The A-League's Non-League Connections

OK, so I'm a fan of both the A-League but also of the non-league game in England. As I watch a lot of the games courtesy of satellite TV in England, I've noticed several names that have plied their trade in both competitions. Again, if you have too much time on your hands, here is my take on the connections.

Love a bit of non-league football. I was a Sutton United season ticket holder when I lived in South London.

My introduction to watching football was going along with my Dad to watch South Shields play from the age of about 3.

Only real memories of it was it being farking cold!

I thought it was a good read thanks Paul, and here I thought players like Young had been signed from pub teams (of course when he first arrived he looked like it). I didn't realise that non league football as pro, or even semi pro.

An interesting sideline in that story is it shows Smeltzy scoring for the All Whites v Wales in 2007. Ohh how times have changed. Wales now in the Top 10 of the rankings and we are about 140 places below them.

What were the comparative rankings then (2007) I wonder?

New Zealand 127, Wales 75.

http://www.fifa.com/fifa-world-ranking/ranking-tools/compare-teams.html

Thanks for your comments folks. Really appreciate it and glad people enjoyed the read.

Small world! :) I'm actually from Kingston, just up the road. Been to Gander Green Lane on numerous occasions as an away fan. Sutton have long had a big tradition in non-league and a few Kiwis have turned out for them over the years. Luke Naughton, a goalkeeper, also played there for a season in the early noughties.

For me this game showed the intent that took us to the World Cup. First time I saw it. The standard we judge NZ football by now.