The joint management team of Kieron Shelley and Lionel Toms were keen to secure as many key players from 2023/24 as possible and can confirm that the following players will be with the Dragons again this season:

Wivenhoe Town Retained Players Video

Gabriel Pateman – Goalkeeper – 14 WTFC games, 0 goals.
Gabe joined the Dragons towards the end of last season and made the number one shirt his own. A good all-round keeper with previous experience at Framlingham Town, Holland and Woodbridge.

Mark Dallinger – Defender / Midfielder - 42 WTFC games, 3 goals.
Dallinger is starting his third season at the club having proved himself to be a dependable full back who is solid defensively and able to contribute going forward. Dallinger will be hoping the injury problems of his last two seasons are behind him. Former sides include Halstead Town and Burnham Ramblers.

Tom Ayton – Defender / Midfielder - 40 WTFC games, 3 goals.
Joined Wivenhoe Town in the summer of 2023 having spent the previous season at Holland. Ended the season as Wivenhoe’s leading appearance maker, he can play or full back or in midfield, Ayton is hardworking, confident on the ball and looks to create chances.

Harry Johnson – Defender - 28 WTFC games, 2 goals.
Joined the club ahead of the 2023/24 season having previously played at Little Oakley and Harwich & Parkeston. Proved to be a very solid defender, a good reader of the game and very composed when in possession.

Max Long – Defender - 26 WTFC games, 0 goals.
A central defender or full back who joined the club early last season from Holland and became a regular with the Dragons proving to be a good addition to the Wivenhoe defence.

Zane Richards – Defender - 29 WTFC games, 1 goal.
A young defender who progressed through the Wivenhoe Town youth setup and made the step up from the Dragons U23s last season. He impressed with a string of solid performances to become almost ever present in the First team last season.

Finley Hughes – Midfielder - 41 WTFC games, 7 goals.
An all-round central midfielder who joined Wivenhoe last summer having had a brief previous spell at the Dragons in 2018/19. A key player last season, contributing goals and a strong presence in midfield. Former clubs include Brantham Athletic, Alresford Colne Rangers and Brightlingsea Regent Reserves.

Taylor Nicholson – Midfielder -22 WTFC games, 2 goals.
Joined Wivenhoe Town during the 2023/24 season from Dunmow Town and improved the Wivenhoe midfield with his work rate and quality on the ball. Became a key player in the Dragons midfield.

Alfie Eldridge – Midfielder - 37 WTFC games, 4 goals.
A talented young midfielder who joined Wivenhoe Town last summer and went on to prove his quality, ending the season with multiple club awards. Hardworking but with plenty of quality to pass the ball well, create chances and score goals.

Ben Gallifant – Midfielder – 192 WTFC games, 6 goals.
With almost 200 games for the club, Galli is amongst the club’s leading appearance makers at Senior level. Now firmly a central midfielder after starting his Dragons career as a goalkeeper and covered the position for a spell last season. Good on the ball, with a great range of passing, he leads the side by example.

This retained list does not include those players from the Under 23s squad that made significant contributions to the First team last season and remain at the club.

Brand new additions to the Wivenhoe Town squad will be announced soon!