Fagan has art for dodging defenders

PICKING OUT THE TREBLES: Ryan Fagan has been among the goals.

FOOTBALL:

PICKING defenders’ pockets has become second nature for Rifle Range ‘B’ striker Ryan Fagan in the D & J Builders (North-West) Ltd Oldham Sunday League.

Five hat-tricks in his last six Martin Buckley Division Two matches were bound to catch the eye of even the most cynical talent-spotter. And Vodkat North-West Counties League Division One outfit Oldham Boro decided to take a punt on the 17-year-old.

Limeside-based Fagan, a former Chaddy End junior, has had no problem settling in — the focal point of Boro’s attack is prolific hitman James Curley (28), who just happens to be Fagan’s uncle.

Now Fagan, with one substitute appearance to his name so far, has set his sights on convincing Boro boss Tony Mills that the strikeforce should be a family affair.

He said: “James is a brilliant striker and I am going to learn a lot from him along the way. Boro noticed that I was scoring a lot of goals in the Oldham Sunday League and have given me an opportunity.

“Hopefully I can establish myself and eventually play alongside James up front.”

Fagan has one eye on the Boxing Day trip to rivals Chadderton. He added: “I would like to be involved because it should be a great game. The derbies are always exciting and I am hoping to feature.”

Not that Fagan has forgotten about the bread and butter of his Rifle Range ‘B’ duties

“We are second in the table but we have two games in hand on leaders Limeside Athletic so the aim has to be the title,” he continued. “I am really enjoying my football at the moment. It is a shame the bad weather and festive period arrived when it did because obviously I was on a roll with my hat-tricks.

“But hopefully I pick up where I left off in the new year.”