Mangotsfield United FC - Pitchero

NOT since he woke me up on a late-night Calais to Dover ferry at the end of an exhausting trip toEuroDisney with the kids have I been more surprised to see my old Ware team-mate Anthony Anstead’sgreying barnet.As I devoured last Sunday’s NLP, there he was on pages 26 and 41, firing in a goal during HertfordTown’s FA Cup extra preliminary round win over Colney Heath. What’s unusual about that? I hear youask.Well, Ant used to be our goalkeeper…last seen trying to control a ball on his goal-line and flick it overan onrushing Potters Bar Townstriker’s head early in the 2007-08 season, only for it to be noddedstraight into our net!He was always a confident lad, and I knew that after a brief spell in charge of Harlow Town four yearsago, he’d been playing up front in the Herts Senior County League for Wodson Park and then at Step5 for St Margaretsbury with prolific results.A summer move has seen him switch to Spartan South Midlands Premier rivals Hertford, and fairplay to him – he’s now banging in goals in the world’s greatest cup competition at the age of 34.It got me thinking about other big position transitions. We can all reel off a Dion Dublin or a PaulWarhurst, who would alternate between centre-half and centre-forward from one week to the next –or even within the same 90 minutes if their side were chasing a game.Then there are the likes of Staines Town manager Marcus Gayle, who played up front in the top-flightfor the original Wimbledon, but often played centre-half under Terry Brown at Aldershot Town and AFCWimbledon as his legs matured.I also recall seeing Gary Hooper play right-back for Grays Athletic, although his destiny alwayspromised to be in the opposition’s penalty area – as he has proved in the Champions League withCeltic and hopefully will now in the Premier League as a £5m Norwich City striker.The best example for me, however, involves another player who cast off the gloves to play outfield.Step forward Matty Taylor, who was so good as a Non-League goalkeeper he won the FA Trophy withBurscough ten years ago with an outstanding display against Tamworth at Villa Park.He also played for Matlock, Hucknall, Halifax and Guiseley, before TeamBath boss Ged Roddy – whoselected him as a centre-half for English Universities – signed him for the Students’ 2006-07 SouthernLeague Premier campaign.Taylor proceeded to step up a division virtually every season up to 2011 by moving to Exeter City andbeing the rock at the heart of their defence as they rose from the Conference to League One, beforecaptaining Charlton Athletic in the Championship.This summer the 32-year-old has dropped back – not in position but division, to join League Onenew- boys Bradford City – but there can’t be many who have enjoyed as successful a switch asman- mountain Matt.Let me know via stuarthammonds@gmail.com or tweet @stuhammonds_NLP if you can think of anyothers.FIELD REVIEW -8