Fulham youngster Ryheem Sheckleford’s loan spell at Wealdstone is almost like being back in the school playground again.
The 19-year-old has gone from playing U23s for the Cottagers with its emphasis on individual development to Conference South football with the Stones where results and points are king.
It’s like the old days of lunchtime football with your mates with jumpers for goalposts, and admits the adjustment is proving a real throwback.
“It is a new thing to play for points again,” he said. “U23s is still competitive, but you can’t really compare it to league football - this is more of a men’s game.
“In U23s people are still growing and still learning the game, whereas here everyone is more doing whatever it takes to win.
Sheckleford, contracted to the Whites until the end of the season, is proving a fast learner, picking up a man of the match award in last week’s FA Trophy replay win over Maidenhead before helping the Stones’ rear-guard to a rare clean sheet as they beat East Thurrock 1-0 on Saturday.
The London-born youngster says everything about his first taste of proper men’s football is fast, meaning decision-making is top of his learning curve.
“The first thing that comes to mind would probably be decision-making,” he added. “In the U23s we look to play more short passes to the guy next to you. Here it is more if it is not on you have got to be more direct and play forward quicker.
“You’re playing more back to front and getting less time to make a decision. So, it is also about knowing the time in a game when you might have to play in behind more.”
