Eccleshill United head coach Bobby Davison is hoping some of the current crop of Eagles players will follow in the footsteps of Nahki Wells and make the grade at Valley Parade.

Davison was not involved with Eccleshill or the Richmond International Academic and Soccer Academy (RIASA) when the exciting young Bermuda forward burst through. But he has seen players with as much pace and talent in the squad he inherited.

“We have taken seven or eight of the lads down to Bradford City and they have played a few reserve games and not looked out of place,” said Davison, who as a former top-flight player, Bantams assistant manager and head coach at Hungarian giants Ferencvaros has a keen eye for potential.

“I’m here to help develop these young players and I’ve been impressed with the overall standard. That’s why when Mark (Ellis, RIASA chief and former Bantams winger) said City wanted to take look at a few, I knew they would slot into the development squad down there.”

Davison added: “The young lads are really keen to learn and in my time with them I have seen them coming on in leaps and bounds.

“I told them there are two parts to the game – one when you have the ball and the other when you haven’t – and to be fair to the boys, they listened.

“It has been very rewarding seeing that progress and even more so seeing them playing for City’s reserve side – and not just playing but doing well in games against good sides.

“When they play for us (in Northern Counties East League Division One), they show a lot of promise. No disrespect but they are not playing against the kind of opponent they are when they are playing for City’s reserves.

“There is also a difference in the players they have around them. When they have Bradford’s young pros and apprentices playing in the same team and on a decent playing surface, they stand out even more.

“I’m convinced that a lot of these players will go on to have a future in the full-time game, in England or even abroad. Some of them show even more potential than Nahki, so the incentive is there for them and the die has already been cast.”