Gillingham confirmed today the signing of non-league goal scorer Marcus Wyllie from National League South side Enfield Town.
The striker joins the Kent side for an undisclosed fee in what will be his first taste of full-time professional football having plied his trade in the lower reaches of the pyramid until now.
Who is Marcus Wyllie?
Wyllie moved to England at the age of 17 having played in Cypriot side APOEL Nicosia’s academy. Wyllie has spent the entirety of his career within the non-league system whilst studying and working in a school.
His non-league career saw him play for clubs including Berkhamsted Comrades and Risborough Rangers. It was the striker’s performances with the latter, in the ninth tier, that caught the attention of Enfield Town.
During his time at Risborough Rangers, Wyllie scored 36 goals in a 52 game unbeaten run to help the Buckinghamshire side to a runners up spot in the 2021-22 Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division. In the summer of 2022, Wyllie joined Enfield Town who were, at the time, in the Isthmian League (eight tier of English football) with his former side describing him as a striker who had the ability to score goals at will.
The striker took some time to settle at a higher level and found his goalscoring boots last season. Wyllie scored 34 times in 49 appearances in all competitions last season to help Enfield Town to promotion through the play offs. He won the Isthmian League golden boot along with Enfield’s player’s player and supporters’ player of the year.
Wyllie will now get his first taste of professional football with the League Two side and is looking forward to the opportunity:
“I am really excited to be here; it all happened so quickly and I am still processing it. This is what I have always wanted [playing full-time] and I am delighted to finally get the chance to do it”.
Will Wyllie do a ‘Jamie Vardy’ at Gillingham?
Gillingham have managed to bag themselves one of non-league’s hottest prospects given the season that Wyille had last season and previously with Risborough Rangers. The signing of Wyllie is one that Gillingham’s Director of Football, Kenny Jackett, has high hopes for:
“We have done our due diligence on Marcus, he is a strong hardworking lad who had a prolific season with Enfield Town and I have no doubt he is the type of player that Gillingham fans will enjoy watching.”
“Our recruitment team are working very hard when it comes to spotting talent in our region who have the capabilities to play at our level, and possibly even higher. We are giving players the opportunity to show what they can do and we will continue to work hard to add quality to our existing setup.”
Wyllie is definitely a striker who has all the attributes to make an impact in the EFL. The striker bagged a 38 minute hatrick in a league game against Bognor Regis Town in March with a header, a composed finish by taking it around the keeper and a one-on-one finish from inside the penalty area showing his qualities as a quick, composured and direct forward. Scoring 34 goals and winning promotion with Enfield last season will no doubt have been a big part of his development as a striker.
One of the benefits that Wyllie has, having signed for Gillingham, is playing alongside Elliott Nevitt given the similar career paths. Nevitt spent the majority of career in non-league football before getting his chance in the EFL with Tranmere Rovers who signed him from Warrington Rylands in 2021. Wyllie could benefit from working with Nevitt and gain experience from a player who was in the same position as him three years ago.
Gillingham, without doubt, have got their hands on a player who has great potential to make an impact in the EFL. Coming into his prime at the age of 25, Wyllie could be a name to keep an eye out for in a few seasons to come.