Pitchero Non League

Kevin Sawyer

....the departure of Nathan Vaughan by clinching the signing of vastly experienced custodian Kevin Sawyer.

The 32-year-old Swindon-born goalkeeper finished last season on loan at Chippenham Town, and the Brakes boss was delighted to have secured his signature, saying: “It was important that we replaced Nathan with an equally experienced head, as it is a position that you can't afford to take a risk with. Kevin knows this division well and has won promotion from it twice so he knows what is required to do well at this level.”

Sawyer began his career in the successful youth academy at Cirencester Town, breaking into the first team in 1998. He signed for Salisbury City in July 2002 and had a successful four-year spell in Wiltshire, making over 200 appearances and helping them to promotion from the Southern League Division One East and then into the Conference South in 2006.

He returned to Cirencester that summer, but despite having a good season personally the club were relegated, and he was snapped up by Tim Harris at Gloucester City, making over 150 appearances either side of a spell at Weston-super-Mare, after helping the Tigers into the Conference North.

After being released by Gloucester in September 2011, Sawyer returned to Cirencester for a third spell but spent the last month of the season on loan with Chippenham.

At 6' 3" his broad frame certainly helps him to dominate his penalty area, but it has been noted by supporters at his former clubs that he is surprisingly agile, and also very good at saving penalties. His experience will hopefully prove invaluable to Brakes during the season.

Meanwhile, the Brakes boss has been busy fine-tuning his squad with the start of the season just over a week away. As a result, summer signing Jimmy Deabill will not be returning to the club.

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