by Jeff King
It’s been a good few weeks for Chester-le-Street United who have had some big wins recently which has seen them progress in the Durham FA Trophy to the quarter final stage and in the Wearside League reach the top of the table.
Whilst it has been a team orientated effort, for two of the squad the last week has proved even better on an individual basis with their talent and ability being recognised at a higher level much to the delight of both of them and the Club as a whole.
The two players involved are Abdullah Alawahdi, the team’s third top scorer with 12 goals from 19 appearances this campaign and Michael Spellman who has 13 goals in his 15 appearances. In the case of Alawahdi it’s national recognition whilst Spellman has attracted the eye of a professional outfit.
Eighteen-year-old Alawahdi has been called up by his native country Kuwait to join their Under- 20 international squad Abdullah for the West Asian Football Federation 2nd Youth Championship to be held in Iraq.
Alawahdi, who is also a member of Park View Academy’s National Football Youth Under-19 squad, completed a great week with the call-up after he scored a hat-trick in last weekend's 5 - 0 away win in the Durham F.A. Trophy at Norton and Stockton Ancients.
Meanwhile Spellman played on Wednesday for Huddersfield Town’s Under-19 side in a Central League game against Accrington Stanley’s under-23 side. Although Stanley won the game 4 – 0 to inflict Huddersfield’s first defeat of the season, Spellman showed up well and played the full 90 minutes.
Spellman has been in scintillating form for United this season netting 13 goals in 15 games earning 6 Man of the Match awards and also contributing several assists to help his side who are playing so well this season.
Last Friday United’s first team took in the under-19’s of Huddersfield in a friendly game down in Huddersfield as part of the joint venture between the professional set-up and United’s first-team squad. It resulted in a 2 – 1 win for United with Spellman grabbing one of the goals. Cameron Brewis getting the other.
Spellman’s display in that game certainly caught the eye of the watching Huddersfield coaching staff and he has been in Yorkshire for the early part of this week as a guest of the academy and played as a guest in their side yesterday.
Everyone at Chester-le-Street is delighted for both youngsters as they show the benefit and purpose of the academy set-up at Park View that includes United’s representation in the Wearside League.