As Market Drayton Town’s preparations for a vital new campaign in the re-named EvoStik South League gathered pace this week, a string of signings led by the capture of former Shrewsbury Town star Steve Jagielka underlined where they intend being at season’s end.
The return of Delwyn Humphreys as assistant manager, of former key defenders like Gary Anslow and Grant Goodhead, the continued commitment of experienced men at the core of last year’s team and a promising crop of youngsters are all signs that boss Simon Line has assembled a good balance of talents, youth and know-how..
That was underlined with two drawn final pre-season games with powerful opposition: one apiece in a Saturday crackerjack against TNS when Goodhead scored and 2-2 against Nantwich on Tuesday evening when the goals came from Tom Rogers and Marc Stallard.
The ever-industrious Rogers regained his touch in front of goal from Jagielka’s superb through pass and Stallard’s close-in header from Porter’s corner capped a fighting come-back from 2-1 down after keeper Pryce had kept them in touch with some fine saves.
But two events off the field most vividly demonstrated where Town want to go and how determined they are to get there.
One was many miles away, at Crewe, where the club announced they had given a 16 year-old Drayton lad, Ben Garrett apprentice status and a two year professional contract at the same time, a double deal almost unheard of in his age group.
Ben’s glowing future was emphasised by the six foot two inch tall goalkeeper’s call-up into the England under-17 squad for a four-cornered international tournament with Turkey, Australia and Portugal based in the North-East in a few weeks time.
Great news for Market Drayton town with a small T – but the fact that this England hopeful has never featured in a local team apart from his Grove School line-up, illustrates failures in our long-term soccer set up the revamped Greenfields camp would love to rectify.
Ben, whose dad, Brian, played for Little Drayton Rangers and whose grandfather, Brian, is secretary of the Town club, signed for Crewe when he was six and played virtually all his early football in the Stoke area.
Quite simply, there was then no proven well established paths for Ben to follow through the ranks of junior football – like that brilliantly provided by Drayton Tigers – to the senior game, whose cause has been championed with equal success by Line and co.
Which is why Town were last night desperately seeking another key signature – that of coach Mick Murphy.
Murphy, whose selfless unstinting hard work towards Town’s survival amid last season’s troubles can never be over-stated, announced his departure suddenly in the wake of Humphreys’s arrival.
Town, led by chairman Julian Parton have been at pains to publicly and privately stress Murphy would continue as coach – in fact the long term aim was for him to help spearhead a revamp creating the sort of network that could attract future young Ben Garretts.
Murphy, who also serves as Shropshire FA’s Director of Football and has links with Drayton going back to his playing days, is seen as an ideal man for such a role.
“We really want him to stay with us,” said chairman Parton.
I understand that the club wants Murphy to continue as he is but also feel he can make an immense contribution in an enhanced role for a club he’s already done so much for.
Line added: “We’ve asked Mick to come along and have a chat Thursday evening and hopefully, we can persuade him to stay. He’s an important part to play in our future.
“As for the future, I am happy with the mix of experience and youth we have in our squad and I’m sure we will be able to achieve our aim of improving on last season.
“Our performances in the last two games have been particularly pleasing and I think the calibre of experienced players we’ve signed demonstrates our ongoing commitment to improving the quality of football for everyone in this region both on.”
On paper,Town have only three out-and-out strikers, Martyn Davies, Mark Grice and Tom Rogers. But they have two proven high scoring wingers in Nicky Porter and Stuart Ellis and most of their nominal midfielders – and defenders for that matter – are required to add the unexpected element of surprise to attack.
Market Drayton Town’s signings for the 2010-11 season
Goalkeepers: Andrew Pryce, Andrew Spooner, Kieran Hunt.
Defenders: Simon Gregory, Gary Anslow, David Howells, Ashley Burd, Andrew Hartlebury, Kieran Garratt, Marc Stallard, Grant Goodhead, Paul McMullen.
Midfielders: Shaun Humphreys, Stephen Jagielka, Stuart Timmis, Matthew Owen, Connor Courtney, Robert Stevenson.
Wingers: Nicky Porter, Stuart Ellis, Darren Beech. Strikers: Martyn Davies, Mark Grice, Tom Rogers.
By Terry Morris