How long is it since a player from the Conference or Non League levels transferred to the top echelons of this country's footballing tree? I wish I knew, but it's a stark contrast to the days where the true Roy of the Rovers stories still happened in football.

Geoff Horsfield being the epitome of the boys own story, the Barnsley lad who hit it big at The Shay who went on to win titles with Fulham, before moving to Birmingham for a cool £2.25 million just two years after leaving West Yorkshire. In total throughout his career he cost various clubs £5.75 million, where are the Geoff Horsfield's of today though?

In the last transfer window the players who were nearest to the lower end of the Football League that moved to the top flight were to Blackburn in the shape of Keith Andrews and Mark Bunn of Mk Dons and Northampton respectively. Arguably Andrews has only been given a chance in the Premier League due to his current manager having previous experience of him during his time at Stadium:MK.

But the proof is that Andrews has made an impact, and it's through his manager Paul Ince starting at the lower level he has seen something in a player that others would mainly know through reputation alone

The pressure on the clubs higher up the footballing ladder is so that they cannot afford to take a chance on these players anymore. There are some great young players throughout the leagues and not only in the football league of course, as we know.

Stuart Fleetwood was arguably the hottest property in the Conference last season with 28 goals in his 41 games for Forest Green Rovers, there were rumours of him moving to various sides before he was snapped up by Charlton Athletic.

But since his move to the Addicks he hasn't featured once, and has been shipped out on loan to Cheltenham Town where he scored twice in six appearances and he now is out on loan at Brighton and Hove Albion where he has so far only made two starts for the Seagulls.

Managers often get measured by their transfers as well as their tactical nous, and when the £10 million striker doesn't hit the net for five games the gaffer gets criticised. So what if he tries an unknown quantity from the lower leagues? Well put it this way, if the player signed from Fleetwood Town or whoever lights up the league, I'm sure the manager will be more than happy to take the plaudits.

Terry Hibberd