Omens are good for AFC Telford debutant

Grogan was a teenager at Skelmersdale United when a recommendation from current Telford star man Sean Clancy landed him a surprise chance at Burscough.

There was no bedding in process - Grogan was thrown straight into the starting line-up with another current Buck, Alan Moogan, out injured for the Conference North clash.

But, rather than shrivel in the spotlight, Grogan got himself on the score-sheet as Burscough grabbed their first league victory for almost two months with a 2-1 success.

It was then-boss Watson who placed his faith in the now 24-year-old and, this week, he did so again by bringing him back under his wing from Cammell Laird as a defensive midfielder.

Clancy has no doubt had another word and Grogan arrives at the New Bucks Head for tomorrow's visit of Colwyn Bay with Moogan again out injured, and the team having lost their last two games.

Grogan said: "Sean Clancy is one of my close friends, I met him outside of football when we were teenagers, I ended up going to Burscough because he said something to Liam about me.

"Alan Moogan was playing for them at the time and had picked up an injury so the gaffer ended up putting me straight in, which was quite frightening!

"It was in the same league as Telford but I scored against Barrow with a header! It was in the first 15 minutes of the game, when we got a free-kick on the left hand side.

"Sean was playing that day, as a left-back, and he put a ball to the back post and got there just before the goalkeeper to head the ball into the back of the net.

"The team was on a bit of a bad run, at the time, and we went on to win 2-1 that. If I could score another debut goal for Liam, I would be made up!"

Grogan's journey since Burscough has taken him to Warrington, Prescot Cables and Cammell Laird, where he has spent most of his time at centre-half.

Now he's been converted back into an enforcer-type midfielder for Watson's needs, with Russell Benjamin's three-match suspension handing him an instant chance tomorrow.

Grogan said: "Liam wants me to sit in there and break things up a defensive midfielder and then operate as a box-to-box player. It's a challenge, perhaps the biggest of my career so far."

Playing at the back didn't dent Grogan's efficiency in front of goal last season - he scored 14 times and has notched another two this term, including one in his final game for Laird.

He said: "I got 14 goals for Cammell Laird last season and most came from set pieces such as free-kicks and corners. Most are with my head, not many are with my feet.

"I know Andy Owens and Matthew McGinn have got long throws here and I will always be up there trying to get on the end of it, I seem to have opportunities up front.

"I scored in my last game at the weekend, I am always in and around the box when we go forward and was my second this season.

"It was with a minute to go at Worksop Parramore in the FA Cup, too, so it was good to have that as a proper send off."