By Matt Badcock
TYLER HARVEY says Truro City are giving him the platform to really show what he’s made of – and he believes more young footballers are seeing the benefits of playing in Non-League.
The ambitious 22-year-old forward has scored nine times for the Cornish club this season, including against League One side Charlton Athletic in the FA Cup.
Harvey, who won The NLP‘s Goal of the Season in 2016 while on loan at Bath City, has played 50 times in the Football League for Plymouth Argyle. But regular game-time in the National League South with Truro is allowing him to showcase his talent.
“This will be the first time I’ve played a full season really since I was about 16,” Harvey told The NLP.
“It’s something like six years since I’ve played consistent football, so I’m just trying to milk it and enjoy every minute of it. I’m trying to show what I can do because I’ve never really had such a platform to perform like I have now.
“I’ve seen a lot of people do it. I was at Plymouth with Isaac Vassell. He left, came to Truro where he played every week and got a move to Luton.
“Now he’s flying high in the Championship with Birmingham City.
“It shows how playing every week and showing what you can do is important and Non-League now is regarded really highly.
“You can get caught up in being a ‘professional’, but there’s nothing like playing. It’s so much better for you.”
Lee Hodges’ White Tigers were three points off the top of the division ahead of the weekend – where they were in FA Trophy action – in a tight Step 2 promotion race where they have exceeded most people’s expectations.
“It’s brilliant,” Harvey said. “Because of where we’re located we spend so much time together and we’re really close. That works in our favour.
“We’ve won a lot of away games purely on the fact the boys look forward to them because we have a good time together. That closeness is definitely a factor in some of the results we’ve picked up.”