The transfer merry-go-round turns….
The summer transfer window may not slam shut until the end of August (n.b. the transfer window never simply ‘closes’ … it always ‘slams shut’), but that’s not stopped Dave Good, Ascot United’s version of Howard Wilkinson, from workinghis magic and bringing in a host of new players for the 2023-24 campaign.
Yep, we’ve got dads of junior players, raids on Monday night seven-a-side vets’ kickabouts and indeed even a couple of acquisitions from other West London Vets’ Football League sides on the radar. Here’s a little more on some of the new faces who’ll be wearing Ascot yellow in the new season.
– Dwaine Bryan. The first new arrival of 2023-24 could and perhaps should have been a new arrival in 2022-23. How so? The WLVFL genuinely does have, we kid you not, a transfer deadline day (the 31st March every season) and Dwaine Bryan began training with AUFC at more or less that time in 2023. Was there a Sky Sports reporter in the car park feeding back on the drama of whether his transfer from Croxley Vets would be done in time? Was Dave Good interviewed in true Harry Redknapp-style leaning out of his car window on the ins and outs of whether the paperwork would be successfully completed? Not quite, but unfortunately for Dwaine things didn’t come together in time for him to play in 2022-23. He is, however, very much in for 2023-24 and if there’s a brick wall up front that needs ploughingthrough, he’ll be the man to do it.
– Rob Stockford. Dwaine offers options up front, Rob Stockford offers a good option at the other end of the pitch. Stockford’s one of two new goalkeeping acquisitions. Before joining Ascot United Stockford plied his trade in Division One of the WLVFL (with Laleham & Kempton) but over the summer he opted to follow his son – a member of the AUFC U16s – and join the Yellas. Pre-season has already shown that the Vets have acquired a good communicator. Indeed, anyone playing in front of the Oldham Athletic fan had better get used to being told exactly what’s needed of them. All good!
– Nick Beard. ‘Team Goalkeeper’ also has a third member alongside Stockford and Eryk Nawala (and potentially Lee Perry, a man always willing to stand in when the Yellas are short); Nick Beard. Nick Beard has moved across from the highly-respected Woking Vets. He is likely to be instantly recognisable. How come? Just look out for the magnificently garish gloves/boots combo. Indeed, there’s already plenty of evidence in the AUFC Vets’ watsapp group that Beard has a gloves/boots combo in every possible colour combination imaginable. Plus plenty of combos that aren’t…..
– Mikey Lewis. Gaffer Dave Good will be really pleased to welcome central midfielder Mikey Lewis on board. Once of the magnificently named Athletico Ascot he’s actually been plucked from the high-octane world of seven-a-side Vets’ football on a Monday night at Charters’ School. If he can deal with that high pressure world, then you’d expect him to take to the WLFVL like a duck to water.
– Anthony Everest. We’ve another man who, like Rob Stockford, has been plucked from the terraces at Ascot United. With his lad impressing for Ascot United’s U13 SYL side, Anthony’s been persuaded to dig the boots out of the cupboard and come and join the Yellas himself. A midfielder who can play in most positions (bar perhaps keeper; he doesn’t have the requisite neon gloves and boots), he’ll be a welcome addition to the squad.
– Karl Small. A graduate of the Mike Tomlinson school offootballing talent, Small comes in to offer options as a full/wing back on either the left or right. Small is another whose son plays in the Ascot United SYL set up, this time with the U8s. Leo, his lad, may have the silky touch and the sway of the hips that comes with youth, but Small senior is not going to let anyone down. A rock-solid addition to the squad.
– Carl Collins. The Vets’ attacking options are going to be further strengthened with the arrival of Carl Collins. Collins is another who has seen WLVFL action before. He used to turn out for Kew Park Rangers in the top flight. Collins will be looking to lead the line and bang in the goals, something he’ll hope to begin doing in the friendly on 11 August against Holyport.
– Adam Logie. The final acquisition of the summer comes in the form of Adam Logie. The former Slough Town and Burnham midfielder is transitioning from another of the (what appear to be numerous) Vets’ Monday evening knockabouts. Logie’s been at home in a variant that takes place over in Maidenhead, but he’s now looking to get back into senior football. Keep an eye out for a holding midfielder with an eye for a pass.
Welcome on board one and all!
