Toolstation NCEL Premier Division
New Garforth Town striker Devonte Morton
Rob Hunter believes he has added real “quality” to his Garforth Town squad, but admits the club are starting over again.
Centre-back Alex Low (Ossett Town) and striker Devonte Morton (Campion) are the headline signings so far, and also arriving at the Bannister Prentice Community Stadium are Shaquille Clarke-Adams (ex-Ossett Town), Javen Benjamin (Mossley), Jonny Andrews (ex-Tadcaster Albion) and Billy Lumsden (ex-Ossett Town under 21).
The capture of those players kick-starts the rebuilding project which is needed following the departures of the likes of Sean Hunter (Harrogate Railway), Luke McCrum (Harrogate Railway), Mark Simpson (Worksop Town), Luke Kitson, Lee Turner (Hunslet) and Peter Lawrie (Selby Town), among others.
Only a handful of players may remain from last season – one notably being influential captain marvel James Beaston – but Hunter reckons he has got his recruitment right.
“At the end of last season we had to take stock of what we had as I knew there would be two or three players that wouldn’t be playing this year,” Hunter told Non League Yorkshire.
“I got a bit of a shock with one-or-two others who I didn’t expect to leave. There’s probably only five or six players left, but I have spent a lot of time talking to people and trying to get them to commit to pre-season training.
“Alex Low has come in and I spoke to him many times last season to try and get him to dual-register. He committed to me quite early and he hasn’t missed a training session yet.
“He is a quality player and lad. He’s someone you can trust and him committing was the starting point.
“We’ve also brought in Javen Benjamin, Billy Lumsden, Jonny Andrews and I’m really happy with the recruitment throughout the team. There’s some unfamiliar names in terms of the NCEL, in the likes of Jonny Andrews and Billy Lumsden, but from what I have seen from them, I think they will be big hits for the club.
“You look at the frontline and we’ve had some real quality in that area down at training and to name one who has signed is Devonte Morton.
“We have gone backwards in terms of losing the spine of the team and it does take time to gel a new side together, but we have brought in quality players and I think things are positive.”
Captain Marvel is staying: James Beaston has been a magnificent captain for Garforth Town during the past two seasons
Alex Low, who joins from Ossett Town, previously played for Hunter at Glasshoughton Welfare during the 2013/14 season
Rob Hunter will lead Garforth Town for a third season in August
The new faces, plus lots of trialists were involved in Garforth’s opening pre-season defeat at Harrogate Railway.
Hunter admitted everyone is far from where they need to be. He also urged players who have yet to put pen-to-paper to make their minds up.
“At Harrogate Railway almost everyone was playing for Garforth Town for the first time,” he said.
“The guys have a lot of quality, but they are not quite fit enough yet.
“We have a lot of work to do because currently I have a massive squad and I don’t really know what my best 19 is.
“There is also still a few players who are still to commit which is how it is. There’s always a couple of players who want to look at other clubs and won’t commit until a week before the season starts.
“Unfortunately if they don’t make a commitment very soon we’ll have to make that decision for them.”
Stephen Wetherell was in goal for Garforth at Railway, but Hunter has confirmed that he hopes to land his new permanent stopper this week.