BEING released as an apprentice is every young footballer’s worst nightmare.

That was Adam Arthur’s fate at York City when then manager Billy McEwan showed him the Bootham Crescent door at the end of the 2005 season.

His dream of a career in professional football was dashed.

But, now aged 24, Arthur has bounced back impressively. He has taken his talents not just to another club, but to another continent.

Arthur played in the 3-1 defeat at Doncaster Rovers which ended York’s 75-year stay in the Football League in 2004 – a relegation the Minstermen have yet to overcome.

He appeared once as a substitute the following season before Chris Brass was dismissed from the York hot-seat and things didn’t work with successor McEwan and Arthur left as a third-year apprentice.

Having never signed full professional forms, Arthur landed a scholarship in America in 2006 at Lander University in South Carolina and, in his four years there, has been named freshman and college player of the year.

He has also been turning out for the Carolina Railhawks, a team playing in the tier below Major League Soccer and he has been invited back next February to try to win a place in the side.

With memories of City long behind him, Arthur now dreams of securing a career in MLS – and joining the likes of David Beckham and Landon Donovan at the top of US soccer.

“I played for the Railhawks’ reserves and scored 12 goals in 13 games,” he said.

“I graduate in December and the Railhawks have asked me to come back in February for the first day of pre-season training.

“Hopefully I will be signing professionally with them in February or March.

“I am 24 and when I went there I was the youngster in the team. In the UK, I would be a veteran at that age. I trained with the first team and played for the reserves.

“MLS is my target. If I can get in the Railhawks team I really feel I can do well.”

In one sense, Arthur’s rejection by York has worked out for the best. Had he signed professional forms with the Minstermen, US rules mean he would have been unable to secure his American scholarship.

On his days at York, Arthur added: “It feels like such a long time ago and I now see it as a blessing in disguise with Billy McEwan.

“I love the life over there in America and I will probably end up staying there even if football doesn’t work out.

“To play in that Doncaster game was bitter sweet. It was nice to be playing but afterwards, in the changing room, the atmosphere wasn’t a nice feeling.

“Chris Brass told me I was going to be professional. He liked me a lot.

“Billy McEwan watched me in a couple of games for the reserves. He didn’t like me. I scored a hat-trick in my last game, two days before I was released. But I feel like everything happens for a reason.”

So onwards and upwards for Arthur.

“I think I can do well in this league,” he added. “Hopefully it will work out and we will see what happens.”


All-action Alex advances as August’s ace ascender

ALEX LAWLESS is August’s The Press Player of the Month.

A man-of-the-match display in City’s 3-0 win against Altrincham gave him a maximum three points and, along with a further point picked up for being the joint man-of-the-match voted for by supporters, saw him overhaul leader Michael Gash to take the spoils.

His performance also means Lawless leads The Press Player of the Year standings at this early stage of the Blue Square Bet Premier season – but Gash is hot on his heels.

Peter Till’s wing wizardry against Altrincham saw him named the second-best player, and pick up two points, while Dave McGurk was awarded the final point on offer.

McGurk’s strike partner Djoumin Sangare was given a point after being hailed jointly with Lawless.

An encouraging debut, and a goal, from Greg Young saw the centre-back named man of the match in the Minstermen’s disappointing 2-1 defeat at Fleetwood Town on Bank Holiday Monday.

Candidates for points were scarce but Jonathan Smith’s commitment saw him named second man of the match, while the final point on offer went once again to McGurk.

Don’t forget to register your man-of-the-match vote and be in with a chance of presenting the Player of the Month with a framed photograph on the pitch before a City home game.

The Press Player of the Year standings: Lawless 10 points, Gash 8, Meredith 4, Young 3, Carruthers 2, Ingham 2, Smith 2, Till 2, Parslow 1, McGurk 1.

The Press Player of the Month standings: Lawless 12, Gash 10, Meredith 6, Young 3, Carruthers 2, Ingham 2, Till 2, Smith 2, Barrett 1, McGurk 1, Parslow 1, Sangare 1.

Goals: Rankine 3, Brodie 1, Gash 1, Till 1, Young 1.

Assists: Brodie 1, Carruthers 1, Lawless 1, Gash 1, Till 1.

Bad boys: Lawless 2 yellow cards, Brodie 2, Rankine 2, Carruthers, Gash, Parslow and Smith all one yellow card.