Latest Division 1 North Transfers (1-6-12)
AFC Sudbury: The Suffolk club were rocked in late May as last season’s Supporters Player and Players’ Player of the Year Nathan Clarke left the club. Manager Chris Tracey thought he had done enough to secure Clarke’s future at the MEL Group Stadium, but Clarke had a change of heart and decided his future lay away from the club.
Aveley: Recently relegated to the division, Manager Justin Gardner has brought in a former Forest favourite as a coach at Mill Field. Renner, who made 54 appearances for Forest over three seasons will no doubt begin to forge a familiar looking side at Aveley.
Chatham Town: The experienced forward Jean-Michel Sigere has signed from Grays Athletic. He made 24 appearances for Grays last year, but his goal scoring record was perhaps not what Hakan Heyrettin had expected.
Heybridge Swifts: Heybridge Swifts have raided Ridgeons League Premier Division side Stanway Rovers by signing Michael Cheek, Ben Newson and Russell Malton.
Ilford: Colin Walton’s departure from the managerial seat no doubt rocked the club, but they acted quickly to bring in Kevin Lucas from Enfield 1893. Lucas won the Essex Senior League in the 2009-10 season, but his Enfield side were denied promotion due to ground grading difficulties. Last season, Lucas lost the majority of his side in a series of freak injuries.
Maldon and Tiptree: The Essex club’s close season started in the worst possible way, losing manager Mike Flanagan, only two weeks after the end of the 2011-12 season. Chairman Ed Garty was as surprised as anyone on the matter, saying “We’d been talking about next season, pre-season training and friendlies – yet two days later he resigned.
“I had absolutely no inkling and thought it was a foregone conclusion that he was going to be our manager.”
Redbridge’s loss will be Maldon’s gain, as Terry Spillane was appointed first team manager at the end of May.
Needham Market: Aftree two seasons of being the division’s ‘nearly’ team, the Marketmen look to be going for all our domination this season. Duane Wright, James Evans and Ollie Fenn have already signed new contracts, while Sam Newson and Danny Bloomfield were already tied to the club until 2013. AFC Sudbury’s player of the year Nathan Clarke has been signed from AFC Sudbury, and Bradley Barber has also signed a new contract.
Redbridge: Last season’s FA Cup 2nd Rounders were shocked in mid-May when their Chairman, Dan Holloway resigned. Things got worse a day later when manager Terry Spillane also walked out of the club.
Thamesmead Town: The South London side’s first signing of the season was former Ilford ‘keeper Rob Budd, who had made over 100 appearances for our landlords.
Tilbury: Last season’s defeated play-off semi-finalists have acted swiftly to keep several of last season’s side. So far, Gary Henty, Sam West, Joe Nightingill, Paul King and James Marrable have all put pen to paper.
Witham Town: There has been no movements into Witham yet, but three of last season’s contract players, Danny Lopez, Billy Hunt and Lewis Godbold have all re-signed for another year.
Wroxham: One of the division’s three newcomers acted quickly at the start of the season to sign Matt Halliday from Ryman Premier side Lowestoft Town. The popular midfielder, who had previously played for Wroxham was clearly surplus to requirements at Lowestoft, after making only 11 appearances last term.
