Former Bracknell Town favourite Sam Barratt is on trial at a Football League club, FootballinBracknell has learned.
The Robins fan favourite who has spent the last two seasons playing for Vanarama Conference South side Maidenhead United after leaving Larges Lane according to THE BRISTOL POST, and has spent the last week playing for League 1 side Bristol Rovers.
The Gas boss Darrell Clarke has been impressed by the ex-Robin who in his time at Larges Lane wowed fans with an audacious lobbed goal against Highworth Town, hat-tricks against Oxford City Nomads and Henley Town as well as numerous skills, tricks and 25 yard free kicks.
According to the Bristol Post, Barratt’s trial will be extended until Wednesday when Rovers play Championship side Aston Villa.
Read more: Barratt named in Rovers starting line up to face Exeter City
Loyalty
Barratt’s time at Bracknell was characterised by his loyalty to the clubs management team of Steve Nebbett and Danny Oliphant – turning down approaches from the likes of Reading Town and Wantage Town.
The youngster signed a contract with the club that enabled the Robins to negotiate a lucrative friendly with Maidenhead United, and a sell on clause if and when a higher division club came calling.
Running out of superlatives
Barratt joined Bracknell from Woodley Town, following in his brother Tom’s footsteps having been brought across by youth manager Steve Jenner.
Sam didn’t spend long in the Allied Counties side though, making his first team debut on 1st November 2011 – one of the few highlights of a season that saw Bracknell relegated to Division 1 East of the Hellenic League, and he became the clubs youngest goalscorer a few days after his debut in the 3-1 win over Highworth Town (here’s the report from bracknelltownfc.com).
By the time Sam decided to step up to the Conference with Maidenhead, supporters at Larges Lane were reduced to making up new superlatives to describe the young winger who never shied away from any occasion.
‘Sam Barratt is the best player in the league’
His manager at the time to the Steve Nebbett said to the Bracknell Times: “For me, personally, Sam Barratt is the best player in the league, and I want someone to give him a chance, like Ben Gladwin [23-year old Marlow defender who signed for Swindon Town in November 2013] did”.
Maidenhead
Barrett spent much of the 2014/15 season making cameos for then manager Johnson Hippolyte off the bench – but he found himself on BT Sports last season when the Magpies played Port Vale in the FA Cup, which you can watch here.
FiB co-editor Darrell Freeland has had a quick look at his stats:
“He’s scored at least four goals for Maidenhead.
“He scored two in the 2014-15 season when on his full debut he scored both goals as Maidenhead United drew 2-2 away at Hungerford United in the Berks & Bucks FA Senior Cup Quarter Final.
“Maidenhead went on to win the cup with Barratt playing his part and with no further goals in extra time, Barratt also scored one of the penalties as the Magpies triumphed 5-4 in the penalty shoot-out.
“He scored two last season as well against Margate when they lost 3-2.”.
It has been reported that Barratt is on trial a Premier League club.
Everyone at FootballinBracknell wishes Sam the very best of luck with his trial period at Bristol Rovers.
All photo’s: Connor Sharod-Southam.
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