ALL OVER FOR ‘ROLLS’ ALEX
BILLY FILLS HIS BOOTS TOM A-PEERS AT THE BUCKS
FC HALIFAX Town have signed former England C captain Scott Garner from rivals Boston United. The 26-year-old former Mansfield Town and Grimsby Town defender quit the Pilgrims after three years to join the Shaymen on a two-year deal. New Shay boss Billy Heath has also secured the signatures of keeper Tom Nicholson and midfielder Jordan Sinnott. Right-back Kevin Roberts and striker Richard Peniket have both signed new deals. CURZON ASHTON boss John Flanagan has paid tribute to “Rolls Royce” Alex Brown after the popular midfielder announced his retirement. The 31-year-old, who also enjoyed successful spells with Droylsden and Chester, has decided to hang up his boots to spend more time with his family and business commitments.
Captain Brown was a big part in Nash’s promotion from the Evo-Stik NPL Premier and last season’s 11th-place finish in their debut season at Step 2.
“He is a really popular lad here and a real Rolls Royce of a footballer, always playing to the highest quality,” Flanagan said. AFC TELFORD United new boy Tom Peers is excited for his new challenge after leaving National League outfit Chester. The 20-year-old striker played under Bucks’ boss Rob Smith on loan at Hednesford, scoring three times in nine games. Peers, who also scored eight goals in a temporary spell at Marine, came through the academy at Chester. He said: “AFC Telford is a massive club with a huge fan base and I can’t wait to get started.”
The Boro boss and his assistant Steve Chettle have a reputation for unearthing talents and sending them up the ladder.
Che Adams, now at Sheffield United, was a big success story from their time at Ilkeston and last season England C duo Aaron Williams and Callum Chettle – son of Nottingham Forest legend Steve – were snapped up by League One Peterborough United halfway through their National League North promotion push.
That was also hit by a three-point deduction for fielding an ineligible player leaving them short of a top-five finish, but Wilson is positive ahead of the new campaign.
Despite losing captain Joe Maguire to Boston United and seeing Jack Lane move to Tamworth, Wilson has kept the core of his squad, including England C midfielder Elliott Whitehouse, while, so far, adding Greg Tempest, Shaq McDonald and defender Kelvin Langmead.
When he took over last summer the club had just two players and he hopes now they have the structure in place to replace anyone moving on.
Wilson said: “We always say here, ‘We’re not going to make you a millionaire. But we might put you on the road to becoming a millionaire’. It’s the opportunity for them to come somewhere that believes in youth and believes in a philosophy of helping people to go forward.
“We’ve evaluated ourselves this year. We sat down, me and Steve, and said we’ve most probably cost ourselves two promotions by selling the players we’ve sold over the years.
“We were in a good position at Ilkeston and we sold Che Adams, Kane Richards,