|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pen Pic: |
|
|
An outstanding young prospect who has made a real impact in City colours to progress from the youth team to be an important figure in the first team squad. Noakes plays down the left side of midfield or at left-back and has an assured touch for a youngster, looks to get forward at every opportunity but is also a tenacious tackler. His eye for goal was clear even on his City debut and has added to his tally this season since returning to the side in September 2006. His registration with City was delayed partly due to his success, having earned a British Universities football side sponsored place at Hartpury Colleage further clearance was required before he could sign Southern League forms. With the beauracracy cleared up Noakes is able to commit to the side, a move which delighted City boss Tim Harris who is known to rate the player highly and had been keen to bring him back to Meadow Park. |
|
 |
Noakes was always highly rated by youth team boss Kenny Blackburn who has stated that he is one of the best technical players to pass through his succesful development scheme. Noakes has previously captained Gloucester schoolboys where he was spotted by Aston Villa, spending several seasons in their academy before a brief spell with West Bromwich Albion. Noakes was signed up by the City first team in November 2004 and went on to make a fairytale debut just two days later. Noakes was only on the bench for the fixture because of injuries to other youth team colleagues and a player failing a late fitness test, but was thrown on ahead of more experienced team mates as Chesham fought their way back to level the scores in what had become a hugely important game for Burns' management. With the scores level Noakes kept his head to calmly slot home a dramatic 89th minute winner in front of the T-End and promptly disappeared under a heap of ecstatic players. His debut goal after just 18 minutes of first team action made him the youngest City player to score at Meadow Park and his temperament suggested it will be the first of many. Unfortunately his well deserved full debut for City at Solihull at the end of January 2005 ended with him being stretchered off with ankle ligament damage after just 35 minutes. Fortunately that was only a temporary set-back and Noakes has since gone from strength to strength. In 2005-06 he was a central part of the most succesful Youth side in the club's history as the under-18s sealed both their league title and the County Youth Shield, his performances helping Noakes gain a place in the national colleges squad. |
Michael Noakes |
sponsored by Tigers by Camel Train |
Sponsor your favourite current City player for £50: Contact Trevor King. |
Quick Links |
|||
