Kai Hancock is confident of landing a professional contract at the end of a superb season which has seen him attract the attention of almost every Football League club in South Yorkshire.
The 19-year-old from Grimethorpe, who spent five months in the army after leaving school, netted his 27th goal of his first full season as Rec won 2-0 at home to third-bottom Parkgate on Saturday. Hancock was on trial at Barnsley before Christmas then more recently at Rotherham United and Doncaster Rovers while Sheffield United have also been watching him.
Although he is a Barnsley fan and had a season ticket at Oakwell with his father for several years, their Championship rivals look the most likely club to sign him up after he impressed Millers caretaker manager Paul Warne while on trial. He could become the second Rec player to venture into professional football after Geoff Horsfield who went onto play in the Premier League.
Hancock told the Chronicle: "It has been a rollercoaster, but in a good way. "It's the best season I have had, including my junior football. To think that I have been on trial with professional clubs is mad. Rotherham were really impressed by me especially the manager but, with him only being the caretaker, it is a bit up in the air. They want me to come back in the summer and that is the one that is looking most likely.
"I was ill when I went to Donny and I was sent home on the first day of the trial. Sheffield United were supposed to be sending me a letter but I haven't received it yet. Barnsley are still monitoring me.
"I scored a hat-trick for the under 23s at Oakwell but I had a groin injury so that cut the trial short. It was a fantastic experience to be at Barnsley, training next to the first team players and using the same dressing rooms as them. That was what I said to my dad that I wanted to do when I was a little kid sitting in the stands at Oakwell.
"I am hopeful I will get a contract for next season at a professional club. I just have to be patient, keep working hard and scoring goals for Athersley then hopefully it will take care of itself.
"Porky (Rec's general manager Pete Goodlad) keeps telling me about Geoff Horsfield and telling me I need to fill his shoes. It would be nice but we'll just have to see what happens."
Kai – who turns 20 in May – has left his job as a roofer and started fixing telegraph poles for MU Yorkshire, a role which gives him more flexibility to go on trials at professional clubs. As a junior, he spent time in the development squads of both Huddersfield Town and Leeds United but was never signed to either academy and played for Brierley Cubs and South Hiendley. He joined the army when he left school and was based in Harrogate.
"I left after five months. I was in the top ten of most of the physical challenges but I missed home too much. I was only at home for two weeks in five months. I found it very difficult mentally, so I left."
He then took up football again and, after a successful season with Grimethorpe Sports – who he still plays for when Rec do not have a game – he was signed by Athersley. He broke into the first team at the end of last season when the Penguins avoided relegation in the final weeks of the season.
"A year ago we went to Barton with just 12 players, and four of them were from the reserves. I didn't know at the time, but a lot of people at the club were preparing to go down. But we won 1-0, I scored the winner, then we got some other wins and we stayed up. "I had played the majority of that season in the reserves but I scored three goals in the last five games for the first team and it has just gone on from there.
"I have been offered money a couple of times to play for other clubs at our level. But I am not interested, I love Rec and they are like my family. I can't thank Athersley enough and it is a brilliant club. Everyone there is pushing me all the way and there is no jealousy from anyone about me getting these opportunities. Everyone is just really positive and trying to help me."
Before the game against Parkgate, Rec stalwart Ryan White received a special presentation after playing more than 1,000 games for the club. There was another milestone in the third minute when former Barnsley under 18s scholar Jack Briscoe fired in his 100th Athersley goal. The hosts had to wait until midway through the second half to see off the third-bottom side when Hancock netted.
Athersley are now 11th with 53 points from 34 games. Their best ever finishing position in tenth.
