So picture the situation, there you are a QPR reserve/youth/apprentice/tea-boy and you get to the end of the season thinking "right, I'm going to make it next year" only for the boss to pull you into his office and say, "right son, there's no hiding it, you're utter pants, here's your P45".

Well it must have been something like that for several of the under achievers at QPR last term as a steady conveyor belt of players left the Twyford Avenue Training Ground for the last time, but some of them are fighters. Some of them love their football too much to just give it up and they got off their ever swelling posterior's and found themselves a non-league team to play for.

No doubt buoyed by the success of Justin Cochrane last year, they can see the door is still ajar if they put in the effort. Justin, discarded previously from the youth set up after seemingly managing to make the breakthrough to the first team, was picked up by Hayes. After a remarkable season he was given a trial at Reading, then Crewe, where the latter have signed him, and on Saturday, he was pivotal in their defeat of Ipswich at Gresty Road.

So this season the current crop are out there searching for the elusive route back, some at a good level, some at an average level, and some at a really rather rubbish level. But beggars can't be choosers!

So first up then and finding himself a pretty good team for the season is Leroy Griffiths. Only last Friday he finally signed, after much dallying, for Farnborough Town. He came back to much excitement from the Boro fans who are fond of him from a loan spell and did everything but hit the back of the net.

He curled free kicks, fired volleys just over the bar, and brought breathtaking saves from the Leigh Town keeper in a 1-1 draw. This may be his true level, but it looks like he may well excel there so good luck to him.

Drop down a level, and we find an average team, Northwood Town, who have been promoted from Division One to the Premier of the Ryman League. Our reserve team's landlords came out losers in their first game at Kettering Town (mercilessly thrashed 2-1 by the mighty hoops a couple of weeks ago!) but getting his first goal on debut was Brian Fitzgerald. Having played at Northwood plenty the previous year he should be perfectly comfortable when he has to step into the cemetery to collect the ball the next time he slices the ball skywards!

Mustn't chuckle too much though. Step down a couple more divisions and you find that some players really are struggling to impress. In the Ryman Division Two the considerably unspectacular Edgware Town are no doubt over the moon at their capture of Alistair Heselton. He also scored on debut for his new side as they went down 2-1 to Chertsey, but you would think he could be shining at that level.

Someone else is. Dave McEwen is still at Hertford after their relegation and started the season with a brace against Wokingham (I knew he could score goals at some level, even it is against 17 stone heifers).

It's not just the youngsters happy to get a game at this level though. Look across at the Cherry Red Records Hellenic League and find Michael Meaker strutting his stuff for Southall Town. They started off in fine style with a 5-2 win over Fairford Town. Keep your eyes peeled for Michael too because Southall have been chosen as this years starting point for the BBC's Road To Cardiff programme on BBC's Football Focus.

Back to some of the higher teams in the Ryman though and you will find old hands alongside the youngsters at Aylesbury United (buried 2-0 in a friendly against the mighty hoops!). Karl Ready and Danny Grieves are the assured, solid, dead ball marksman and unerring finishers we remember (!) as both of them scored to help give the Ducks an opening day win. Another notable performance for the day in the same division was Maidenhead United's new signing Michael Currie, although he was unable to break the deadlock at Heybridge Swifts.

Finally, a couple of notable ex-rangers' at opposite ends of their careers entered non league this season but are yet to make their mark. Originally at QPR as an apprentice, Trevor Challis has stepped down from Bristol Rovers to Telford United, perhaps to finish his playing days. But the other is a player that many were impressed with during his short time trying out in the reserves last season. David Booles seemed a prospect but was released and has now signed for Berkhamstead Town in the Ryman Division one North. He may well be the one to watch.

Thanks to those of you who remembered me and sent in snippets over the summer. All assistance gratefully received to help keep the ex files as informative as possible. Keep 'em coming!

varc@qprnet.com