With Christian Doidge being linked with a move to the Championship, we take a look at five other players who have made the transition from lower leagues to higher leagues.
Ricky Miller (Dover Athletic to Peterborough United, 2017)
Ricky Miller made the move to League One outfit Peterborough United in the summer – the 28 year-old was in sublime form for Dover Athletic prior to making his move to the Cambridgeshire outfit, scoring a total of 6o times in 86 games in the National League.
He has yet to hit the heights at the posh, but he is certainly a player with a lot of ability and will hope to find his feet in the league soon to re-discover the form he showed when being deemed as the next big thing to hit the football league, and his aerial threat is definitely something which Posh should utilise, with the player being a colossal six foot two.
If he does open his account for Peterborough, you do feel it will give him the confidence he needs to go onto become a star in league one to help the club with their play-off bid, with McCann’s men currently just three points off sixth-placed Charlton Athletic.
Jamie Vardy (Fleetwood Town to Leicester City, 2012)
What a story. In 2002, Jamie Vardy was released by Sheffield Wednesday, only to be signed by amateur side Stocksbridge Park Steels, where he spent seven years. Halifax Town spotted his goal-scoring exploits and signed the striker in 2010, and following a sensational goal-scoring record during the 2010/2011 season, when he bagged a staggering 26 goals in 37 games, he was signed by Fleetwood Town.
Vardy continued to flourish and following another sublime season at another club, where he netted 31 times in 36 games, he was signed by Leicester City in 2012, and despite struggling for first-team action initially, Vardy has gone onto become a Foxes legend, guiding them to win the Premier League in 2016, as well as breaking a new record by scoring in 11 successive Premier League games, beating Manchester United legend Ruud van Nistelrooy’s record in the process.
11 – Jamie Vardy holds the record for scoring in the most consecutive Premier League games (11 between Aug and Nov 2015). Nominee. pic.twitter.com/KeZZdosCbz
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 24, 2016
Josh Gordon (Stafford Rangers to Leicester City, 2017)
A player looking to eclipse Jamie Vardy is 22 year-old Josh Gordon, who looks like another very exciting young prospect for the Foxes. Gordon scored 12 times in 18 encounters for Stafford Rangers in the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League and his talent was spotted, and he was subsequently snapped up by Leicester City.
Gordan has already starred for the under-23’s this season, and it seems like it is only a matter of time before Gordon makes a breakthrough into the Leicester City first-team. The quality is there, and with the academy have within their disposal, he has time to mature into the next crop of top talent in which the non-league has produced.
I am delighted to finally announce that I have officially signed for English Premier League Champions Leicester City FC! @LCFC #godstiming pic.twitter.com/tXIIGroLAa
— Josh Gordon (@Josh_Gordonn) April 7, 2017
Joe Ward (Woking to Peterborough, 2017)
The 22 year-old winger looks as though he could be a very good capture for the Post, who have an excellent track record of attracting non-league stars. Ward is another player who could thrive in the football league and the league one outfit spotted his talent when Ward played against them in the FA Cup this year as Woking earned an impressive replay against the League One outfit.
In a statement, via the official club’s website, manager Grant McCann appeared to be delighted in getting Ward on board. He said:
“I think it is a great signing for this football club. He brings pace, energy and can go past people both ways. He has scored a few goals already this season and was excellent against us in the FA Cup, especially in the first game at their place. He is a lad that I have been aware of for about a year now. I have kept a close eye on his progress, watching his development and am delighted to get him on board.”
WARD SIGNS | We are delighted to announce the signing of @wokingfc winger @JoeJoeward22 for an undisclosed fee. #pufc #wardsigns
— Peterborough United (@theposhofficial) January 10, 2018
Craig Mackail-Smith (Dagenham & Redbridge to Peterborough, 2007)
Now at the age of 33, and at Luton Town, you could say that Craig Mackail-Smith’s career has declined. However, it was some signing for the Posh in 2007, as he thrived in the four years he spent at the ABAX stadium as he scored 80 times in 185 appearances after being brought by Darren Ferguson.
The tenacity and edge he gave Peterborough going forward was sensational to watch at times and he has certainly had more happy memories in the football league, opposed to sad memories and he could well help to supplement Luton Town’s promotion bid to league one this season, with the Hatters currently topping the League Two table.
