Something tells me Ramsgate don't produce too many wonderkids...
From thisiskent
RAMSGATE wonderkid Gary Lockyer is spending the week with League 1 promotion hopefuls Charlton Athletic.
The 17-year-old striker, who scored twice in a trial match for Crystal Palace last month, could even feature for the Addicks reserves against Chelsea tomorrow (Wednesday).
Rams boss Jim Ward contacted Charlton youth coach Steve Gritt to set up the trial.
Ward said: "I know Steve well and he's always on at me to let him know about players, so I told him I had somebody other clubs had shown an interest in.
"Depending on how he does, there's an outside chance Gary could play for the reserves against Chelsea, which would be massive for the boy. Who knows, if he plays and scores a hat-trick, Chelsea might want him!
"All we can do is give him encouragement and wish him all the best.
"We'd love somebody from our club to go all the way and make it as a professional footballer. Let's see how Gary gets on with Charlton."
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Or Dicko
By all means give the lad a trial, but it must be hard to get an accurate assessment of a player's ability from a reserve game. Dicko seems to score in most of the reserve friendlies, but he's been poor whenever he's played in the first team.
scored FOR Palace so is a Palace reject.
Out him now, waste of money, why is taking a place in the ressies that could go to one of our own players, typical Charlton.
Were they under their embargo then?
And we rejected Chris Smalling
Are you sure? Oops!
Think Ramsgate are Ryman league. So 4 or 5.
Was this academy football of sunday league? Also, was he miles better than everyone else? If not then doubt he'll make it
Just looked and they in Ryman Div 1 South. So you've got:
League 2, Conference, Conference south, ryman premier, then Div 1.
5 leagues below us.
Ramsgate are 12th in the table, 5 places below Dulwich where we got Dickson from.
So do you reckon this guy will turn out like Smalling? I'd like a bit of wildness in our youth players, too many of our young players have great skills without bite to their game. If he has bite, a few seasons will prove if he can tame his instincts into effective positional play. 17's a great age to learn and adapt.
I think the real miss was Jimmy Bullard, certainly when he left Wigan if not before. This team was crying out for a focal piece of energy to get others going, and still is. Wages on JFH or JB? No brainer even before May 2007.
Kent Youth League and against academies of Sunderland, Newcastle, Middlesbrough, Scunthorpe and others. Not miles better (though certainly bigger) but, hey, who am I to say? ;o)
Spot On.
I'm a Ramsgate Fan and a friend of Gary Lockyer, Ramsgate have always had bright youth players most of the first team are from local Sunday league or the youth set-up some have gone on or are ongoing good non-league careers but sadly not many have made it in professional football Liam Hatch being one notable example.
He played against our Under 18's for First Touch Academy and impressed so we signed him, previous to that he was apart of Ebbsfleet's Youth Set-Up. He hasn't represented the first team on many occasions due to breeding him though slowly at his tender age although he does look physically capable but playing well for the reserves.
A scout at a game noticed him and set up a trial for Palace he played in team full of trialists against a QPR side scoring a brace, They haven't contacted him since other football league sides have taken notice but Charlton is his choice mainly because of our youth set-up and he is a good friend of Connor Morris.
Speaking to him recently he is really looking forward to proving himself and become a Charlton Player all he want's to do is play football, Joe Powell is another young talent only 17 had trial with Southampton last year.