Four sessions into a meticulously planned pre-season schedule where players have been base line tested, and have completed already some challenging sessions, I have to say “it’s much better to watch from the side-lines than suffer the pain and discomfort I see on the players faces at times” The players who completed a similar programme last season clearly benefitted, lets hope it has the same effect this season. As always, the players are counting down the sessions, days, and weeks till the first match for nearly 2½ months when they will line up against Sporting Khalsa at RSA Academy on Tuesday 9th July.

Today we delighted to announce four players that have joined Darlaston’s every growing squad. Two to be released in this article and the remaining two will be featured in an article later today.

The first new additions are a central defender and forward have been added to the squad, neither are strangers to the management team, one played at Team Dudley last season and was an integral member of their squad, playing both at the base of their midfield and in the back four. The other played in Spain last season after returning home for a while following a successful season in 2017/18 with Tipton Town.

Darlaston are delighted to welcome Liam Smith and Ezekiel Agyemang

‏‎
Liam Smith

A 26-year-old experienced defender who can also play in holding midfield role, He re-joined Team Dudley in September last year from Premier Division Tividale, having started in non league career with the team as a student. Liam is an extremely skilful footballing defender, a player who never looks under pressure. He is a natural leader, athletic covering ground very quickly and reads the game exceptionally well.

Manager Parkes said “When last season finished we compiled a list of players we wanted to bring to Darlaston, Liam was one of our top targets, I have watched him for a few seasons, when he was at Tividale and of course last season playing for Lee Mills at Team Dudley. He is a big, strong dynamic player who is also a very cultured technical player, Liam has great leadership qualities always very vocal organising his teammates and to top it off he is a naturally fit player who despite his height is very athletic".

He added "Liam can play in a few positions, we see him mainly in central defence, or at the base of the Midfield. Liam is a real capture for the club having played at a much higher level up the football pyramid".

Former clubs include
Rushall Olympic, AFC Hinckley, Tividale and Team Dudley.

‏‏‎

‏‎
Ezekiel (Zico) Agyemang

A 21-year-old forward strong with blistering pace will provide a new dimension Darlaston’s forward line. Zico will be an unknown to the majority of supporters, until we mention that highly memorable 5-5 draw at Tipton Town the season before last as Zico was the player that caused our defence massive problems that night, he scored the second goal of Tipton’s five, heading in a T.J. Davies cross, lets hope I write that a few times this season. Zico disappeared off Parkes radar last season returning to his homeland Spain for the season.

Whilst away he has bulked up, and is now exceptionally strong, holding everyone off the ball with ease, he can play anywhere in the frontline, wide or down the middle, although his pace is a major attribute, he offers far more than that to the team. Zico works so hard defending from the front, chasing down the ball at every opportunity denying the opposition anytime on the ball.

When asked about the talented youngster Parkes said “Zico is a player with skill and blistering pace who's got a keen eye for goal. He is a selfless player who works exceptionally hard for his team. Another player whose signature we tried to capture two seasons ago, when Zico was at Tipton Town. In the two game he played against us he caused us tremendous problems and was a constant threat. We were not alone, because every game I watched Tipton play Zico gave his all for the time he was on the pitch, extremely effective whatever he did a threat on goal, bring his teammates into the game. Nick Lewis made the connection and played a big role in recruiting Zico”.

Coach Nick Lewis added “He is a player that wants to learn and improve his skills - after speaking with Andy and the management team we were really impressed with his attitude, he ticked all the boxes and we were keen to add him to the squad, especially when teams from higher leagues were interested”

Former clubs include
Stafford Rangers, Dynamo Loughborough, Tipton Town and SD Moraza