AMERSHAM Town manager Stuart Atkins believes the club may just unearthed a new Jamie Vardy after the Step 6 side tied free-scoring striker Jake Tabor to a two-year contract.
The Magpies, who lead Combined Counties League Division One with ten wins from 12 matches, are ambitious for promotion to Step 5 after being moved from the Spartan South Midlands League in the summer.
And central to those plans is 29-goal Tabor, who spent last season dual-signed with Northwood and Rayners Lane, and who hit six goals in one game in a 7-0 win over Northampton ON Chenecks in the FA Vase a fortnight ago.
But it was the club’s post on social media last Saturday evening showing the 20-year-old penning a contract which caused a huge stir.
Tabor was pictured with Atkins and champagne glasses as Town announced the move and, after receiving praise but also criticism, the Spratleys Meadow boss admits it was a calculated gamble, as well as “bit of a wind-up”.
He said: “We said we’d do it as a bit of fun and actually signed the deal a couple of weeks ago but I said to Jake ‘it won’t do us any favours but could give you a platform’ and also allow us to make a few quid out of him. Why shouldn’t we protect our investment?
“I couldn’t believe the reaction it for. Yes, a two-year contract is unheard of at Step 6 but nobody was interested in him two weeks ago. No one outside the Watford area knew him.
“Suddenly there are salty comments from teams two or three levels above but he’s not interested in that at the moment. He turned down loads of Step 3 and 4 clubs in the summer.
“He’s like a Vardy; a box player, not a finesse player, and he’s only 20 so you never know. I told him: ‘Everyone will still be interested in you next summer’.”
As yet, the Buckinghamshire club – based at the end of the Underground’s Metropolitan line – have not been inundated with requests from scouts but Atkins is a r
