Researching and looking for more
It’s nice to attend matches locally watching Tonbridge and Maidstone, but after a while the itch to venture to new stadiums becomes greater.
In early October 2025 I was asked to attend Ebbsfleet Town vs Solihull Moors. I’ve been to Ebbsfleet’s ground before but this was the final qualifying round of the FA Cup before the 1st round proper.
Cup magic
The FA Cup is the oldest knockout competition in the world. It was first played during the 1871-72 season and has a rich tradition of history and cup upsets. Everyone loves a David vs Goliath story, especially in sport. An against all odds tale where the underdog causes a shock.
This match wasn’t quite on that magnitude. Solihull Moors are in National League (5th tier) while Ebbsfleet sit below them in the National League South (6th tier). The Fleet suffered relegated last season, finishing rock bottom in 24th place. They’re currently sitting squarely in the middle of the table, so promotion is looking unlikely. However, a cup competition can be welcome distraction from the rigours of league football week in week out.
More than match reporting
Before this match I was always focused on the 90 minutes ahead of me and not really anything else. I would get a bit nervous, especially if I wasn’t given a specific target to look at. Something felt like it changed in my approach to scouting from this day on and maybe that’s just down to natural progression and experience, who knows.
The first Ebbsfleet goal came from Jamie Fielding, who I was familiar with from last season during his time at Tonbridge Angels. It was a great header and his first for Ebbsfleet since his move. The home side went on to win 2-0 and progress into the next round. It was a well deserved victory and in terms of scouting I felt like I was getting to grips with my player markets and going into more detail with my research.
Checking the results, all of them
I used to check the football results in a scanning type of way. This has also changed quite dramatically.
The Premier League used to take priority, but if anything this has completely reversed and I now check the lower leagues in more detail. I find myself clicking on every fixture, looking at the goal scorers and the stats. It’s almost become an obsession where I feel like I HAVE to check every match that’s being played from the top to the bottom.
I can’t disclose what players I was asked to watch in the Ebbsfleet game, but this almost didn’t matter now. I say that because I found myself researching ALL of the players in each squad and not just the ones I was asked to scout.
Aladdin links
For some reason, when I think about finding a new football talent, it triggers a childhood memory. It comes from watching Disney’s Aladdin, where only the “diamond in the rough” can enter the Cave of Wonders to retrieve the magic lamp.
I’m always thinking how and where can I find this diamond and if I do will it be in the lower leagues and the ‘rougher’ places of the world? I’m hoping that with experience I’ll find it easier to identify talent and the potential of certain players and I feel that conducting more in-depth research can only help me achieve this.
Premier League loan
Upon researching more players before match day, I noticed a loanee from a Premier League club in the Solihull Moors squad.
He was on the substitutes bench for this match and didn’t come on, however, the fact his parent club was a certain Manchester United made me highlight his name.
He’s my JP Scouting player in focus for this diary entry and I’ll be tracking his progress for the rest of the season. His name is Louis Jackson and he’s a defender (I’ve been sucked into the defenders union again!) He’s a Scottish U19 international with a strong, solid frame for a 20 year-old, so I just feel it’s worth keeping tabs on him.
In scouting a lot of decisions must be made on hunches and “going with your gut” and I just feel like this young defender could be one of those hunches.
JP Scouting player in Focus: Louis Jackson
- Club: Solihull Moors (on loan from Manchester United)
- Position: Center-back
- Age: 20 (DOB: 18/09/2005)
- Height: 6 ft 3 in
- Nationality: Scottish
- Leading Foot: Right
Jackson is a product of the Man Utd academy, joining them at ten years-old. At the age of 15 became the youngest player to even feature of the club’s under-23 team.
He was part of the youth side that won there FA Youth Cup in 2022 and signed his first professional contract with the club in October 2022. Before joining Solihull he was on loan at League Two side Tranmere Rovers, but never made an appearance for them.
He’s played at international level for both England and Scotland. He made one appearance for England U16’s and since then he’s played at every age group for the Scots up to the current U19 level.
My Diary Of A Scout Volume 1 entries have recently featured in the Solihull Moors match day programme. You can buy Volume I as an e-book on Amazon here.
