Altrincham starlet Chris Conn-Clarke not phased by transfer speculation as he scoops award

Altrincham starlet Chris Conn-Clarke revealed he is keeping his feet on the ground despite a stellar season that saw him named Sportsbeat Young Player of the Season at the Non-League Paper’s National Game Awards in association with Isuzu.

Conn-Clarke shone for the Robins across the 2023-24 season, scoring 22 National League goals as Alty narrowly missed out on promotion via the play-offs.

The Northern Irishman was a key part of Phil Parkinson’s side’s success and has subsequently attracted plenty of interest from the Football League, but the 22-year-old insisted he is not getting carried away and is simply concentrating on getting in peak condition for next season after picking up the individual award at the National Game Awards ceremony in London.

“It’s a great achievement,” he said.”I feel like I’ve had a good season and it’s always good to win an award at the end of the season to reflect on how good it has been.

“When you have good numbers you are always going to get interest but it’s just rumours. I am just focussing on getting back into shape for the new season.

“I didn’t expect to get the numbers I have but I knew I would do well. I had been on loan at Altrincham before under the gaffer and he gets the best out of me so it was a no-brainer going back and I am glad I did.

I will always be the same, try to impact games and express myself on the pitch. Nothing has changed, I have just been more deadly in front of goal this year and taken my chances when they’ve come.

“Playing every week, when you get the chances that I get every week it just becomes natural to put it in the goal.”

Conn-Clarke was one of the National League’s outstanding talents last term but it has not always been plain-sailing for the forward, who