LITTLE DESIRES A BIG CHANCE

RECORD scorer Toby Little admits it was a wrench to leave Hayes & Yeading United, but his eagerness to play as much as possible ultimately proved too strong.

- John Lyons

The 31-year-old wing-back was on Hayes’ books before the merged club formed in 2007. He helped United to promotion to Non-League’s top-flight in 2009 and went on to play for a number of clubs, including Woking, Basingstoke and Chesham, before returning for a second spell in 2017.

In the last three years, he has played a major role as Hayes & Yeading have attempted to start climbing again after a plunge down the divisions.

He netted an impressive 23 goals in the 2018-19 campaign as the west London club stormed to the Isthmian South Central title.

United were third in Southern League Premier South when last season was curtailed, though Little wasn’t able to have quite the same impact. And he didn’t want to potentially become a bit-part player at the club this term.

“It was a really, really difficult decision,” he told The NLP. “I’ve spent a lot of time there and know everyone around the club. I’ve also had my best years there as a player.

Honest