Ben Godfrey fears some ‘hidden gems’ could be lost if clubs go out of business due to stadium ban for fans

Ben Godfrey is the latest example of the importance of the pyramid structure in English football, and he is desperate to see it survive Covid-19.

Just settling at Everton following a £25 million deadline-day move from Norwich, Godfrey’s route into professional football came at hometown club York City. Bootham Crescent was where his father, Alex, took him to watch football when he was growing up and Ben’s dream was to break into the team, which he did when he was 17.

But it is clubs such as York, now in National League North, who are most threatened by the on-going effect of no fans in stadiums. Macclesfield Town, from the division above, have already gone to the wall and there are concerns others could follow by the end of the year. And if they go out of business, the pathway for someone like Godfrey to progress upwards disappears.

“It’s sad to see what is going on,” says the 22-year-old defender. “Some clubs can’t afford to continue to do business. I have been in those leagues. I do really feel for them. We have to all hope and pray the economy fixes itself swiftly and football can continue at that level.

“These clubs do have those hidden gems. If the clubs disappear, it is inevitable that some players will not go on the path they maybe should have.”

Godfrey was snapped up by Norwich on his 18th birthday and put into their academy teams. He made his first Championship start in December 2018 and progressed quickly. Carlo Ancelotti was impressed enough to bring him to Goodison Park. 

Godfrey is making rapid strides as a centre-half, although he was thrown in for his debut in last Saturday’s tempestuous Merseyside derby as a substitute right-back in place of injured captain Seamus Coleman. 

Ancelotti has confirmed that Godfrey will continue in that role at Southampton on Sunday, and the England Under-21 player will likely take it in his stride. But if he ever has any problems, he can always turn to Rio Ferdinand. Godfrey is part of the New Era management group in which Ferdinand is involved and he has taken a keen interest in how Godfrey’s career is progressing.

“Rio takes time out of his day to go through our clips and our games and he’ll see things that you can improve on,” he says. “It’s a massive help. He’s got so much knowledge and experience. He’s helping me to develop as a player and I have definitely learned a thing or two from him.”