Neal goes to Halifax to learn

Last updated : 04 January 2007 By Tony Scholes

Neal was released by the Clarets at the end of his scholarship in the summer of 2005 and this season won himself a deal with League One club Oldham. He made a first team debut as a half time substitute for Stefan Stam in their 2-1 league win over Cheltenham and a week later, again coming on as a substitute, he scored in a 4-3 FA Cup win at Kettering.

He's not featured since and will now spend the rest of the season in the Nationwide Conference with Halifax, but goes with words of praise and encouragement from his manager John Sheridan.

Sheridan said: “I think going to Halifax will do Neal the world of good, and I've told him so. I think he has a chance of doing well in the game, but he has got a lot to learn.

“He's going there to learn the game, and it'll be tough for Neal as he'll be playing against men who'll get stuck into him. He's come from youth football, and I want him to grow up fast, the quicker the better, as I think he'll be here next season in my squad and in or around the first team.”

Trotman, who was captain of our youth team in the 2004/05 season that reached the semi-final of the Lancashire FA Youth Cup and the final of the Youth Alliance Cup, is expected to make his debut for Halifax against Gravesend & Northfleet this Saturday.