My Top 5 - Alfreton Town Players with Liam Henton

 

My Top 5 - 

Alfreton Town Players with Liam Henton

In this blog post, we speak to Liam Henton. Alfreton Town fan who lists his top 5 players to ever wear the red of 'Ofton Town. There has been many great players pass through the doors of The Impact. Who makes Liam's top 5

5. Matt Duke

Alfreton Town have been blessed with some fine goalkeepers no more so than Jordan Pickford of course but with him playing for Alfreton in the season before my arrival at the club I decided to go for Matt Duke with a honourable mention for current incumbent George Willis. 

Duke, however just oozed class when he played for the Reds in the 2015/16 season. He must have saved countless points as we secured a safe midtable finish in the National League North following relegation from the Conference the season prior.  Duke who was 38 when he signed in August 2015 enjoyed a decorated career including an appearance at Wembley in the League Cup final for Bradford in 2013. Duke produced heroics throughout the campaign as his class and quality shone through. 

4. Tom Shaw

Scorer of my one of my very favourite goals ever at the Impact Arena, a 45 yard screamer from just past the halfway line against Chester, Shaw was another vital component of one of the best Alfreton Town squads ever put together. 

A combative central midfielder Shaw was signed from Cambridge and went on to enjoy a fine spell at Chester after leaving Alfreton. Shaw has gone on to enjoy a great start to his career in the dugout firstly with Gainsborough Trinity in the Northern Premier League and more recently as an Intermin Head coach at Lincoln City following the depature of Mark Kennedy. 

3. Michael Wylde

Part of a formidable centre back partnership with Darran Kempson that was the cornerstone to our memorable 2013/14 Conference Premier campaign. 

Wylde was a accomplished centre back and was enjoying a fine season before it was cruelly halted by a horror injury suffered away at Chester in March 2014 that was so awful it ended his career. 

2. John Akinde

Signed by Nicky Law in August 2013 after his release by Portsmouth. The tall striker became a revelation as his strong and powerful frame helped him grab 18 goals as we got to our highest ever league position of 2nd in the Football Conference before falling away in the final few weeks of the season to finish 11th. 

1. George Cantrill

George is an outstanding player that goes under the radar and doesn't get the plaudits he deserves due to the nature of his role as a defensive midfielder. Capable of playing higher in my opinion. 

Thank you Liam for taking part and sharing your top 5 to have played for your club Alfreton Town with some memories that goes with the names past and present too. Certainly interesting to find out some of the names who have graced the pitch of The Impact over the years. 

Would you like to feature in MY TOP 5? Could be your top 5 players who have played for your club, top 5 grounds, players you've played with or managed?  Drop me a message on Twitter/X and we would love to feature you. 

Until the next one. 

Luke