Six weeks into the season and with the majority of squads having settled down following the pre & early season merry-go-round what better time to catch up on the whereabouts of former Moles.
The most obvious first port of call is CorinthianhyphenCasuals, who of course have recently appointed former Molesey coach Carl Taylor to their backroom team.
Taylor has wasted no time in bringing in Trevor Robinson, Eric Kwayke, and Steve Omonua, to accompany Jason Hanif, Luke Edgehill and David Ocquaye.
The talented Robinson was on the score sheet recently in Casuals’ 3-1 defeat against Dulwich Hamlet, in a game where Laurent Hamici, scorer of Molesey’s late equaliser against Kingstonian last season, was on the score sheet for Hamlet. Also turning out for Hamlet is Tyran James, who has gone full circle having joined the Moles from Dulwich before going on to spend time with Tooting & Mitcham and Chatham.
Despite their fans’ annoyance at the ex number of Swans turning out for Kingstonian, Walton & Hersham have fielded enough former Moles in the last 12 months to make up an entire XI, and their newest recruit, Rob Wilkinson made his debut in their recent 2-1 defeat against Sittingbourne, a game in which Richard Brady scored for the Brickies.
Also at Stompond Lane at present are Aaron Nowacki, Jon Boswell and Stuart Booth.
Glen Harris, Marcello Fernandes and Elliott Frost, all of whom were on dual-registration with the Moles last season, remain at Hampton & Richmond, although Frost is rumoured to currently be dual-registered with Egham Town, who have Clark Gooding, Leeyon Phelan, Dan Lucas and Billy Sentence in their squad.
Our former goal-scoring keeper Chuck Martini appears to be doing a fine job as player-manager at Godalming Town, and Chris Wales and Richard Brightwell have been joined at the club by the experienced Richard Thompson, whilst Martini’s compatriots Brahim Eloumani and Adam Hadded (the latter whom played one game for the Moles during our successful FA Trophy run 2 seasons ago) are also with the club.
Another player still plying his trade at Ryman League level is Jamie Findlay, who is turning out for Chipstead and was one of an incredible SIX PLAYERS sent off during their recent 1-1 draw with Worthing, whilst talented duo Luke Garrard and Phil Williams remain at Kingstonian. Tommy Moorehouse remains a Met Police player.
We have already come up against a number of ex Moles already this season in Lee Doherty at Wembley, Steve Windegaard at Banstead, Jon Ashwood at Badshot Lea, Mark Longley at Colliers Wood, Jamie Lee Smithers at Camberley Town, and Kevin Cooper , Wayne Noad and Steve Gibson at Chertsey Town. Alex Rodrigues is said to be at Epsom & Ewell, who we face later this month.
Going down a division, Ben Jacob is appearing for Staines Lammas.
At the other end of the spectrum, Argentine Sergio Torres is turning out for League 1 side Peterborough United following his £150,000 transfer from Wycombe Wanderers over the summer, whilst Jeff Goulding, who played centre half as a 17 year old under Chic Botley at Walton Road, has recently signed for AFC Bournemouth following prolific spells at Fisher Athletic and Yeading & Hayes. Goulding scored on his Bournemouth debut in the 3-0 victory over Bristol Rovers having been set up by ex England international Darren Anderton. I had no idea he was still playing.
If I’m not mistaken I believe it is the first time Molesey have had two former players playing league football concurrently.
Going down a couple of divisions Phil Ruggles is turning out for Blue Square South strugglers Basingstoke, having left Carshalton Athletic under a bit of a cloud during the summer, whilst Adrian Toppin, one of the heroes of Staines’s FA Cup run last season, is currently at Bromley. Going back even further in time, Steve Mckimm, part of the successful mid 90’s Molesey team, is player-coach at Sutton United.
Have I missed any? Email george_alderman@live.co.uk
