20 October 2004    
Alex Stone on FA Cup Player of the Round

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Roy Wegerle, John Harkes, Cobi Jones, Brian McBride and Joe Max-Moore were all names put forward, but after some exhaustive research, the honour goes to Chris Cleary of Conference North side Worksop Town.

Chris scored all three goals in Worksop Town’s 3-2 defeat of Droylesden on Saturday in front of a crowd of 485, taking his team through to the Fourth Qualifying Round of The FA Cup on 30 October where they will host Alfreton Town.

As well as ensuring that the club earned £5,000 from The FA Cup Prize fund, Chris’s performance also saw him nominated for The FA Cup Player of the Round Award by the Non League Paper Editor, David Watters.

With Bath City fans voting in their droves for their hat-trick hero Scott Partridge, Chris is currently lagging behind in the voting, but after his exploits caused a ripple in his native country, he is hoping for a surge that could take him to The FA Cup Final as a VIP guest of The FA, as part of The Team of The FA Cup.

Cleary is only 25, but his football career has already taken in three countries, and he is now hoping that his FA Cup exploits will bring him to the attention of a bigger club in England.

Born in Washington DC, Cleary grew up in Milton, Massachusetts. His first experience of the ‘beautiful game’ as a child was for a team called Southshore United, and it was there that his aptitude for the game first came to light.

Two state championships later, he moved to Charles River United, where as well as state championships, the club won two regional championships.

Next was the Greater Boston Eagles where he was to play under his future college coach, after a spell at Noble Greenough High School, now one of the best soccer high schools on the East Coast.

At Boston College, Chris studied for a Degree in Communications and was selected in the All-American regional team, an honour that prompted his coach to contact an old colleague coaching in Germany.

Chris made the brave move to Karlsruhe, playing in the German Second Division and then spent two seasons at SVL Ludwigswinkel.

An injury though put him on the sidelines, and it was then that an old mentor, put him in touch with the current Worksop Town Manager, Ronnie Glavin.

George O’Neil played with Glavin at Partick Thistle, and recommended Cleary to his former team-mate.

Chris explained: "George told me that Ronnie had played at the highest level and was building a reputation for bringing players under his wing, getting them fit, and back to their best.

"After losing my way a bit in Germany, the appeal of coming to England, getting fit and then hopefully getting a move to a higher club really appealed, as it does to all players at this level, and a run in The FA Cup would certainly put the spotlight on the club."

A firm favourite at Oakwell, Ronnie Glavin a goalscoring midfielder began his South Yorkshire career after he joined Barnsley for a then a record club fee of £50,000 in 1979 after being transferred from Glasgow Celtic.

Glavin also played for Partick Thistle, Stockport and Portuguese side Belenenses before finishing his playing career in the USA.

Following a successful international playing career he began his managerial career in 1991 with Frickley Athletic where he stayed until November 1994. He left Frickley to become manager at Emley and led the former Huddersfield District League club to the biggest achievements in their history.

He led Emley on a memorable FA Cup run which brought a Third Round tie at West Ham in 1997/98.

Then in 2000/01 he came within an ace of guiding the club into the Nationwide Conference when the then-named Wakefield & Emley totted up a massive 101 points, but Stalybridge Celtic took the title by a point.

Glavin left the Yorkshire side during the summer of 2003 to become first-team coach at Barnsley under Icelandic boss Gudjon Thordarson, but left after just four months following a takeover.

Both Glavin and Cleary will be hoping that ‘The Tigers’ can overcome the challenge of Alfreton Town at Babbage Way on 30 October, when a First Round Proper tie, perhaps against Barnsley could be the reward.

To vote for Chris, or any of the other five FA Cup Player of the Round nominees, click here.