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New exciting young signing announced together with another three retained players

New exciting young signing announced together with another three retained players

Simon Cox17 Jul 2018 - 01:57
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Manager Parkes is delighted to announce three players re-signed from last season, together with a new dynamic midfield signing

Manager Parkes has been working hard to add to his squad for the coming season, although it appears most of last season’s squad have been retained, there have been some exciting additions. Some new signings were released last week, today we introduce a new young player that has impressed the Management in both pre-season training and the two games he has played.

Also, we are delighted to announce the resigning of three players that were new to the club last season.

We are delighted to introduce a 21-year-old dynamic box to box central midfield player

Jarrod Grant

Jarrod came to the Management’s notice when he played for AFC Bilbrook in a behind closed doors friendly in March at Grace Academy. Manager Parkes said” We tried to sign Jarrod after his performance for Bilbrook, Jarrod played really well against us, we were really impressed with his calmness on the ball, and he was always available to receive the ball from his team mates”.

“We obviously spoke to him once the season finished and were delighted when he accepted our invitation to train with us pre-season where he has impressed with his natural athletic ability. Jarrod has also fitted in very well, he is very level headed and is willing to learn and respond to instruction and advice. He is improving game by game, putting in two outstanding dynamic performances against Sporting Khalsa and Wednesfield last Saturday, His is always available to receive the ball from his teammates, and is happy to move the ball forward quickly by lying a pass of or running at the opposition”.

Previous clubs include:
Old Wulfrunians
Tipton Town
Heathers St. John’s
Stafford Rangers
Halesowen Town


We would also like to announce the re-signing of the following three players

Ryan Kingdon

Ryan is yet another young player having just turned 22 years old, so might say he is the forgotten man of last season’s squad after suffering a severe knee injury after 18 minutes into his League debut game after a poor tackle from a Willenhall player. Manager Parkes said when asked about Ryan “On his day is an outstanding left or right back, with a great turn of pace, he has a great engine that seems to enable him to bomb up and down the touchline all game. He spent all last season working with Mike Howe our Sports Therapist who looked after his rehabilitation following his injury. It was great to see him back in the last game of last season against Wrens Nest”.

This pre-season has been difficult so far for Ryan, picking up niggling injuries which is not unusual given how much time he was out last season, but he now needs to buckle down and forget what happened last season and start to play like we know he can. The sooner this happened the better for everyone.

Previous clubs include:
West Bromwich United
Tipton Town Reserves


Ryan Jones

Ryan joined the Club last season after playing being part of last season’s Wolverhampton Sunday league Division One Champions the Frying Pan.

Andy Parkes said of Ryan “Last season he played at left back but is equally at home playing as the left sided centre half, also he can play at the base of midfield just in front of the backline. Ryan has been outstanding for the Club since he joined us, he has fantastic vision and is able to thread a pass to his teammates wither short or by switching the play to the opposite flank, He never lets you down always giving 100% and leaving nothing in the tank at the end of each game”.

Ryan can also improve so much more and "Mooro” will be working with him and the defensive unit before the season starts to make sure we are tighter at the back so as we don’t give away as many goals as we did last season.

Ryan signed in December this year playing 19 games in which he provided 4 assists and won a single man of the match against Worcester Raiders


Leon Taylor

Leon joined us from Wednesfield in November and scored in his first game in his second spell at the Club. 32-year-old Leon is a valuable senior member of the squad, who missed some of pre-season because of an injury, but since he has been fit has worked hard to try and catch up with his teammates. Manager Parkes said of Leon “His vast knowledge and experience has been a great help since his arrival at the Club, Leon is very vocal on and off the pitch in a very constructive way, and has been a great helping trying to get players to play the way we want the team to play. He is a great forward who holds up the ball well, bringing in other players into an attack. He still has the ability to score 25 plus goals a season, especially if he converts all the chances he and his teammates create for him, he just needs to be more clinical”.

Parkes added “Leon will be an important player next season as we look to push on to better last season’s sixth place finish, he is a winner and all teams need more players like him, with his “never say die attitude. This season we will be asking him to step up more and also we will be asking him to have a greater role in bringing the younger players on more.”

Las season Leon played 21 games, scoring 14 goals, and providing 4 assists as well as being nominated for 4 man of the match awards

Previous clubs include:
Wednesfield Town
Walsall Wood,
Darlaston Town,
Brocton

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