DUGGLEBY'S REVEALS NEW SIGNINGS (ANOTHER WEFC!!!)

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DUGGLEBY'S REVEALS NEW SIGNINGS

 

EXCLUSIVE

by Steve Skerry

 

BARRY McCOY will spearhead the new look Wokingham and Emmbrook side when they start life in the Hellenic League next season.

 

The 21-year-old utility player, who was part of the Wokingham Town set-up in their final Ryman League campaign, was the first player to put pen to paper as part of manager Glenn Duggleby’s quest for Division One honours in his first season in charge. McCoy was a fans’ favourite at Wokingham Town, and, despite receiving a ban towards the end of last season whilst playing for his Sunday League team, he is crucial to Wokingham and Emmbrook’s success. Duggleby has also signed two goalkeepers including home-grown Wokingham Town goalkeeper Simon Harvey and Darren Webb, who plied his trade in the Reading Football League with Emmbrook last term. “I have been talking with 30 or 40 players and the signings I have made will all be part of the first team squad,” said Duggleby. “We intend to be competitive and make competition for places hot.

“We are selling it to the players that they will receive quality training to help build something big at the club for the future. We will not let the facilities here deter us from establishing ourselves as a tough team to beat.”

Duggleby has made seven other signings with three defenders from Emmbrook returning to Lowther Road, — top goalscorer from last season Darren Thorne, Adam Pearce and Mark Pedley. The 47-year-old former Binfield manager has used his contacts at Stubbs Lane to recruit Nick Kellaway and Paul Godson and has completed the signings of ex-Thatcham midfield ace Jonny Norris and Wokingham Allied Counties striker James Wise. Another Wokingham Town player, Matt James has verbally agreed to return and was expected to be confirmed last night (Tuesday) at pre-season training.

The 22-year-old was voted players’ player-of-the-year and supporters-player-of-the-year last term and Times Sport understands he has been listening to offers from other clubs but is ready to sign a new contract. Simon Turner, who returned to the Wokingham line-up towards the end of last season, has been linked with a return and Mark Needham and Craig Greason are training with the club.

Duggleby said: “I will be talking with Mark and Craig at training (last night) as to where they want to go. “They both played for Wokingham Town and Flackwell Heath last season but Flackwell are interested in retaining them so we’ll have to wait and see. “I hope to sign more players tonight but they need to realise that we can not pay them £30 or £40 a game. “We are not in the business of paying players but everything is starting to come together.” Duggleby has tipped Binfield to win the League and expects Finchampstead to be strong but says no team will have it as easy as runaway champions Wantage Town did last season. “It will be a competitive league and there will no Wantage Towns this season,” said Duggleby. “They were paying players big money and they’ve been promoted. “Binfield are the team to beat but that doesn’t mean we don’t want to overtake them.

“There is lots of interest in Wokingham and Emmbrook FC and all the signs are good for the first home game which will be a big event.”

Duggleby also completed the set-up of his back room staff last week by appointing ex-Mortimer manager Mark Vincent as reserve team manager.