YOU’D be forgiven for thinking there’s no way Aston Villa could be in the same goal-scoring mess as a grassroots club in the 11th tier.
But, despite the drought, the manager at non-league Acle United insists he wouldn’t swap anyone in his attack for Villa striker Ollie Watkins.
Step 7 side Acle United are the next highest side in England not to have scored a league goal after Aston Villa this season
Daniel Barraclough (left) and Lee Mason (right) exclusively spoke to SunSport about the wild links between Acle and Villa
GettyAcle wouldn’t swap their strike force for Villa ace Ollie Watkins[/caption]
For the first time in their history, Villa have failed to score in their opening four league games, making Unai Emery’s side the only team out of 162 in England‘s top seven divisions yet to find the back of the net.
But two men who can relate to Emery’s predicament are Daniel Barraclough and Lee Mason, the player-managers at goal-shy Anglian Combination Premier Division side Acle, the next highest club yet to score.
Asked if he’d swap his strikers for Claret and Blue hero Watkins or PFA Young Player of the Year Morgan Rogers, Barraclough told SunSport: “Absolutely not.”
Before adding: “I don’t think they’d be able to play on these pitches.”
And co-coach Mason went one-step further by declaring: “I actually think our Luca Upton could play at Villa one day.”
Construction worker Barraclough offered some words of wisdom for the down-trodden Villa frontline ahead of their Prem trip to Sunderland on Sunday.
Barraclough, 37, said: “I always say to enjoy the 90 minutes and not put too much stress on the situation and the goals and results will come.
“They should keep doing the basics, don’t be afraid to shoot and get on the end of things.”
AlamyUnai Emery’s side the only team out of 162 in England’s top seven divisions yet to find the back of the net[/caption]
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Villa have had 10 shots on target in four games, seeing out a goalless draw against Newcastle with 10 men, before losing to Brentford, Crystal Palace and drawing at Everton.
The non-existent goals and relegation zone spots aren’t the only parallels between the non-league side and Europa League qualifiers.
Both have new-look squads after Villa made three deadline day signings and Acle lost several key players following their league double last season.
The Norwich-based side have been denied promotion to Step 6 five times in the last 12 years after failing to meet FA ground grading requirements to go up into the Eastern Counties League Premier Division.
While Villa Park has a capacity of 42,600, proud Acle play their games in a park owned by the Parish Council with no floodlights or stands and share the field with a cricket team, with a clubhouse that links both sports.
Unable to charge admission fees, the club rely on local sponsors Hammond Cars of Great Yarmouth and Ipswich, and fundraising to survive in a gritty grassroots football setting.
Acle is a Parish club that play on a council-owned park in Norwich
The 11th tier side get respectable crowd sizes of up to 80-120 people
GettyVilla Park hosts 40,000 people at every home game[/caption]
And Acle – who depend on fundraising while drawing crowds of up to 80 and 120 people who all watch the game for free – can only offer players a PINT as a goal bonus.
Arsenal fan Mason, 40, joked: “I’m sure someone would buy the first goalscorer a beer.”
In contrast, Watkins could earn thousands in bonuses as part of his £130,000-per-week deal and the cheapest ticket entry into Villa Park is £65.
But Acle are “100 per cent” certain they’ll beat Emery to the punch in front of goal when they travel 20 miles around Norwich to face Easton at 3pm on Saturday.
Mason added: “We play the day before them this weekend and we’re definitely scoring. There’s no doubt about it.”
Both teams have notched in their respective cup competitions, with Harvey Elliott bagging Villa’s first goal in all competitions in the Carabao Cup defeat to Brentford.
Acle’s Vice Chairman Richard Giles later cheekily added: “Well, we’ve played three league games and Villa have played four!”
The Parish club’s black and white stripes are inspired by the 1990 founding chairman’s favourite team…Newcastle United.
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