Walney Island might just operate in the West Lancashire League’s Division Two, but they certainly unearth football potential.
South Cumbrian club Walney Island has become a conveyor belt of talent with six players leaving this summer, many going to higher division clubs.
One of them was star midfielder Zach Walker who moved to Kendal Town this summer – a jump of four divisions.
He was joining a former Walney team-mate James Bailey at Parkside Road who has made a big impression since switching clubs.
Walney Island manager Steve Brennan accepts it’s hard replacing players like Walker and Bailey but is proud of the part his club played in their development.
He says: “James and Zach had been with us since they were seven years old.
“They had bags of talent and they never missed a training session, never missed a game. And they only got better for it.
“James has hit 40-odd goals for two seasons running and Zach started really well at Kendal until he got injured.
“They’re playing with better players but they’re the sort of lads to soak up every bit of advice they get.
“We’re sponsoring them this season as we want to put something back in. A few of us jump in a car and go and watch them when we don’t have a game. It’s a bit of pride seeing them doing so well.”
Brennan thinks he might have another potential league climber on his hands too.
Young Brad Tippett has stepped up from the U16s and is impressing in Walker’s old role while the club’s vibrant youth section means the convoyer belt will keep running.
They got their first win of the season on Tuesday with a 3-2 win over Dalton United.
Match hero was Jack Litherland – a player Brennan wishes was available every game. He grabbed a hat-trick to wrap up the win.
“Jack plays cricket on a Saturday so he’s seeing that season out and playing with us midweek. We’ve another lad who is playing rugby.
“Many of the lads work in the shipyards and with the shift patterns, our availability is sometimes all over the place.
“We had one lad come just for the second half when he finished work at 6.50pm. That’s how it is.
“When you’ve lost three on the bounce you can see the lack of confidence in the changing room but we did well and saw the game out and I was delighted.
“We’ve a tough game now down at Fulwood on Saturday. But we love our days out – well, the lads do, I’ve got to drive the bus back!”
