Division 1 North Transfers (2-6-12 to 13-6-12)
AFC Sudbury: Sudbury’s season of impressive signings continues with the acquisitions of Eljay Worrell from Tilbury and Bradley Thomas from Grays Athletic. Worrell was one of the stand-out players in Division 1 North last season, and helped Tilbury finish in the play-off positions.
Aveley: Kirk Whitelock has joined the club’s management team in a football advisory role. Whitelock has previously performed a similar role under Justin Gardner at Bethnal Green United, and had filled in the manager’s hot-seat after Gardner departed towards the end of last season.
Heybridge Swifts: The Essex club have signed former Tottenham Hotspur and Dagenham & Redbridge goalkeeper Nick Eyre. Eyre also represented England at schoolboy and under-17 levels. Since departing from Dagenham, Eyre has played for a number of clubs including Chelmsford City, Bishop’s Stortford and Grays Athletic. Wayne Bond has been appointed the club’s chief scout, despite being sacked by the club in January 2011.
Ilford: New boss Kevin Lucas has admitted there is no pressure on him at Ilford, as most people expect them to endure another season of struggling. Talking to North London Today, he said “Everyone thinks they are going to be down near the bottom again, so there isn’t really that much pressure, but I’m just looking for the lads to show some pride and see if they can move up the table a bit.” As of yet, there is no real transfer news down at Cricklefields, but Lucas will no doubt take much of his Enfield 1893 squad with him.
Needham Market: It has been a summer of rebuilding so far at Needham Market, starting with the re-signing of Darcy De’ath, Duane Wright and Bradley Barber, despite the latter attracting interest from AFC Sudbury. Wingers Deakin Napier and Scott Chaplin have left the club, despite previously being under contract.
Redbridge: Redbridge were awarded the Ryman League North Team Performance of the Season award at the Ryman League Annual Dinner and Ball on Saturday Night. However, this seems to be the only piece of good news coming out of the Barkingside club so far this close season, as the club are still without a first team manager.
Thamesmead Town: Midfielder Ross Lover has signed from Cray Wanderers.
Tilbury: More of last season’s successful squad have re-signed for the coming season, including James Marrable, Conor Mead, Sam West, Joe Nightingill, Paul King, Gary Henty, Tom Wraight, Aaron Matthews, Tom Webb, Joe Collins, Danny Smith, Ben Crooks, Jake Pooley and Mitchell Curran.
Ware: It has been a close-season of change behind the scenes at the Hertfordshire club. Mike Varney has been appointed the club’s new chairman, ousting Mick Clarke in a 13-12 vote at a club meeting. This appointment saw the almost-instant resignation of Stuart Nethercott, but Ware acted swiftly in bringing in Kristian Munt as their new manager. Munt had previously been manager of Wodson Park, a club who had been an un-official feeder club for Ware in recent years.
Wroxham: The division’s new boys have appointed Steve Eastlaugh as their ‘Director of Football’ for the forthcoming campaign. According to the Wroxham website, Eastaugh’s main responsibilities will be to create coordinated player recruitment, medical and player profiling that will impact on the progression routes for youth team players.
