The National League Players Too Hot To Handle

By David Richardson

There's an abundance of talent across the Vanarama National League divisions so we've picked out five players that have been excelling this season.


Cody Cooke - Truro City
This 24-year-old forward, who works as a teacher at Exeter College, has been lighting up the National League South so far. Being the only Cornish-born member of Truro's squad, their FA Cup heroics in making history by reaching the first round meant more to him than most - he scored in their win over Hampton and Richmond to get them there. Cooke has eight goals to his name in the league and with Truro sitting third, he'll need to keep scoring if they're to keep the pressure on those at the top.

Louis John - Sutton United
Sutton manager Paul Doswell has a valuable asset in Louis John. The 23-year-old centre-back is a regular in the U's team and rightly so. He's closing in on 100 appearances for the Surrey-based side having come up through the club's academy. He did sign for Crawley Town but was loaned back to Sutton before signing permanently and had loan spells at Metropolitan Police and Hemel Hempstead. John earned an England C call-up last summer and played the full 90 minutes in their International Challenge Trophy Final defeat against Slovakia last week.


Rhys Murrell-Williamson - St Albans
This man has been at the forefront of St Albans bright start to their National League South campaign. The former Fulham, Crystal Palace and Celtic winger has found his feet under the management of Ian Allison. The tricky winger has bagged seven goals in 12 starts after having spells in Non-League with Sutton United, Harrow Borough, Aylesbury United and Dulwich Hamlet. “We spoke to Luke Garrard at Boreham Wood about him and they both gave him a good CV,” said Allison. “He has come to the table and scored some very good goals."

Max Kretzschmar - Hampton and Richmond
After playing 73 times for Wycombe Wanderers in the Football League, attacking midfielder Max Kretzschmar was released in 2016 and found himself in Non-League with part-time Woking. An injury ravaged season with the Cards led to another setback this summer in being released again but now the 24-year-old is excelling with Hampton in the National League South. The dead-ball specialist has 10 goals to his name in all competitions and has played a key part in recent weeks as the Beavers have recorded five consecutive league wins.

Jason Gilchrist - FC United of Manchester
This lethal striker has 11 goals to his name this season in the National League North. The 22-year-old started his career at Burnley where he top scored in their youth team. He went out on loan to Droylsden, Accrington Stanley and Chester but after being released by the Premier League club, he has settled in Manchester. Gilchrist has scored five in his last four league games as FC United look to climb up the league table.

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Vanarama National League North
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