The unofficial AFC Rushden & Diamonds messageboard

Nabil Shariff and Aynsley McDonald.

Congratulations to those two lads.

Pretty predictable. I played with them at an earlier age and could have guessed this at the age of 14!

Nabil has lots of ability, just needs to improve his attitude/work rate etc

Aynsley has lots of potential, but we don't have a great record at producing defenders...

Does this mean the others definitely haven't or not? Wouldn't be surprised if George Cox got one possibly...

From what i have heard all the other 2nd yrs have been released which is a shame because there were some very good lads out there and very nice as people as well but i am afraid that is the harsh reality of football, good luck to the rest of the lads in what ever you carry on and do with your life . I believe one of the lads is well on the way to joining the the army ( REME)

STAGMAN wrote:From what i have heard all the other 2nd yrs have been released which is a shame because there were some very good lads out there and very nice as people as well but i am afraid that is the harsh reality of football, good luck to the rest of the lads in what ever you carry on and do with your life . I believe one of the lads is well on the way to joining the the army ( REME)

Yeh, the harsh reality of accepting a youth scholarship! You really have to be top dollar for it to be worth it, otherwise it will more than likely end in disappointment. I am still in contact with a number of them, will be able to confirm this...

Yes, I can unofficially confirm the rest were released through two reliable sources...

God luck to all of them released but unfortunately this is football. They may end up having a career as happened to the likes of Tommo when he was released from another academy.

Congrats to Nabil and Aynsley, here's hoping they make a great impact.

Suprised we did'nt take on Lewis Hallford, looked like a player in the mould of Tommo. But then again, i haven't seen him play an awful lot!

TheIncognitoKid wrote:Suprised we did'nt take on Lewis Hallford, looked like a player in the mould of Tommo. But then again, i haven't seen him play an awful lot!

Hallford was superb last season as a first year, but when I've seen him this season it didn't seem as though he had progressed at all. Shariff on the other hand has come on immensely since last season, improving just about every aspect of his game. It's not surprise at all that he has been given a contract ahead of Hallford.

McDonald was always going to get a contract; he's the most talented player I've seen in the youth side since Tommo.