Hughes signs in as pre-seasons continue apace
● RUNCORN TOWN are continuing to build for the 2017-18 season as the club announced another new signing this week.
Manager Chris Herbert has already brought in three players this month, including goalkeeper Richard Smith and experienced defenders Antony Shinks and Paul Dowridge.
His latest signing is defensive midfielder Ryan Hughes who has spent the majority of his last few years playing in the USA.
The 22-year old also has experience playing for Irlam and Witton Albion before moving to America in 2013 where he played with ‘The Battlers’ at Alderson Broaddus University in West Virginia. While there, he helped his team win the Great Midwest Athletic Conference Men’s Soccer Championship last year, the first title for Alderson Broaddus, after finishing runners-up two years ago.
Herbert said: “Ryan [Hughes] has just come back from America where he has been for the last few years, he has come in and impressed straight away. He is a local lad, still only 22, but plays with an older head on his shoulders. He is a very good footballer with a good range of passing.
“He is a defensive midfielder, six foot tall and really suits how we play.
“I wanted an extra holding midfielder and we have found one in Ryan.”
Runcorn have had mixed results in their recent pre-season matches. After a 2-1 win at Heswall last Wednesday night, they fell to a 4-0 home loss to Warrington Town on Saturday before a 4-1 defeat at Colwyn Bay on Tuesday evening.
Town’s pre-season programme sees them playing host to Stalybridge Celtic on Saturday afternoon (kick-off 3pm) before Welsh outfit Denbigh Town visit Pavilions next Wednesday evening (kick-off 7.30pm).
Meanwhile, over at Runcorn Linnets, Michael Ellison’s side have been continuing their preseason programme with mixed fortunes.
Last Saturday afternoon they doubled-up on visitors Witton Albion 4-2 with Zac Aley and Stuart Wellstead among the scorers (see report on page 53). However, on Tuesday night they slipped to a 1-0 defeat to Marine, a first half goal from Adam Hughes the difference between the teams.
Linnets’ pre-season campaign continues on Saturday when they visit Middlewich Town. Kick-off at the Finney’s Lane ground is at 3pm.