Boreham Wood‘s Abdul Abdulmalik has revealed that he had a brief trial at their National League promotion rivals in Rochdale prior to his move to Hertfordshire.
The 23-year-old had an electric second season at Meadow Park, with his 18 goals and 10 assists across all competitions spearheading Luke Garrard’s team to the National League Play-Off Final, where they lost to the Dale on penalties.
His performances have rightly earned him suitors from within the EFL, with reports from Peterborough Today suggesting that Leicester City, Peterborough United and Plymouth Argyle were among those monitoring the winger at Wembley.
Abdulmalik Opens Up On Trials
Prior to his move to Boreham Wood, the former Wealdstone loanee underwent trials at different clubs following his release from Millwall‘s academy, which could have led him down very different paths.
Speaking exclusively to the National League Lowdown Podcast, Abdulmalik revealed that both Northampton Town and Rochdale had offered him trials prior to his switch to the Wood in 2024.
“I went on trial to Northampton for two weeks, but the manager at the time said I wasn’t ready, and I felt like I wasn’t ready as well.
“About two weeks later, I went on trial to Rochdale for about three days. I was playing as a wing-back. I played a game against Fleetwood Town, a behind-closed-doors friendly.
“Jimmy McNulty said, ‘You can come back, if you come back, you will play as a wing-back’, and I didn’t really see myself as a wing-back.
“Then I was talking to my agent at the time and said, ‘What teams are there?’ and then they said Boreham Wood are willing to take you, and I said I’m going to take the risk because the season was starting.
“That got over the line quickly, and then I went there and here now still.”
Having a quiet opening season in which the Wood were promoted back into the National League, Abdulmalik emerged as one of the best forwards in the division, earning himself a place in the division’s Team of the Season alongside teammate Zak Brunt.
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Self-Belief Pays Dividends
While it is surely somewhat of a gamble to reject an offer of further time on trial at Rochdale, it has been arguably the best decision of Abdul Abdulmalik’s career, and has now surely earned him a path into the EFL.
Believing in himself to play in a more advanced role than what Jimmy McNulty was offering during his spell there in 2024, the 23-year-old has proved himself to be one of the brightest prospects in non-league and perhaps got his ultimate ‘I told you so’ moment when scoring for Boreham Wood against Rochdale at Wembley.
Remember the name, Abdul Abdulmalik.
What a performance 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/r4THmcjL2n
— National League on DAZN (@DAZN_NationalLg) May 10, 2026
Northampton Town could have been an alternative destination if not for the rejection of Jon Brady at the time, but by his own admission he was not ready to make the jump into the EFL at that point.
Now, with multiple League One clubs interested in a move, his own risk-taking is sure to earn him a regular starting place in the third tier by the time the season begins in August.
For Boreham Wood too, their own risk-taking in signing an inexperienced academy player recently released from Millwall has also paid off handsomely, and they should be set for a big cash injection should Abdulmalik be sold on this summer.
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