Major League Soccer trial for Storks ace Hoskin

PADIHAM’S former Clarets defender Ben Hoskin has taken up the opportunity of a two-week trial with Major League Soccer club Colorado Rapids.

The 20-year-old, nephew of Burnley’s development squad coach Ashley Hoskin, joined the Clarets as a youth in the summer of 2007.

The Accrington-born full back signed professional terms in 2009, and was released in May, beforing linking up with the Storks.

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Secretary Alan Smith said: “We wish the lad all the best. When he came to Padiham at the beginning of the season, he was trying to get back in to football and we offered him a way back in.

“Good luck to him, we hope he does get picked up and he gets to play.

“If any player can make a livelihood from football by moving upwards, then you can’t stand in their way, you have to wish them all the best.

“It would be quite surreal if we had a lad who had played for Padiham getting a contract and playing against a former England captain in David Beckham. It would be very surreal.”

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Meanwhile, the weekend weather wiped out all but two of the Vodkat North West Counties Football League fixtures scheduled for Saturday in cluding Padiham’s away fixture at Flixton and the Storks’ reserve team match against AFC Darwen Reserves at the Arbories.

However, off the pitch, Padiham were celebrating a second award for their successful start to 2011 when defender Keiran Fletcher was chosen as the Vodkat League Premier Division player of the month for January.

The accolade follows on the back of Craig Chadwick being awarded the division’s manager of the month.

Padiham secretary Alan Smith said: “This is great news for the club as a whole, and reflects considerably on how the team’s performances have improved over the last two months.”

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Padiham have no midweek fixture but will be hoping the weather improves so that this Saturday’s game against Maine Road can go ahead at the Arbories.

Strong winds have caused some damage to Padiham’s floodlights, pitch surround and goal netting since the club’s last home fixture against Rossendale United.

However, the club is looking to rectify some of the damage before the weekend’s game.