There is little doubt that you’ve come across his name this season having scored 18 goals for the Pewits, making him one of the league’s top goal scorers. He has been a regular feature of the first team with 41 appearances but what might be surprising is that, last season, George Doyle was playing for our Academy as part of the County Cup winning U23s side. So, with the season coming to a close, we took the time to catch up with George to look back on some of his highlights in his inaugural season in the first team.

From day one, George made an impression by scoring on his debut and on quite the occasion too with the Pewits coming from behind to beat Congleton Town 3-2 in the FA Cup. Since then, we knew that he would be one to watch.

We haven’t been the only ones watching either. In February this year, George was voted the Non-League Yorkshire Player of the Month. Which, even above scoring in the FA Cup, he said was his highlight of the season. “It’s an achievement I’m proud of and look to achieve again,” George added. The nomination certainly did his confidence some good which he says has grown over the course of the season. “Although I’ve settled into first team football very well, I still feel the pressure to perform for myself and the team… Each week is a challenge with this being my first year in the first team.”

Looking back on some of the other games over the past nine months, one game sticks out for George (and for the fans!): Albion Sports away. The game came off the back of a few defeats which left us in a three-way contest for Premier Division survival but a 2-0 victory to kick start a run of great form kept us from the drop and put us in contention for a top half finish. George was on the bench for a number of games over the festive period prior to the game but, on his return, he scored a brace – one of which was a 25 yard screamer out of the blue – and earnt himself Man of the Match in the process. “It was nice to put things right,” he added.

Maybe the good fortune came with George’s superstitions and routines as he tells us that he tends to keep the same routine before each game: pasta for dinner, energy drinks and sweets for a boost, music and cut socks. “Before I play a game, I always kiss my chain that my grandad gave me before he passed away.”

In the modern game where we see small and fast centre forwards like Messi and Aguero making blistering runs, George’s style is somewhat reminiscent of the past: efficient, calm and clinical. Some might say a bit of a poacher. It’s easy to see where he gets it from though and it’s confirmed when he told us, “The players who have influenced me and the way I play are: Bergkamp, Zidane and Berbatov. Management will probably laugh at all these because they don’t do much running… like me!”

“Moving forward to next season,” George continues, as we discuss what we hope for Emley AFC in the future, “I think Emley have a great chance at pushing for promotion. We definitely have the quality to do so and have now found a more consistent team line-up, which will benefit us greatly.”

On a final note, as our time draws to a close for this season, George expressed his gratitude for all the work the club has put into making his first season in senior football a memorable one. “I’m very grateful for everyone involved at Emley for making my first season one to remember. Management have been great and I can’t thank them enough; likewise with the fans – they’re a great bunch.”

It’s been a fantastic debut season for George and for Emley in the Premier Division. We hope to see many more goals from the young striker in the famous claret and blue as we push on for another successful season. Up the Pewits!

First published in the programme v Grimsby Borough 9/4/2022
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