Paul Marshall is searching for hidden gems in Step 7 leagues as he aims to bolster his Garforth Town squad.
Marshall is the Toolstation NCEL Premier Division’s diamond geezer when it comes to unearthing undiscovered talent in the local leagues.
His track record is endless from his previous management posts at Tadcaster Albion, Pickering Town, Goole AFC and Harrogate Railway and he’s hunting for more raw players.
“We haven’t got a massive squad,” Marshall told Non League Yorkshire.
“I’ve managed to keep most of the players together, but Sam (Barker) has gone on trial at Scarborough so it looks like he may be signing for them.
“Charlie (Marshall) has obviously signed for Liversedge so I’ve lost two of my better players from last season (if Barker does leave).
“So I’m on the lookout for a couple of players.
“I thought Duke Witter – the number ten against Nostell (on Tuesday night) – did well. He’s come from Stensall in the Premier Division of the York and District League. I remember him from junior football.
“We can’t afford to go out and get (well-known) players. We are what we are and I’ll bring through young lads who people don’t know.
“I’m looking for young lads who are 21 or 22 who are playing in the West Yorkshire League or York and District League and have the desire to step up and have the commitment to step up.
“There is loads of good lads in the York and District.
“Jamie Barkway is one I found (in the past from Dringhouses).
“Jamie Williamson (who also stepped up from Dringhouses) is another one and he was class when I was at Taddy.
“Ryan Qualter and Nick Thompson were at York and only 18 when I took them to Taddy.
“Ryan’s going onto do really well in the game.
“Thommo did really well for me as captain (at Taddy and Pickering). I could do with getting him back out of retirement.”
The 2-1 defeat to Nostell Miners Welfare on Tuesday night was only Garforth’s third pre-season friendly.
Not a fan of pre-season anyway, Marshall admits it has been difficult.
“It has been very disruptive, it has been awful,” he said.
“We have had a maximum of 12 players for a session – some have been unavailable, some of them have had covid, some of them have been isolating.
“We’ve only trained three or four times.
“I’ve been struggling to get a team out to be honest.
“All pre-seasons are bad, as I hate them, but this one has been very laid back.
“Then our assistant manager Mark Smitheringale has had a hip replacement so he hasn’t been around for the last couple of weeks.
“It is what it is. I don’t worry too much about (pre-season).”