The 25-year-old goal scoring ace has been out for the game since tearing his ACL while playing for Dorking Wanderers in a 5-0 home drubbing by Wrexham last September.
But after a lengthy rehabilitation process which including undergoing a knee operation and even open heart surgery, Rutherford made a welcome return to the action last Saturday, turning out for former club Bognor Regis Town on loan.
And he couldn’t have got off to a better start as, with only his second touch of the ball, he scored to earn the Rocks a 3-2 win over Hayes & Yeading United in the FA Trophy.
Butterflies
"It was a very emotional moment," Rutherford told The NLP. "Stepping back onto that pitch again was the first time I had been really nervous playing football. I'd had butterflies all week just thinking about it.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der October 15, 2023-Ausgabe von The Non-League Football Paper.
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Diese Geschichte stammt aus der October 15, 2023-Ausgabe von The Non-League Football Paper.
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WRAGGY WILL BE SORELY MISSED
MACCLESFIELD FC have led the tributes to “colossal” former manager Peter Wragg, who has passed away.
BURY & RAMMY HIT BIG STAGE!
BRYANLY’S late penalty kept Bury top of the tree in front of another record-breaking crowd at Gigg Lane on Boxing Day.
BRAVE BERKO ARE ON TRACK
Ducks demolition maintains title tilt
OWLS THAT! CLEE GLEE ON TOP OF THE TREE
CLEETHORPES Town maintained their four-point lead at the top of NPL East with a hard-fought 2-1 derby win over North Ferriby at the Myenergi Stadium.
HAWKS SWOOP IN FOR DERBY GLORY
REUBEN AUSTIN hailed Havant & Waterlooville teammate Leon Maloney’s wonder goal as ‘a hell of a strike’ as the Hawks continued their promotion push with a 3-1 local derby success over Gosport Borough.
JULIUS DICTATES - BUT FANS MIST IT
JULUS Ndene handed Leek Town a famous victory in the mist – not that any of the fans got to see it!
GOLDEN BROWN BACK AT THE TOP
PHIL Brown gave his Kidderminster Harriers players Christmas off – and was rewarded with a climb to the top of the tree.
BRENNAN'S BOYS SALVAGED IN 'KAMIKAZE' YEAR END
STRAIGHT talking Dean Brennan lamented ‘kamikaze’ defending despite seeing his Barnet nick a dramatic late point to end 2024 at the National League summit.
FIVE-STAR PIRATES PUMMEL ROVERS
IN the final game of the year at the Ledger Stadium, second-placed Real Bedford faced off against fourth-placed Barton Rovers, who arrived as the league’s in-form side.
MOORE'S LATE GOAL SEALS BIG REDS WIN
GEORGE Moore was the hero grabbing a stoppage-time winner to sink Kingstonian and take Uxbridge to third in the table in what is becoming a fascinating promotion race in the Pitching-In Isthmian South Central.
