CASTLE’S KING OF THE COUPS
Crows boss swoops to land a top duo
UPBEAT boss Steve Castle believes new signings Isaac Gal- liford and Jonny Edwards can help keep the feelgood factor going at Royston Town.
The Crows are eager to build on an impressive 2019-20 season. They reached the FA Trophy quarter-finals, the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup and were third in Southern League Premier Central when the season was cut short in March.
Those displays didn’t go unnoticed and the Hertfordshire club have since seen raids on their frontline.
Matt Bateman has moved up a rung to Hemel Hempstead, while Brandon Adams is believed to be trying his luck with a National League club in pre-season. Claudio Ofosu and Josh Oyinsan have also departed.
Former Leyton Orient, Plymouth and Peterborough midfielder Castle has moved quickly to fill the void. He’s brought in England C international Galliford, 23, from Hemel and ex-Peterborough and Hull forward Jonny Edwards, also 23, from Maidstone.
Castle is hoping the moves can be a springboard for Galliford and Edwards – and also catapult the club forward.
Formidable
“We take a lot of satisfaction from helping lads climb up to higher levels, but the sad thing about it is that the players who left would have stayed if we had gone up,” said Castle.
“Now we have to do it again and hopefully this time next year with Isaac and Jonny we will be in Conference North or South. We would then have a better chance of keeping our best players.
“I wish good luck to the lads who have left – they are good lads, but we have to move on. We have got two fantastic players and hopefully one or two more coming in as well so we can be as formidable as last season.” The 54-year-old is determined to get the best out of Galliford, who can play in midfield or up front, and Edwards at Garden Walk.
“We played against Isaac when he was at Hitchin and he’s an incredible talent,” the former St Albans boss told The NLP.
“He was on our radar at Hemel and for whatever reason, it just hasn’t happened for him there. However, he’s played for England C and has undoubted ability.
“I have said to Isaac that players have come to us before and gone on to do well. For example, Adam Marriott scored his goals and is flying at King’s Lynn.
“Jonny Edwards is in the same sort of category as Isaac. He’s not quite fulfilled his undoubted potential and that’s what we need to get out of him.”
With his squad taking shape, Castle, who took charge in 2013, is aiming to keep the good times flowing at Royston.
“(Defender) Ben Martin has retired after a fantastic career, but we haven’t really needed to change anything at the back or in midfield,” he added. “It was the forward line that needed addressing.
“Our success last season completely revitalised football in a little town in north Hertfordshire and we need to keep the feelgood factor going.”