Pitchero Non League

It has been a pre-season where the management team have kept their cards close their chests but have now announced the squad for the up-coming season.

Director of football Gary King said: “I`m pleased to announce we have been mostly successful in recruiting the players we have gone after.

“It is a crazy time where, over the years, I have come to realise that you have players that come to the first day of pre-season and leave midway through and players who say they are going elsewhere and turn up halfway through. It is with that in mind I have refrained from announcing who is coming, who is staying and who is leaving until now.”

Goalkeeper Jake Knight arrives from Molten Spartan South Midlands League side Hertford Town and joins last season`s number one Nick Bussey and the vastly experienced former Luton Town, Chesterfield, Boston United, Torquay and Kettering Town custodian Nathan Abbey, who has teamed-up with brother player boss Zema - as assistant-manager.

Returning to Arlesey after a gap of eight years is defender Shane Blackett, who was released by Luton at the end of last season.

Blackett, now 29, left Hitchin Road to join Dagenham & Redbridge in the summer of 2004 and he went on to make around 150 League appearances for the Daggers, Peterborough and Luton.

He joins Derek Brown, Ryan Frater, Jeanmal Prosper, Josh Cook, Jordan Browne and Nyasha Sagwete, who all remain from last season`s squad.

Midfielders David Galbraith, Aston Goss and Chris Marsh have been joined by Leon Hibbert, Marcell McKie, Phil Draycott and Adam Fry.

Hibbert arrives having been on the books at Blue Square Bet North outfit Corby Town last season.

Hibbert had two spells with the Steelmen punctured by time with league rivals Gainsborough Trinity.

He has also had periods with Barton Rovers and Hemel Hempstead Town as well as a spell on loan with Slough Town.

McKie is an ex-Tottenham Hotspur, Grays Athletic, St Albans City, Kettering and Enfield Town player, while Draycott arrives via spells with Bedford Town and ChromaSport & Trophies United Counties Leaguers AFC Kempston Rovers.

Adam Fry is the son of the mercurial Barry, and he lists Peterborough, Hinckley United, King`s Lynn, Kettering, Heybridge Swifts, Rothwell Town, St Neots Town and St Albans City amkngst his previous clubs.

Top striker Drew Roberts has returned to Arlesey along with former Bedford Town team-mate James Hatch, giving them quite some strike force with another returnee, Harry Hunt from Biggleswade Town, Chris Dillon, ex-Langford and Cambridge City Kim Forsythe as well as occasional cameos from player boss Zema Abbey.

Tags: News | Arlesey Town

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