Five National League Stars Set To Shine In The EFL

Our friends at Vanarama take a closer look at six players who will be plying their trade in the Football League next season after impressing in the National League...

Jimmy Knowles
As ways to sign off go, scoring the winner to send your team up via the National League North Promotion Final isn’t bad!

That’s exactly what Boston United striker Jimmy Knowles did. The 22-year-old got the Pilgrims' winner at Brackley Town to secure a long-overdue return to Step One, before signing for Accrington Stanley on a two-year deal.

Quick and comfortable carrying the ball, no striker in National League North (or South) completed more dribbles per 90 minutes than Knowles last season (3.37).

He also ranked fifth for progressive runs (2.17) which are defined by Wyscout as: “A continuous ball control by one player attempting to draw the team significantly closer to the opponent goal.”

Eighteen regular-season goals will put League Two defenders on notice. He’ll have a familiar face to work with in Lancashire after following former Boston strike partner Kelsey Mooney in making the step up.

Kelsey Mooney
When his dad scored in the Premier League, it should come as little surprise Kelsey Mooney knows where the back of the net is.

Mooney Jnr, son of Watford legend Tommy, netted 16 times against an xG of 15.53 for Ian Culverhouse’s side in 2023/23.

Like his former partner-in-crime at Boston, Knowles, the 25-year-old swapped National League North for League Two to join Accrington Stanley.

Something clicked during 2023/24, making it the best season of Mooney’s career. Having started out at Aston Villa – like his old man before him – spells with Scunthorpe United, Hereford and Leamington followed.

Speaking to the club’s website, manager John Doolan has likened him to another former Pilgrim: "Kelsey's his own man, his own player, but he does remind me so much of Colby Bishop. I'm not putting any pressure on Kelsey, but I can see potential there."

Dan Ellison
Chippenham Town fans have been preparing themselves for the day Dan Ellison left for some time.

This summer the 19-year-old centre-back went from National League South to League One by signing for Bristol Rovers for an undisclosed fee.

It's his composure in and out of possession that set Ellison apart. Among all players aged 21 or under last season in the North and South, he ranked fifth for interceptions per 90 (6.6).

Successful in 89 per cent of all the defensive duels he attempted, Ellison’s timing and reading of the game are impressive given his relative lack of experience – just 27 league starts.

Once he’s got the ball, Ellison’s range of passing and vision make him a dangerous starter of attacks. He was ninth among all under-21s at Step Two for completed passes last season.

His rise has been rapid – but Ellison has maintained his composure throughout.

George Nevett
Peterborough United know non-league talent when they see it – and they’ve bagged three more National League players this summer.

Rochdale defender George Nevett joins Chris Conn-Clarke (Altrincham) and David Kamara (Welling United) at London Road ahead of the new season.

Being able to play out from the back is essential for modern defenders and Nevett has no concerns on that front. He completed 88.4 per cent of all his attempted passes last term, ranking second among all under-21s in the National League.

Only Charlie Barker – who we profiled in this piece – managed more than Nevett’s 1,807 successful passes for Dale.

Likened to former centre-back-turned-manager Jimmy McNulty, the Welsh youth cap’s incisive passing from deep makes him a dangerous weapon in starting attacks.

If Nevett lives up to his billing at London Road, he could well follow in the footsteps of Southampton new-boy Ronnie Edwards, picked up from Barnet in 2020.

Marcus Dinanga
Good news for National League defenders: There won’t be any more bear attacks this season. That’s because former Gateshead striker Marcus Dinanga, nicknamed ‘The Bear’ has stepped up to League Two with Promotion Final winners Bromley.

Twenty-five goals in all competitions – 19 in the National League – were enough to convince Bromley to make their move.

A poacher extraordinaire, only Southend United’s Harry Cardwell (184) took more penalty-area touches than Dinanga’s 179 last term when comparing strikers.

The former Altrincham sharpshooter had an expected goals (xG) value of 18.43 – putting him seventh among all players in the division.

Expected goals give every shot a value from 0-1 based on the probability of it going in. In short, Dinanga scored at the rate his underlying numbers suggested he should across the season.

Eight goals in seven appearances made him the National League Player of the Month for September. Now an EFL return beckons after six games with Stevenage in 2020/21.

Watch out for bears!

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