8:30am Saturday 23rd January 2010
By Dave Flett
UNSTOPPABLE York City striker Richard Brodie has scored four more goals this season than any other professional player in England and Scotland.
Last Saturday’s brace against Hayes and Yeading United took Brodie’s tally to 27 from 27 starts in 2009/10 with Norwich City’s goal-getter Grant Holt a distant second on 23.
And, with Holt’s League One rivals Jermaine Beckford and Rickie Lambert the only other players to break the 20-goal barrier thus far, Brodie could take some catching in the Golden Boot race. In the Blue Square Premier, he is nine clear of the second-highest marksman – Oxford’s James Constable.
Furthermore, it seems only injury, a calamitous and unprecedented loss of form or, more worryingly for the Bootham Crescent faithful, a transfer window departure can prevent Brodie, left, from becoming just the fourth City player to net 30 times in a professional season.
Brodie would then join Happy Wanderers’ heroes Arthur Bottom and Billy Fenton in an elite band of players that also includes 1960s and 70s star Paul Aimson.
The 22-year-old forward is also just three goals short of moving level with 1980s favourites John Byrne and Gary Ford in professional career goals for the Minstermen.
Brodie is currently tied on 61 with pre-war hero Tommy Fenoughty in 15th place on the all-time list.
Leading from the front-line
RICHARD Brodie has opened up a gap of eight points in the Press Player of the Year standings.
The England ‘C’ international’s two-goal, man-of-the-match performance during last Saturday’s 4-1 home victory over Hayes and Yeading United earned him three more points towards the contest.
Alex Lawless (two points) and Chris Carruthers (one) were also rewarded as our second and third-highest rated players.
At Newport, the points went to our man-of-the-match Andy Ferrell (three), Michael Ingham (two) and Ben Purkiss (one).
The two bonus points from each game, on offer to the player who received most man-of-the-match votes from visitors to our website, were rewarded to Lawless against Hayes and Purkiss at Newport.
To be in with a chance of presenting the next Player of the Month with his prize on the pitch at a City home game, register your man-of-the-match vote for forthcoming fixtures on thepress.co.uk The Press Player of the Year standings: Brodie 30 points, McGurk 22, Rankine 18, Ferrell 15, Lawless 14, Ingham 13, Purkiss 13, Sangare 12, Barrett 10, Parslow 10, Mackin 9, Meredith 9, Gash 6, Carruthers 5, Graham 4, Smith 4, Boyes 2, Nelthorpe 2.
The Press January Player of the Month latest standings: Lawless 4, Barrett 3, Brodie 3, Ferrell 3, Purkiss 3, Ingham 2, Mackin 2, Rankine 2, Carruthers 1, McGurk 1.
Goals: Brodie 27, Gash 6, Rankine 6, Barrett 2, Carruthers 2, Pacquette 2, Sangare 2, Smith 2, Ferrell 1, Lawless 1.
Assists: Lawless 9, Brodie 7, Ferrell 4, Purkiss 4, Rankine 4, Smith 4, Barrett 3, Carruthers 3, Meredith 3, Sangare 2, Parslow 2, Gash 1, Graham 1, Ingham 1, Mackin 1, McGurk 1, Nelthorpe 1.
Bad boys: Brodie 8 yellow cards; Ferrell 7 yellow cards; Meredith 1 red card, 5 yellow; Mackin 6 yellow; Barrett, McGurk both 4 yellow cards; Smith 3 yellow cards; Carruthers, Ingham, Graham, Lawless, Rankine all 2 yellow cards; Pacquette 1 red card; Gash, Nelthorpe, Parslow, Sangare all 1 yellow.
Macca on move
FORMER York City striker Daniel McBreen has manufactured himself a mid-season move for the second campaign running.
Last February, shocked City officials learned of McBreen’s intention to quit Bootham Crescent and join North Queensland Fury at the end of the season.
He has since scored three goals for the A-League outfit, playing alongside former Liverpool and England forward Robbie Fowler, but has been palmed off to Perth Glory for the second half of 2009/10 after it emerged that he had signed an interim contract to play for Central Coast Mariners next season.
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