culmination of his very short term policy of favouring loans instead of trying to develop the clubs assets. The fact that he then fecked off before he could stabilise the club after his failed foray made things even worse.

Whisper it quietly but a certain GM did something equally dangerous for our future wellbeing at the time, but he's back to finish what he started, so that's a free pass from me, for now.

Title: Re: Alfie May
Post by: steve@dcfd on May 31, 2023, 04:18:35 pm
Quote MachoMadness

At the time he was released we were fishing in a much bigger pond with forward players like a fit Fej, Josh Sims, Taylor Richards, Copps, and so on.

When Alfie was sold we didnt have Fedj he joined in the January.
.
We did loan Jacob Ramsey in that January but COVID shut the league down in March.
We were doing well at that stage of the season.
Look where Sheaf Ramsey and Cole are now.
Watters was on the bench in that period also. Sadlier Ennis and Whiteman all in higher leagues. He didn’t do a bad job with the decreasing funds he had.
Shame the season was curtailed.

Simms and Richards came the summer afterwards
Title: Re: Alfie May
Post by: drfchound on May 31, 2023, 06:43:24 pm
It can’t have been easy playing with Marquis either who had a habit of throwing his arms up in despair every time a missed place pass was aimed at him, an attack broke down or his attacking partner took a shot on & didn’t score.

Colin, I just think that Marquis set himself high standards when he was here and expected others to do the same.
Yes he was a moaner but lots of players are.
Title: Re: Alfie May
Post by: selby on May 31, 2023, 07:18:52 pm
  Goole, Tony Book was one of many defenders and mid fielders who in my time have moved from non league to EFL  after being over looked as younger players.
  Brian Stein, Jamie Vardy, and Gary Birtles are some of the very few strikers I have known come through and done well from non league to top flight football, and their careers are spread over about 50 years.
  There will be others but not many and mostly in leagues 1 and two, and mostly from top non league sides such as the Conference.   
  It is the measure of how well he has done, all credit to him he dropped on a club in Cheltenham who took the chance and it came off, its very rare, and now he looks like he is heading for a new test, I hope he does as well at any new club, as you know there are no guarantees in football.
 
Title: Re: Alfie May
Post by: drfchound on May 31, 2023, 07:37:51 pm
  Goole, Tony Book was one of many defenders and mid fielders who in my time have moved from non league to EFL  after being over looked as younger players.
  Brian Stein, Jamie Vardy, and Gary Birtles are some of the very few strikers I have known come through and done well from non league to top flight football, and their careers are spread over about 50 years.

I played with Tony Galvin, Goole Town when in the NPL and he went straight from there into the Spurs team and even played for The Republic of Ireland.
Title: Re: Alfie May
Post by: dickos1 on May 31, 2023, 09:28:00 pm
Ian wright, Danny schofield, Antonio, Troy deeney, Jarrod Bowen, Glenn Murray, Callum Wilson, Danny ings, che Adam’s, Ashley Barnes
All players off top of my head that started in non league.
Title: Re: Alfie May
Post by: pib on June 01, 2023, 09:34:18 am
Yay! Another thread where we get to have an identical debate to before about Alfie May.
Title: Re: Alfie May
Post by: selby on June 01, 2023, 10:43:16 am
  Hound get the book Galvanised about Tony and Chris his brother who understudied Bremner at Leeds, I played with him great lad and a brilliant footballer.
  Leeds had a number of talented players who are virtually unknown who backed up the first team at the time and were good players in their own right and could have had better careers elsewhere.
Title: Re: Alfie May
Post by: ForsolongaRover on June 01, 2023, 11:12:09 am
I’ll risk a fresh angle pib.

Before looking closer into this, I took a simplistic view of a player starting in non-league because it’s his local team. And I was thinking of the South East is where both Alfie and Max Watters came from. And we know how few league teams there are outside London in the Kent, Surrey and Sussex. Only Gillingham, Brighton and more recently Crawley, but then none till Portsmouth and Southampton in Hampshire.

So, I thought if you were keen to play, how far would you want to travel for training and matches whilst working or studying full-time?

However of the names quoted by Dickos and in pursuit of the above as a possible theory, I looked up their bios and only Glenn Murray (who emerged as a player in Cumbria when Carlisle were in the Conference), Danny Schofield and Max Watters had no previous connections with a FL club. I even looked at George Boyd, another Ferguson discovery, and he too had had trials with a FL club. Interestingly both Bowen and Alfie were rejected by FL clubs for being too small. Research into lower league players might well yield names, but a lesser name, as an example close to home from non league, would be Charlie Seaman who I discovered had history with both West Ham and Bournemouth!

So you are left with the fact that emerges most significantly which is that the scouting networks that exist nowadays are so geographically saturated that it seems unlikely that any player who becomes nationally known is unlikely not to have had a previous connection with a FL club. And with ever-increasing in financial resources, so many are hoovered up by PL teams.

Since size is a factor common to both Alfie and Bowen, clubs looking for non-league talent, as well as seeking late-developers, should perhaps be focusing most on players who are less than say 5 feet 10 tall! Mo Salah is 5-9 and Messi 5-7!




Title: Re: Alfie May
Post by: ncRover on June 01, 2023, 01:32:24 pm
Charlton have placed a bid. Derby interested too so hopefully a bidding war and we get a nice % ££
Title: Re: Alfie May
Post by: swain_drfc on June 01, 2023, 01:53:46 pm
Yay! Another thread where we get to have an identical debate to before about Alfie May.

I only asked if anyone had a clue about the sell on fee that we will receive? Didn’t ask for this debate haha.
Title: Re: Alfie May
Post by: Colemans Left Hook on June 02, 2023, 11:10:12 am
  Goole, Tony Book was one of many defenders and mid fielders who in my time have moved from non league to EFL  after being over looked as younger players.
  Brian Stein, Jamie Vardy, and Gary Birtles are some of the very few strikers I have known come through and done well from non league to top flight football, and their careers are spread over about 50 years.

I played with Tony Galvin, Goole Town when in the NPL and he went straight from there into the Spurs team and even played for The Republic of Ireland.

That should have galvinised your career instead it went down a szinc hole  :coat:


(only joking !)
Title: Re: Alfie May
Post by: Donnywolf on June 02, 2023, 08:52:51 pm
  Goole, Tony Book was one of many defenders and mid fielders who in my time have moved from non league to EFL  after being over looked as younger players.
  Brian Stein, Jamie Vardy, and Gary Birtles are some of the very few strikers I have known come through and done well from non league to top flight football, and their careers are spread over about 50 years.

I played with Tony Galvin, Goole Town when in the NPL and he went straight from there into the Spurs team and even played for The Republic of Ireland.

Fluent in Russian as well , so very clever boy
Title: Re: Alfie May
Post by: Bessie Red on June 02, 2023, 09:37:55 pm
Ian wright, Danny schofield, Antonio, Troy deeney, Jarrod Bowen, Glenn Murray, Callum Wilson, Danny ings, che Adam’s, Ashley Barnes
All players off top of my head that started in non league.
Jamie Vardy!
Title: Re: Alfie May
Post by: Bentley Bullet on June 02, 2023, 09:45:28 pm
Ian Wright
Title: Re: Alfie May
Post by: dickos1 on June 02, 2023, 10:41:08 pm
Ian wright, Danny schofield, Antonio, Troy deeney, Jarrod Bowen, Glenn Murray, Callum Wilson, Danny ings, che Adam’s, Ashley Barnes
All players off top of my head that started in non league.
Jamie Vardy!

Yes, I just meant in addition to the ones Selby mentioned. He mentioned vardy
Title: Re: Alfie May
Post by: dickos1 on June 02, 2023, 10:41:24 pm
Ian Wright

Said him
Title: Re: Alfie May
Post by: Bentley Bullet on June 03, 2023, 08:43:54 am
Ian Wright

Said him
So you did, apologies.
Title: Re: Alfie May
Post by: Colemans Left Hook on June 03, 2023, 10:25:16 am
it took me a couple of tyring days to remember the name of that bloke that played for Poole Town -- so i will make you lot suffer trying to guess who he was
Title: Re: Alfie May
Post by: DonnyOsmond on June 03, 2023, 10:32:52 am
it took me a couple of tyring days to remember the name of that bloke that played for Poole Town -- so i will make you lot suffer trying to guess who he was

Charlie Austin.
Title: Re: Alfie May
Post by: Colemans Left Hook on June 03, 2023, 10:45:11 am
well done that man i did give you a slight clue ...  (note for Scawsby) tyred = Austin car  he banged quite a few in for Swindon this season after he signed did he get 4 in one match

still only 33 which surprises me
Title: Re: Alfie May
Post by: graingrover on June 03, 2023, 01:35:27 pm
Charlton and Derby in for Alfie .
Title: Re: Alfie May
Post by: Campsall rover on June 03, 2023, 02:01:49 pm
Charlton and Derby in for Alfie .
Quite surprised about Derby. Not a Paul Warne type player is he.
Charlton takes him back to near where he is from.

Derby look to have better prospects though. Charlton are not financially sound, having said that not sure Derby are either.  :rolleyes:
Title: Re: Alfie May
Post by: Wiltshire Exile on June 03, 2023, 08:54:36 pm
Anyone got any idea what sell on percentage we receive for any deal for Alfie May? Looks to be on the move this summer.

According to the Cheltenham Town forum we could be due 25% of any transfer fee that the Robins receive. Mind you, where that figure comes I haven’t a clue!

See this post on the forum: http://www.robinsnestforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=31165
Title: Re: Alfie May
Post by: Wokingviking on June 03, 2023, 09:33:05 pm
  Hound get the book Galvanised about Tony and Chris his brother who understudied Bremner at Leeds, I played with him great lad and a brilliant footballer.
  Leeds had a number of talented players who are virtually unknown who backed up the first team at the time and were good players in their own right and could have had better careers elsewhere.

And brother of our Kim Book (our GK when I started, famous for being on the receiving end of Bestie’s double hat-trick).

Oops thought we were still on Tony Book… played at Bath City til he was 29 then went to Man City.
Title: Re: Alfie May
Post by: Guernsey Exile on June 28, 2024, 06:18:54 pm
Huddersfield have had a £750k bid accepted for him
Title: Re: Alfie May
Post by: Alan Southstand on June 28, 2024, 08:11:43 pm
We could be playing against him this coming season, then!
Title: Re: Alfie May
Post by: roversdude on June 28, 2024, 11:59:33 pm
Anyone got any idea what sell on percentage we receive for any deal for Alfie May? Looks to be on the move this summer.

According to the Cheltenham Town forum we could be due 25% of any transfer fee that the Robins receive. Mind you, where that figure comes I haven’t a clue!

See this post on the forum: http://www.robinsnestforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=31165
Surely we got our money from the Charlton move
Title: Re: Alfie May
Post by: DonnyOsmond on June 29, 2024, 09:08:18 am
Anyone got any idea what sell on percentage we receive for any deal for Alfie May? Looks to be on the move this summer.

According to the Cheltenham Town forum we could be due 25% of any transfer fee that the Robins receive. Mind you, where that figure comes I haven’t a clue!

See this post on the forum: http://www.robinsnestforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=31165
Surely we got our money from the Charlton move

Yes but it carries on if they get more money from his move to Charlton which they will be doing from a sell on clause. So if we get 25% of 25% of £750,000 we'll get just under £50,000 but it depends if those percentages are right.
Title: Re: Alfie May
Post by: roversdude on June 29, 2024, 09:18:05 am
Thanks DO didn’t realise it carried on
Title: Re: Alfie May
Post by: Chris Black come back on June 29, 2024, 01:33:50 pm
Think he’s off to Birmingham City.
Title: Re: Alfie May
Post by: GazLaz on June 29, 2024, 02:38:25 pm
Think he’s off to Birmingham City.


Deserves a decent move to earn a few quid. Hopefully this pay day gets him out of Bircotes.
Title: Re: Alfie May
Post by: DonnyOsmond on June 29, 2024, 05:32:23 pm
Think he’s off to Birmingham City.


Deserves a decent move to earn a few quid. Hopefully this pay day gets him out of Bircotes.

Levels up to Tickhill or Bawtry.
Title: Re: Alfie May
Post by: Bentley Bullet on June 29, 2024, 06:15:54 pm
I've heard Alfie wants to upgrade to Bentley when he retires.
Title: Re: Alfie May
Post by: Filo on June 29, 2024, 06:16:47 pm
I've heard Alfie wants to upgrade to Bentley when he retires.

The car, not the ghetto
Title: Re: Alfie May
Post by: DonnyOsmond on June 29, 2024, 06:48:56 pm
I've heard Alfie wants to upgrade to Bentley when he retires.

Not many places worse than Bircotes.
Title: Re: Alfie May
Post by: Bentley Bullet on June 29, 2024, 07:35:32 pm
I've heard Alfie wants to upgrade to Bentley when he retires.

Not many places worse than Bircotes.
Stainforth?
Title: Re: Alfie May
Post by: streathamdave on July 01, 2024, 08:09:04 pm
Stainforth is full of decent people and is needlessly maligned. Birmingham on the other hand also has decent people. They are called Villa fans. Always liked Alfie and was sorry to see him go. I understand that a long contract at his age (probably on decent money) must be tempting, but my opinion of him will drop significantly if he goes to Birmingham.
Title: Re: Alfie May
Post by: Lesonthewest on July 01, 2024, 08:46:49 pm
I've heard Alfie wants to upgrade to Bentley when he retires.

Not many places worse than Bircotes.
Stainforth?
Nowt up with Stainy
Title: Re: Alfie May
Post by: Colin C No.3 on July 02, 2024, 02:19:31 am
I’ll risk a fresh angle pib.

Before looking closer into this, I took a simplistic view of a player starting in non-league because it’s his local team. And I was thinking of the South East is where both Alfie and Max Watters came from. And we know how few league teams there are outside London in the Kent, Surrey and Sussex. Only Gillingham, Brighton and more recently Crawley, but then none till Portsmouth and Southampton in Hampshire.

So, I thought if you were keen to play, how far would you want to travel for training and matches whilst working or studying full-time?

However of the names quoted by Dickos and in pursuit of the above as a possible theory, I looked up their bios and only Glenn Murray (who emerged as a player in Cumbria when Carlisle were in the Conference), Danny Schofield and Max Watters had no previous connections with a FL club. I even looked at George Boyd, another Ferguson discovery, and he too had had trials with a FL club. Interestingly both Bowen and Alfie were rejected by FL clubs for being too small. Research into lower league players might well yield names, but a lesser name, as an example close to home from non league, would be Charlie Seaman who I discovered had history with both West Ham and Bournemouth!

So you are left with the fact that emerges most significantly which is that the scouting networks that exist nowadays are so geographically saturated that it seems unlikely that any player who becomes nationally known is unlikely not to have had a previous connection with a FL club. And with ever-increasing in financial resources, so many are hoovered up by PL teams.

Since size is a factor common to both Alfie and Bowen, clubs looking for non-league talent, as well as seeking late-developers, should perhaps be focusing most on players who are less than say 5 feet 10 tall! Mo Salah is 5-9 and Messi 5-7!






Nice piece & well researched Forsolong.

Whosoever how so ever unearthed a real ‘gem at our level’ in Alfie.

I continue to watch his progress in professional football with interest & hope that he continues to ‘live the dream’.
Title: Re: Alfie May
Post by: Drover on July 02, 2024, 12:21:14 pm
I've heard Alfie wants to upgrade to Bentley when he retires.

Not many places worse than Bircotes.

Christ,there is alot worse places than Bircotes in Donny,Bircotes is a hot bed for WAGs,McIndoe,Glyn Hodges and Alfie all taking the pick from the locals lasses   :lol:
Title: Re: Alfie May
Post by: Chris Black come back on July 02, 2024, 09:24:26 pm
Think he’s off to Birmingham City.

Signed on a three year deal. At 30 and with Birmingham having some cash behind them, that's a great deal for Alfie.
Title: Re: Alfie May
Post by: Lesonthewest on July 03, 2024, 02:00:54 pm
Reported 750k, was it 20% we received for his Charlton move, maybe 10% this time, anyway whatever it is it should help Terry a bit.