With Britain on the cusp of the biggest sporting event these shores have witnessed, it is pleasing to report football is back, writes Stuart Amos.
And it seems standards at the Bees have got even more exacting, while the revolving door.
Not impressed enough by Rowendy Schoop’s goal against Hampton & Richmond Borough last week, boss Uwe Rosler ruthlessly dispatched the Dutchman from whence he came.
Turns out what Schoop should have been was a defender and experienced Millwall man Tony Craig duly arrived and trialist Leon Redwood was given another go in the 4-1 win at Blue Square South Hayes & Yeading on Wednesday night.
Craig’s arrival earlier this week ushered Pim Balkestein out of the door to League Two AFC Wimbledon, while Karleigh Osborne duly completed a move to the Den.
Balkestein impressed on loan at Kingsmeadow last season – a line Bees fans were familiar with prior to the Dutchman’s permanent arrival at Griffin Park – and on signing his new deal revealed there was little option for him to move on from his Bees nightmare.
It all means Bees players who have grown up with the club, are getting thin on the ground, so it was pleasing to see Kevin O’Connor play a half on Wednesday having endured a miserable spell on the sidelines – not to mention a stint as a pundit on Bees Player.
Jake Reeves has looked sharp too.
This is a point that won't be lost on Harlequins fans, who saw their team – containing a substantial chunk of home grown talent – crowned champions of England in May.
With a proposed new stadium in the pipeline and a major overhaul of the club’s youth set-up having already been undertaken, I look forward to the time when A.Trialist on the team sheet is replaced by young players with realistic hopes of making the first team.
It would be encouraging to see the O’Connor’s of the future start to make in-roads into the Bees starting line up. That is the dream.
Next stop......Germany.
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