Non League Geek

Tag: football

  • Up Next, Darion Dowrich

    Player Profile

    Age 20/21 years old  Main Position Left Back (Left Footed)

    Current Club Cray Wanderers (Step 3)

    Career Summary

    Dowrich joined Cray Wanderers at the start of the 2024/25 season after securing a 3rd place finish in the Southern Counties East League (Step 5) with from local neighbours Glebe. Having only played 3 times at FC Elmstead (Step 6) before his 17 appearances at Glebe Dowrich was unknown entity but what a find for Cray he’s been. In his debut season at Step 3 (2024/25) Dowrich exploded racking up 10 assists and has kept 16 clean sheets.

    Playstyle

    Cray play very free flowing fast transitioning football: they go from defence to attack in no time, they are almost like the non-league Nottingham Forest. This type of set up is where Dowrich is so effective, his ability to defend, regain possession and then drive the ball is extremely scary. His partnership with winger Josh Williams has meant Cray have become one of the most dangerous and destructive counter attacking sides in the division.

    Strengths

    Physicals (Pace and Strengths) | Mental game (determination and tenacity)| Ball progression and forward runs | Dribbling

    Aspects to think about

    First season at Step 3 | Inexperienced in higher level football | Still extremely young | Would like to see what he can do in a more overlapping role

    Where should he go next

    Every career choice Dowrich has made so far has paid off, his next move must continue to build on his journey of progression and development. I think he has three main destinations, one is stay at Cray for another half/full season, play a load more games and add to his experience, second is to move to one of the teams coming down for NLS (Welling would be a good bet) or move up to step 2 and start as a more rotational role to then fully break into the starting eleven.

    (Lots of footage up on Cray Wanderers YouTube)

  • Up Next, Daniel Ogunleye

    Player Profile

    Age 23 years old Citizenship English Main Position Centre Forward (Right Footed)

    Current Club Brentwood Town FC (Step 4)

    Career Summary

    With 36 league goals this season for Isthmian League North champions Brentwood Town, you would think that Daniel Ogunleye will be on the wish list of a number of Step 2 and 3 clubs. Having originally started his career at Brentwood Town Ogunleye moved to Southampton age 12 and then onto Forest Green, where he returned to Brentwood during the 2021/22 season scoring eight times. Brief spells at Coggeshall Town and Herne Bay during the 2022\23 stalled Ogunleye’s promising start to his non- league career. He rejoined Brentwood in the November of the 2023\24, reaching the playoffs and finishing the season with 9 league goals. However this season was Ogunleye break through year, netting 43 goals in all competitions firing Brentwood Town to the Isthmian Premier (step 3) for the first time in a decade.

    Playstyle

    Brentwood play with a two upfront, one being Ogunleye who plays as the runner and support player off the other striker who’s role is the hold up man. The majority of Ogunleye’s goals come from inside the box where he has developed as a complete poacher finisher, scoring with both feet and his head on a number of occasions. He has displayed on a number of times this season an ability to run at defenders in the final third to score and create goals and chances.

    Strengths

    In the box offensive movements | Support play and off ball runs | Composure in front of goal | Complete Finisher | Running and dribbling at defenders

    Aspects to think about

    Requires service in the box | Not proven above step 4 | First season scoring 10+ league goals | Fits a specific play style

    Where should he go next

    Given this is the first time Ogunleye has hit over 10 league goals in a season and he hasn’t ever played above Step 4 if he got a move to Step 2 there shouldn’t be any pressure on him to start firing straight away. But I do think he should be at least aiming for teams challenging for promotion in Step 3 (replacement for Ollie Box at Dartford) or as a rotation striker for a Step 2 team.

    (Lots of footage up on Ogunleye’s twitter)