One of the topics that I have covered quite regularly on our Podcast is that of homegrown players in the modern-day game not getting the same opportunity as what may well have been afforded to players of yesteryear, the reason for this, and this is only my opinion is the mass influx of foreign players into every level of the English football pyramid with many of the top sides having more foreign players than homegrown, this quite obviously means there are far less openings and opportunities for homegrown players, there are many pros and cons to the advent of this in the modern game, but one of the pros as I see it is the standard of football in non-league which is the highest it's ever been with many talented players who in days gone by would have been playing much higher up the English pyramid but are now plying their trade in the lower echelons of the EFL and non-league football, this said you will find many hidden gems as our headline states playing in non-league football and today I would just like to highlight one of them hidden gems.
Jake Tabor a 21-year-old lad from Watford currently playing for Amersham Town in the Combined Counties Premier North, this lad is something special, I would go as far to say he could be the next Jamie Vardy, you will understand why when you see his current stats for the last three seasons they are completely off the scale, You could almost say he’s the Haaland of non-league football.
After playing for a number of clubs at youth level in the 22/23 season Jake played for Rayners Lane in the Combined Counties Division One (step6) playing a total of 27 games he scored an amazing 41 goals helping Rayners Lane to promotion (step5) and for the first time in their history winning the Middlesex cup thanks two goals from Guess Who!
For the 23 /24 season Jake made the move to Amersham Town, after 13 games Amersham made the decision, a bold decision to sign Jake on a two-year deal, this was following an astonishing 29 goals and seven assists in the 13 games (not such a bold move but 100% the right move) Jake went on to score in 76 goals in 44 appearances with 25 assists once again helping his club to promotion to step five.
This season, 24 /25, Jake has already scored 33 goals, 8 assists in 27 appearances, and Amersham town are currently top of the Combined Counties Premier League North!!!!!
This is truly astonishing and with National League and EFL clubs watching Jake’s progress very carefully it won’t be long before the offers start rolling in, talking to Jake it was refreshingly clear that his loyalty to his current club was 100% and whilst the club and Jake will no doubt be looking at offers at the end of the season, it would take an offer from an EFL club which would greatly benefit Amersham Town for him to leave any sooner, fair play to Jake this young man is thinking of his current club as well as his own future, fantastic!
One to watch out for!!!!
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