The former Sandbach United striker Boris Melingui is the latest player to step up from our league into the senior ranks, after signing a semi-professional contract with Brechin City in the Scottish Football League One.
After impressing in pre-season trials for Brechin, the French national, who played for Sandbach in both the 2016/17 and 2017/18 campaigns as well as appearing for Leek Town was offered a contract.
He made a good start to his career at Glebe Park, scoring in the 17th minute of his new side's BetFred Cup tie at Stirling Albion, helping Brechin to a 2-1 win and their first competitive victory for a year in their first game of the season.
Sandbach United's Mike Senior said: "I remember when the manager Andy Hockenhull brought Boris into the team a few years ago and he was a bit of an unknown quantity, having originally come to the UK for trials with Stoke City.
"But it was through a different connection that he ended up at Sandbach United and at the time we were starting to get a bit of a notice as a club that can connect and move players higher on the football pyramid.
"Boris has a fantastic work ethic and is a quiet an unassuming player who gives 110% every game. He became an instant hit with the staff and players at the club and the fans, who made up a song especially for him. We first heard it on an away trip to Holker Old Boys for a league visit, due to his dogged determination to win and fair play.
"Not the tallest striker in the league, he had great presence and could be a real handful as can be seen in his playing record of 22 games, 14 goals and 7 MoM awards and could change a game in the blink of an eye. A lot of us will remember the hat trick in the 2nd half at Holker in the Reusch Cup Semi-final which he scored in a 27 minute period and his first half Hat-trick at home against FC Oswestry Town.
"Of course after the first season it was already clear that he had the ability to step up and arrangements were made to get him in at Leek Town for higher level football where he dual registered for 2017/18, and the rest became history as he moved upwards. We all wish Boris luck for the future".
Boris is pictured below in action for Sandbach United at Daisy Hill last season. Photo courtesy of John Clayton.
