MARTYN Woolford says he still sees his playing future in the Football League - but believes there would be no better way to achieve his arm than with York City.
The pacey winger, named The Press player of the year earlier this week following a season which spawned 17 goals, reiterated his desire to play at a higher level but said winning the Blue Square Premier with York next season was his ambition.
Woolford, who pipped centre-back David McGurk to take the gong, has a year left on his current contract but has been watched in recent weeks by Dario Gradi, director of football at Crewe Alexandra.
City boss Colin Walker told The Press earlier this month that the former Frickley Athletic wide man remains a crucial part of his plans for next season and Woolford said he was pleased the City boss had made him such a key player in an otherwise disappointing campaign.
"I've been playing week in and week out," Woolford said.
"Last season, I was getting frustrated at being in and out of the team and this year I've been able to get into my stride.
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"It's definitely better than it was last year when I was getting frustrated because I thought I deserved to be in the side.
"I have still had games where I know I could have done better but I am just getting more consistency to my game and winning The Press player of the year award shows I must have been doing something right.
"I am chuffed to win the award. I know it was a close battle between me and David McGurk. He got both the club and players' player of the year so it is nice for me to get something out of the season."
The 22-year-old added: "I've said before it's one of my personal goals to get in the league. I don't think there's anything wrong with that - I want to play at the highest of levels.
"Winning the league with York would be the best-case scenario and that's my ambition for next season."
Woolford will presumably look to top his impressive haul of goals, which arrived both from the wing and when playing up front alongside Richard Brodie.
"I set myself a target of 15 at the start of the season - and I thought I was setting it quite high. I managed to get there and get a couple more," he added.
"From a personal point of view the season has gone okay but anything less than the play-offs this year had to be disappointing and the same would go for next season as well.
"Getting knocked out of the FA Trophy was disappointing. We had got on a decent run and getting to the final, and getting a bit of silverware, would have been good.
"But the fans have been great. We've had great support behind us."
Meanwhile, striker Daniel McBreen, who had a successful loan spell at City earlier in the season and scored in the Scottish Cup semi-final against Rangers, has been released by St Johnstone after manager Derek McInnes decided not to offer him a deal.
Also Marlon Beresford released by Luton. I remember him being pretty good for us a few years back. Not sure how old he is. Surely better than Evans or Porter though!
Also Marlon Beresford released by Luton. I remember him being pretty good for us a few years back. Not sure how old he is. Surely better than Evans or Porter though!
Posted by: Terry Raspberry, York on 9:44am Fri 2 May 08
There is no chance we can get these players released from Luton, Wrexham etc, we should be going over to Harrogate Town and looking at their players, bring their manager back with us to!
There is no chance we can get these players released from Luton, Wrexham etc, we should be going over to Harrogate Town and looking at their players, bring their manager back with us to!
Posted by: ianbenton, Devon on 9:45am Fri 2 May 08
McBreen is a must, Sodje, Brodie and Wollford can all feed off him and on his loan period he looked a good player himslef also !
Good shout from Wooly, but if we get a bad start to next season think he will get snapped up at Xmas
McBreen is a must, Sodje, Brodie and Wollford can all feed off him and on his loan period he looked a good player himslef also !
Good shout from Wooly, but if we get a bad start to next season think he will get snapped up at Xmas
Posted by: Monkey, Newcastle on 9:57am Fri 2 May 08
[quote]we should be going over to Harrogate Town and looking at their players[/quote]
Why, most of them have already played at York, so we know how they play. Why bother wasting the petrol, it's dear you know
we should be going over to Harrogate Town and looking at their players
Why, most of them have already played at York, so we know how they play. Why bother wasting the petrol, it's dear you know
[quote][bold]Terry Raspberry[/bold] wrote:
There is no chance we can get these players released from Luton, Wrexham etc, we should be going over to Harrogate Town and looking at their players, bring their manager back with us to![/quote] Your having a laugh Terry, buying players from a lower league will not win us promotion. Would love to see McBreen leading the line and a commanding keeper like Beresford back in goal. Sodje was a different player playing alongside McBreen, hope Col goes all out to get him back.
Terry Raspberry wrote:
There is no chance we can get these players released from Luton, Wrexham etc, we should be going over to Harrogate Town and looking at their players, bring their manager back with us to!
Your having a laugh Terry, buying players from a lower league will not win us promotion. Would love to see McBreen leading the line and a commanding keeper like Beresford back in goal. Sodje was a different player playing alongside McBreen, hope Col goes all out to get him back.
Wooly will be playing in the league soon but I don't think it will be with us unless we bring in some real quality ex league players. Don't want to lose Wooly but it might be best if we invested the 75-100k transfer fee that we might get to bring in 4/5 top players. Would encourage the Shep to get his chance too.
Wooly will be playing in the league soon but I don't think it will be with us unless we bring in some real quality ex league players. Don't want to lose Wooly but it might be best if we invested the 75-100k transfer fee that we might get to bring in 4/5 top players. Would encourage the Shep to get his chance too.
Posted by: bristolyorkie, Bristol on 10:12am Fri 2 May 08
Yes I feel Mc Breen would be a good signing, but we should not rush, there will be a great deal of players looking for clubs as the great offload begins. York is a club of fine tradition and we should be able to attract quality to the club. Year after year the conference gets better and better and we will need strength and depth to escape it.My concern is the longer we stay in the conference the more difficult it will be to regain a coveted league place. We should take heart from clubs that have bounced back and the things they have achieved, Carlisle, Doncaster and this season Hereford. I know its difficult, but once we are back there, we will be there for good.
Yes I feel Mc Breen would be a good signing, but we should not rush, there will be a great deal of players looking for clubs as the great offload begins. York is a club of fine tradition and we should be able to attract quality to the club. Year after year the conference gets better and better and we will need strength and depth to escape it.My concern is the longer we stay in the conference the more difficult it will be to regain a coveted league place. We should take heart from clubs that have bounced back and the things they have achieved, Carlisle, Doncaster and this season Hereford. I know its difficult, but once we are back there, we will be there for good.
Posted by: Terry Raspberry, York on 11:46am Fri 2 May 08
What im trying to say is we should be looking for players in the league below who have performed well and ready for the step up instead of going for some of the players who have just been released and who will still be big (by our standards) wages. Players mentioned like Beresford and Proctor would probably be wanting anything form £800 to a grand a week!
What im trying to say is we should be looking for players in the league below who have performed well and ready for the step up instead of going for some of the players who have just been released and who will still be big (by our standards) wages. Players mentioned like Beresford and Proctor would probably be wanting anything form £800 to a grand a week!
Harrogate? A manager who (allegedly) has been able to pay part-time players as much as they got at York for being full-time, yet still can't get them anywhere near winning promotion to the Tinpot Premier isn't going to be much good at getting a team promoted from said Tinpot league.
Harrogate? A manager who (allegedly) has been able to pay part-time players as much as they got at York for being full-time, yet still can't get them anywhere near winning promotion to the Tinpot Premier isn't going to be much good at getting a team promoted from said Tinpot league.
Posted by: punk_ian, Leeds on 12:37pm Fri 2 May 08
Please Col, please bring in McBreen (if he'll come). That will be a great start to the rebuilding. Beresford might want a bit more money then we can offer but if we can get him we should, we need an experienced keeper who can shore up the back and inspire confidence in the back 3/4 That'll just leave us needing to get a quality midfield anchorman and we'll then stand a chance next season.
Please Col, please bring in McBreen (if he'll come). That will be a great start to the rebuilding. Beresford might want a bit more money then we can offer but if we can get him we should, we need an experienced keeper who can shore up the back and inspire confidence in the back 3/4 That'll just leave us needing to get a quality midfield anchorman and we'll then stand a chance next season.
Posted by: Herman Frodite, York on 12:54pm Fri 2 May 08
Bring back Offiong , couldn't hit a cows a*se with a banjo when he played for us . However he's turned into a goal machine in Scotland . I'm aware that's all relative but surely we could afford him !
Bring back Offiong , couldn't hit a cows a*se with a banjo when he played for us . However he's turned into a goal machine in Scotland . I'm aware that's all relative but surely we could afford him !
While it would be nice to sign proven players from higher leagues on permanent deals, it seems unlikely this will be an option with the current state of the clubs finances. Surely the best way for clubs like York to survive is to hire a manager who can identify talent in lower leagues which can then be brought on and encouraged, and mix this with experienced and affordable loan signings from higher league clubs.
At the risk of sounding negative, I feel we did have a manager (Billy McEwan) who proved himself able to do this on a regular basis with the permanent signings of Woolford, Brodie, Purkiss, Bishop, Sodje and loan signings of Goodlife, McBrean and Kovac.
So far I havent seen the same prospects in any of Colin Walkers signings, though I very much hope he proves me wrong next season.
While it would be nice to sign proven players from higher leagues on permanent deals, it seems unlikely this will be an option with the current state of the clubs finances. Surely the best way for clubs like York to survive is to hire a manager who can identify talent in lower leagues which can then be brought on and encouraged, and mix this with experienced and affordable loan signings from higher league clubs.
At the risk of sounding negative, I feel we did have a manager (Billy McEwan) who proved himself able to do this on a regular basis with the permanent signings of Woolford, Brodie, Purkiss, Bishop, Sodje and loan signings of Goodlife, McBrean and Kovac.
So far I havent seen the same prospects in any of Colin Walkers signings, though I very much hope he proves me wrong next season.
I would love to see proctor back at city he was fantastic when we had him on loan! and i think we need a good defender we have loads of them but we let loads of goals in!
I would love to see proctor back at city he was fantastic when we had him on loan! and i think we need a good defender we have loads of them but we let loads of goals in!
Posted by: Terry Raspberry, York on 1:30pm Fri 2 May 08
[quote][bold]Simon[/bold] wrote:
While it would be nice to sign proven players from higher leagues on permanent deals, it seems unlikely this will be an option with the current state of the clubs finances. Surely the best way for clubs like York to survive is to hire a manager who can identify talent in lower leagues which can then be brought on and encouraged, and mix this with experienced and affordable loan signings from higher league clubs. At the risk of sounding negative, I feel we did have a manager (Billy McEwan) who proved himself able to do this on a regular basis with the permanent signings of Woolford, Brodie, Purkiss, Bishop, Sodje and loan signings of Goodlife, McBrean and Kovac. So far I havent seen the same prospects in any of Colin Walkers signings, though I very much hope he proves me wrong next season.[/quote] Exactly
Simon wrote:
While it would be nice to sign proven players from higher leagues on permanent deals, it seems unlikely this will be an option with the current state of the clubs finances. Surely the best way for clubs like York to survive is to hire a manager who can identify talent in lower leagues which can then be brought on and encouraged, and mix this with experienced and affordable loan signings from higher league clubs. At the risk of sounding negative, I feel we did have a manager (Billy McEwan) who proved himself able to do this on a regular basis with the permanent signings of Woolford, Brodie, Purkiss, Bishop, Sodje and loan signings of Goodlife, McBrean and Kovac. So far I havent seen the same prospects in any of Colin Walkers signings, though I very much hope he proves me wrong next season.
Posted by: yorkiegirl, york on 3:29pm Fri 2 May 08
There is no way we can afford ex league players like Proctor, and saying bringing players from Harrogate would not work half of them where ours to start with, Widen the search and look for players who will compliment the team we have to get back in the league, changing like for like won't work,. the manager isn't the issue at this level it's getting the team together.
There is no way we can afford ex league players like Proctor, and saying bringing players from Harrogate would not work half of them where ours to start with, Widen the search and look for players who will compliment the team we have to get back in the league, changing like for like won't work,. the manager isn't the issue at this level it's getting the team together.
mcbreen would be a fantastic signing,whether he would be interested or not is debatable but fingers crossed,def wont be signing beresford seeing as col said he was wanting to bring sum1 younger than evans in,would settle for henderson who we had on loan at start of season,seemed very commanding of box
mcbreen would be a fantastic signing,whether he would be interested or not is debatable but fingers crossed,def wont be signing beresford seeing as col said he was wanting to bring sum1 younger than evans in,would settle for henderson who we had on loan at start of season,seemed very commanding of box
Posted by: maltonred, malton on 7:24pm Fri 2 May 08
mcbreen and beresford would be good signings but wont come,proctor doesnt score enough goals so would fit in well,williams would be interesting. Ithink all we need is a keeper midfielder and a striker.the back four could be parslow mcgurk kelly and purkiss. midfield farrell woolford wroe and beadle or another and anew striker with sodj or brodie.
mcbreen and beresford would be good signings but wont come,proctor doesnt score enough goals so would fit in well,williams would be interesting. Ithink all we need is a keeper midfielder and a striker.the back four could be parslow mcgurk kelly and purkiss. midfield farrell woolford wroe and beadle or another and anew striker with sodj or brodie.
Posted by: romfordpele, York on 10:46pm Fri 2 May 08
We seem to want to get as many old boys back as possible - I can't see the likes of Beresford and Proctor fitting into our wage structure. Perhaps Nigel Pepper is keen to make a return? What about getting Super Alan Fettis back to play in goal?
Without doubt Walker is going to have to look at Conference level and lower for the majority of his new signings, one of which I still think needs to be a commanding centre back. A new goalkeeper alone is not going to solve our defensive issues all by itself.
We seem to want to get as many old boys back as possible - I can't see the likes of Beresford and Proctor fitting into our wage structure. Perhaps Nigel Pepper is keen to make a return? What about getting Super Alan Fettis back to play in goal?
Without doubt Walker is going to have to look at Conference level and lower for the majority of his new signings, one of which I still think needs to be a commanding centre back. A new goalkeeper alone is not going to solve our defensive issues all by itself.
Terry and Simon have a point, but they ignore the fact that very often emerging talent from lower leagues needs mentoring e.g. Brodie and I'd diagnose some of our defensive and striking frailties to a lack of confidence caused by a lack of footballing maturity. Typically, there's a fear of making the wrong decision, which results in making the wrong decision being made or, worse, no decision at all. e.g. Set piece outside our area, keeper doesn't come, defenders mark up players already in the box, no-one attacks the ball, no-one picks up late run from outside box.
Terry and Simon have a point, but they ignore the fact that very often emerging talent from lower leagues needs mentoring e.g. Brodie and I'd diagnose some of our defensive and striking frailties to a lack of confidence caused by a lack of footballing maturity. Typically, there's a fear of making the wrong decision, which results in making the wrong decision being made or, worse, no decision at all. e.g. Set piece outside our area, keeper doesn't come, defenders mark up players already in the box, no-one attacks the ball, no-one picks up late run from outside box.
Posted by: punk_ian, Leeds on 10:01am Sat 3 May 08
[quote][bold]romfordpele[/bold] wrote:
We seem to want to get as many old boys back as possible - I can't see the likes of Beresford and Proctor fitting into our wage structure. Perhaps Nigel Pepper is keen to make a return? What about getting Super Alan Fettis back to play in goal?
Without doubt Walker is going to have to look at Conference level and lower for the majority of his new signings, one of which I still think needs to be a commanding centre back. A new goalkeeper alone is not going to solve our defensive issues all by itself.[/quote] But a competent, commanding keeper will install confidence in the back 4 and that should roll on to less mistakes and more responsibility taken on set plays
romfordpele wrote:
We seem to want to get as many old boys back as possible - I can't see the likes of Beresford and Proctor fitting into our wage structure. Perhaps Nigel Pepper is keen to make a return? What about getting Super Alan Fettis back to play in goal?
Without doubt Walker is going to have to look at Conference level and lower for the majority of his new signings, one of which I still think needs to be a commanding centre back. A new goalkeeper alone is not going to solve our defensive issues all by itself.
But a competent, commanding keeper will install confidence in the back 4 and that should roll on to less mistakes and more responsibility taken on set plays
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