There has been one common thread through my very occasional trips to watch the juniors and reserves in recent years. I've come away each time with my head full of exciting thoughts regarding two young full backs. One of them, Kevin Belgrave, was given a free transfer during the summer of 1997 after failing to break into the side during his first year as a professional. The other, Vince Cave, was released from his contract to pursue his career elsewhere because Graham Taylor didn't think he'd make the grade.

To some extent, this shows how little I know about football. However, it also indicates the difficulty in making the transition from the South East Counties League into the Football League. One only has to look at a photo of Gifton Noel-Williams a year ago to see the amount of filling out, gaining strength and generally growing up he's had to do to adjust to the Second Division. Belgrave and Cave, two promising youngsters with lots of enthusiasm, didn't manage to make that leap - they weren't the first and they won't be the last.

C'est la vie.