Pic: Doncaster Rovers FC
ALFIE MAY achieving his professional dream was never in doubt, according to his Hythe Town boss Clive Cook – the striker even wanted to play football on their end-of-season trip to Ibiza!
May, 23, has signed a two-and-a-half year deal with League Two side Doncaster Rovers for an undisclosed fee after scoring 49 goals in 67 appearances for the Ryman Division One South Cannons.
Scouts have been flocking to Kent to watch the former Erith & Belvedere front man, who has had trials at Crewe, Gillingham and Stevenage.
But it’s Darren Ferguson’s side who have won the race and boss Cook is confident this is just the start of his story.
“It’s fantastic for him,” Cook told The NLP. “When I was assistant manager I’d always kept an eye on him. About three years ago I was talking to him on social media and said, ‘If I ever get a job, you’re my first signing’.
“Frankie Sawyer was in the end, but Alfie signed the next day so he was one of the first. He’s very dedicated and sure of what he wants.
“The talent he has is unbelievable. He never stops thinking, eating, drinking, living football. Even when we went on our end of season trip to Ibiza all he wanted to do was play football, would you believe. He lives it. He’s a brilliant lad and I’m chuffed for him.
“There were so many clubs looking at him, it was silly. We went to a game on a freezing cold Tuesday night that had 48 people there – I think 20 of them were scouts!
“I’ll be very proud when I see him walk on that pitch for Doncaster. He’s a credit to his family and himself.”
Cook, whose side are in the promotion chasing pack, believes there is plenty more talent capable of following May into the League.
“You set out at the start of the season, everyone does, thinking, ‘I wonder’,” Cook said. “Half of you says, ‘Yes, they should be looking,’ and the other half thinks they will be looking higher. But there are some very good players at this level, very good.
“Doncaster took time out to look and there are plenty of players at this level who can go higher. They treated us well as a football club and fitted in with what we wanted as we did with what they wanted.
“That’s the good thing about Darren Ferguson. He saw Non-League players at Peterborough. He looked after Alfie so well when he went up there. They had a big impression on each other. Alfie will do well.”
