SUDS ARE CLEANING UP ON PRIDE FOR LOCAL HERO JOSH

JOSH STOKES’ Aldershot Town shirt arrived at AFC Sudbury this week.

Stokes’s girlfriend and the Yellows’ women’s first-team goalkeeper, Millie Carter, delivered the No.10 jersey ready to be proudly displayed on the wall alongside other former academy graduates from the Suffolk club.

The 19-year-old is one of NonLeague’s hottest talents, his star only brightening with each week since moving to the National League club in the summer, fresh from helping fire Sudbury to promotion from the Isthmian League North last term.

Those who saw the influential role he played in their success won’t be surprised by his continuing rapid rise.

His two goals in the 2-2 FA Cup second-round draw against Stockport County last Sunday took his tally to 12 this season and at Wednesday night’s replay you can bet the Hatters will be keeping a close eye on him.

“I remember his recruitment meeting where his mum and dad came to meet myself and, with these young lads, we don’t promise them anything other than they will be a better player when they leave our academy if they apply themselves,” academy manager Danny Laws tells The NLP.

“Josh’s application is phenomenal – along the lines of other boys who have gone professional like (Cambridge United defender) Liam Bennett. It’s the dedication he will put into the task, his love of football.

“It’s funny, he was on the big stage at the weekend and we used to call him the big game player.

“In his second year we beat Ipswich Town in the Suffolk FA U18 Cup at Colchester United and Josh scored two great goals. It’s what he does.”