Division 1 North Transfer Update (3/6/13 – 23/6/13)
Some of our Essex rivals have been especially busy since the last time we took a look at the close-season goings on in our division, as most clubs go into pre-season training this weekend and next.
AFC Sudbury: 2011 Supporters’ Player of the Year Nathan Clarke has returned to the club, only a year after joining Needham Market on a two-year contract. Clarke’s agreement with The Marketmen was mutually terminated. New manager David Batch has also brought in Ben Lewis and Jamie Forshaw, who were both with Batch at Wroxham last season. “Suffolk Player of the Year” Dan Heath has also signed, coming in from Hadleigh United where he wore the number one shirt.
Aveley: Manager Justin Gardner candidly revealed this week that he faces a constant struggle to stop his players being poached by clubs with larger budgets than his £800 a week. He has, however, been able to sign highly-rated ‘keeper Jack Giddens, while Sammy Knott and Sosthene Yao have both also signed.
Brentwood Town: After a few solid, but largely unsuccessful seasons at the helm, Steve Witherspoon has left the club. Brentwood have brought back Les Whitton for his second spell at the club. Expect a no-nonsense approach from the new manager, who will make his side strong and hard to beat as a priority.
Cheshunt: Title-winner at Grays last year, Cheshunt have secured a major coup with the signing of Luke Marshall.
Erith and Belvedere: Despite winning promotion last year, it has been a summer of rebuilding for The Deres. The latest recruits are Jamie Lawrence and Liam Hickey, who both join from Chatham Town. Hickey was voted Chatham’s Young Player of the Year last season. Luke Tanner, Ben Healey and Jamie Miller have all signed from Cray Valley PM, while forward or midfielder Danny Willis, ex-Pheonix Sports left-sided midfielder Aaron Jeffery and highly-rated 18-year-old goalkeeper Billy Hensman all make the switch from Fisher.
Heybridge Swifts: Swifts seem to be making all the right noises so far, having first signed Neil Cousins, and then Ryan Doyle from Brentwood Town. Last season’s top scorer Luke Callander has reportedly turned down a number of moves further up the pyramid, saying that he is confident that the squad Heybridge are assembling will match his standards. After three seasons at Canvey Island, Robbie King has returned to the club. Manager Mark Hawkes wants to mount a serious promotion attempt this season, though he knows his side will have to be far more consistent than the last.
Witham Town: One of the surprise packages last season, the Spa Lane outfit look to be going all out to achieve a play-off place this time around. Winger Tom Wraight has signed from Tilbury, while the nomadic Joe Sweeney has put pen to paper. Centre back Jack West has also signed, coming in from Brentwood Town, while Greg Cohen has signed from Brentwood Town.
Wroxham: After losing manager David Batch to AFC Sudbury, a relative-unknown has been appointed in his place. Pawl Guziejko has been brought in from Anglian Combination side Reepham Town. Guziejko has previously worked as a coach in his native Poland, before spending seven years in the USA as assistant coaching director of Spectrum Soccer Schools. He then moved to the UK becoming a community coach at Norwich City but it his success with Reepham Town that caught the eye, earning promotion and stabilising the club in the Anglian Combination Premier Division.
We are, of course, still awaiting news on Thurrock’s appeal, which should be heard this week. Should they be unsuccessful, Thurrock have threatened to take the issue to the European Courts, potentially having major repercussions on the start of the Isthmian League season.
