Bradford bolster squad ahead of new season
Bradford Town have been bolstering their squad further ahead of the new season, their first pre-season friendly pencilled in for August 8.
Lewis Ellington will be making a return to the club after spending the first months with the Bobcats last season before moving to Southern League Frome Town. Goalkeeper Marko Radovanovic has also committed his future to Bradford after signing in February, but only made one appearance before the Coronavirus pandemic hit.
Former Swindon Town midfielder Kurt Hammonds has also been snapped up by the Bobcats. The 29-year-old has been with Warminster Town and Frome since his departure from the County Ground. As well as Hammonds, Bradford have also secured the services of striker George Box, who has played for Brislington and Yate and joined Southern League Melksham Town in 2019 from Chipping Sodbury Town.
Bradford will be hoping his fire power can maintain their push for a Western League title next season.
The Bobcats have now announced their pre-season schedule, beginning on August 8 at home to Trowbridge Town. Royal Wootton Bassett Town will then be the visitors on Wednesday, August 12 before Calne Town on Tuesday, August 18.
The first of two away trips begins at Warminster on Tuesday, August 25, before a journey to Highworth Town on Saturday, August 29. The club stressed that the list wasn’t definitive with games and dates subject, as well as more games set to be added.
■ KEYNSHAM Town have announced that Rich Duffy and Chris Gannon from First Step Coaching will provide specialist keeper training to the under-18, A team, Reserve team and first team goalkeepers, who will now all train together.
The pair have been building an excellent reputation as goalkeeper coaches which has only been cemented by the feedback from the keepers in pre-season sessions. The club believe their input will be invaluable during the season as it is rare to have such specialist goalkeeping coaching.
On the pitch, Keynsham have made two new signings ahead of the new season. Midfielder Jack Dancey is returning to the club having played until he was 16 before moving away to study at Hartpury College where he represented England Colleges. Dancey, who is also comfortable in defence, then went to Durham University and played for Consett AFC and Whitley Bay in the Northern League.
After moving back to Bristol in 2018, Dancey signed for Larkhall Athletic in the Southern League, but has now taken the step down to help Keynsham.
Another face is Jordan Metters who has arrived from Southern League Bristol Manor Farm. The attacking midfielder should add experience and quality to the side and will link up former teammates Harley Purnell and Ash Clark, with whom he won and captained Manor Farm to the Western League title in the 2016/17 season, having also won it with Bishop Sutton in 2012/13.
■ Keynsham Town Walking Football have donated £2,000 to local causes. During the 2019/20 season members of the club nominated Children’s Hospice South West and Jessie May as their chosen charities. During the season, various events were organised and the club managed to collect £2,000 which was split equally between the charities.
The formal presentation of the cheques had been delayed until last week due to the Coronavirus pandemic, although the money had been transferred to their accounts back in May to help with their fundraising.
Children’s Hospice South West exists to make the most of short and precious lives and puts children and families at the centre of all it does by striving to provide the highest level of care, clinical expertise and enrichment opportunities to children who are expected to die in childhood; continue to provide holistic care that meets the needs of all family members; maximise services to as many families as possible in ways they want and in partnership with others; promoting the needs of children with life-limiting conditions both regionally and nationally; and share their expertise widely throughout the provision of education.
Jessie May is a charity that provides hospice at home care for terminally ill children in Bristol and the surrounding area. The charity was set up by the parents of Jessica May Purrington, a little girl who died at home aged four months, surrounded by her family and her nurses. Jessie May has a team of dedicated nurses who provide care to children and families during a child’s life and after their death.
Keynsham Town Walking Town Football Club train at the AJN Stadium and have two sessions for over-50s (Thursday evenings and Friday mornings) and one for over65s (Tuesday mornings). Last season they entered two teams in the Somerset FA Walking Football League (Over-50s and Over-60s) and one in the Gloucester FA League for Over-70s. For more information, visit their Facebook page.