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Wivenhoe Town Squad 2023/24
The Dragons squad for the 2023/24 season
It's a new era for Wivenhoe Town as they are moved to the Thurlow Nunn First Division North with a new management team of Kieron Shelley, Lionel Toms and Ollie Leroux. The Dragons management have been working hard to build a squad following the disruption of moving to a league covering a very different geographic area.
The new squad features some familiar faces, Midfielder Ben Gallifant remains, and is named club captain after playing more than 150 times for Wivenhoe. The squad also features some exciting new signings and a few returning players.
Wivenhoe Town Squad 2023/24:
Goalkeepers:
Matt Brand Barker - Goalkeeper - Retained: 12 games, 0 goals.
Available to Sponsor
Former Clubs: Heybridge Swifts and Colney Heath
Joined the club in the summer of 2022 as competition for the number one shirt. Proved to be an able shot stopper able to distribute the ball well.
Alfie Lewis - Goalkeeper - New signing!
Sponsored by: Steamer Cleaners
Former Clubs: Alresford Colne Rangers
A talented young goalkeeper stepping up to Senior Non-League Football this season. Demonstrated in pre-season a commanding presence of his area and great shot stopping ability. Will be aiming to secure the number one shirt this season.
Defenders:
Ryan Vickery - Central Defender - Retained: 18 games, 0 goals.
Sponsored by: Whitegates Grooming Parlour
Former Clubs: Braintree Town Reserves, Gosfield
Joined the club midway through the 2022-23 season and became an ever present in the Dragons defence. A central defender who gives his all for the badge and loves defending. Wivenhoe Town vice-captain this season.
Mark Dallinger - Full back - Retained: 17 games, 0 goals.
Available to Sponsor
Former Clubs: Halstead Town, Coggeshall United, Burnham Ramblers
Joined the club towards the start of last season but missed a large part of it due to injury. A hardworking full back, solid defensively and capable of getting forward. He has good experience of the level and higher.
Mitchell Goddard - Central Defender - Retained: 11 games, 0 goals.
Available to Sponsor
Former Clubs:
A composed central defender who is good in possession. Featured for both the Dragons Reserves and First Team last season. Will be aiming to claim a regular place in the squad this season.
Harry Johnson - Defender - New Signing!
Available to Sponsor
A summer addition who includes the likes of Little Oakley and Harwich & Parkeston amoungst his former clubs. A solid defender who is calm and composed on the ball.
Ben Parkin - Defender / Striker - New Signing! (Returning player): 129 games, 21 goals.
Available to Sponsor
Former Clubs: Stanway Rovers, FC Clacton, Stanway Pegasus, Harwich & Parkeston.
Ben Parkin returns to Wivenhoe Town having made 129 previous appearances for the club between 2010 and 2016. Parkin was most recently at Stanway Pegasus before returning to the club this summer. A versatile player who has can play as a central defender or striker.
Bogdan Masnita - Full back - New Signing!
Available to Sponsor
Former Clubs: Holbeach United, Blackstone, Peterborough North End Sports.
Joined the Dragons in the summer of 2023 having recently moved to the area. Has previous experience of the level when playing in the Peterborough area. An energetic attacking full back who is versatile enough to play further forward. Impressed in pre-season with his attacking runs and drilling ability.
Tom Ayton - Full back / Central midfield - New Signing!
Sponsored by: Spar
Former Clubs: Holland, Brightlingsea Regent U23s, AFC Sudbury Youth
Joined Wivenhoe Town in the summer of 2023 having spent last season at Holland. Can play or full back or in midfield, Ayton is hardworking, confident on the ball and looks to create chances.
Dan Martin - Central Defender / Full back - New Signing! (Returning player): 22 games, 0 goals.
Available to Sponsor
Former Clubs: Alresford Colne Rangers, Tollesbury, Heybridge Swifts
Returns to Wivenhoe Town having spent much of the last few seasons at Alresford Colne Rangers. In his previous spell at the Dragons, he was primarily a full back but has spent pre-season in the center of the defence.
Midfielders:
Ben Gallifant - Central Midfield - Retained: 153 games, 3 goals.
Sponsored by: The Surface Wizard
Former Clubs: Little Oakley
With more than 150 games for the club, Galli has been named as Wivenhoe Town captain for the 2022/23 season. Now firmly a central midfielder after starting his Dragons career as a goalkeeper. Good on the ball, with a great range of passing, he leads the side by example.
Elliot Walker - Central Midfielder - New Signing! (Returning Player): 9 games, 0 goals.
Available to Sponsor
Former Clubs: Boxted Lodgers, Long Melford, Harwich & Parkeston, Hatfield Peverel, Stanway Pegasus.
An experienced defensive central midfielder who spent a brief spell at the Dragons during the 2022/23 season and returned this summer from Stanway Pegasus. A good passer of the ball who can make a tackle and help the defence with his aerial ability.
Rhys Morley - Central Midfielder - New Signing!
Available to Sponsor
Former Clubs: Great Bentley, Brightlingsea Town, Brightlingsea Regent Reserves
Another new summer signing who steps up from the Border League. Morley is a hardworking central midfielder. Part of the double promotion winning Brightlingsea Town side.
Tom Ashworth - Central or Wide Midfielder - Retained: 58 games, 17 goals.
Available to Sponsor
Former Clubs: None locally!
Ashworth is starting his third season at the club having firmly established himself as a fans favourite for his goal scoring, hardworking performances and all-round quality on the ball. A versatile player who can be deployed across midfield.
Michael Nwankwo - Wide Midfielder - New Signing!
Sponsored by: The Pond Men
Former Clubs: Coggeshall United, Earls Colne, Belle Vue Social
Nwankwo is a winger signed in the summer of 2023 having impressed in pre-season. He is a quick player with plenty of skill and the ability to dribble past defenders.
Alfie Eldridge - Midfielder - New Signing!
Sponsored by: Paynetworx
Former Clubs: Brantham Athletic
A talented young midfielder who joined this summer having played last season at Brantham Athletic, making a number of appearances in the Thurlow Nunn Premier Division and playing regularly in the Border League. Will be looking to continue his step up to Senior football with the Dragons.
Finley Hughes - Central Midfielder - New Signing (Returning Player!): 8 games, 0 goals.
Available to Sponsor
Former Clubs: Alresford Colne Rangers, Brightlingsea Regent Reserves, Brantham Athletic
An all-round central midfielder who had a brief previous spell at the Dragons in 2018/19. Has spent much of the last few seasons at Alresford Colne Rangers but has previously played Step 5 and 6 with Brantham Athletic and Brightlingsea Regent Reserves.
Morley Dialu - Wide Midfielder - New Signing!
Available to Sponsor
Former Clubs: Tiptree Heath
A skillful attacking winger who joined the club this summer having played the last two seasons at Tiptree Heath. Dialu finished as top scorer at Tiptree Heath as they finished second.
Forwards:
Lewis Martin - Forward - Retained: (5 games, 0 goals)
Available to Sponsor
Former Clubs:
Forward Martin joined the Dragons towards the end of the 2022/23 season and made a positive contribution to the improved end of season form.
Ryan Lewis - Forward or Central Midfielder - New Signing!
Sponsored by: SJH Plastering
Former Clubs: Alresford Colne Rangers, Royal Artillery FC, 7 Para RHA, Bemerton Heath Harlequins (Wiltshire)
Prolific in the Border League Premier Division over the past few seasons where he captained Alresford Colne Rangers. A hardworking player who can play as a number nine or deeper as a second forward or central midfielder. Will be aiming to transfer his goalscoring record to the Dragons this season.
Harry Willoughby - Forward - New Signing! (Returning Player): 10 games, 3 goals.
Sponsored by: AR Decorating - 07706304034
Former Clubs: Holland, Gas Rec, Belle Vue Social, Brightlingsea Town
Willoughby is a natural goal scorer capable of scoring spectacular goals. Has an excellent goalscoring record in the Border League and plenty of experience of Step 6 football from his time at Holland.
Barney Morton - Forward - New Signing!
Available to Sponsor
Former Clubs: Great Bentley, Wivenhoe Town U18s
A young forward stepping up from the Dragons Under 18s where he as a prolific goalscorer. Also played and scored regularly in the Border League last season which he will be aiming to replicate as he steps up to the first team this season.
Sam Hume - Forward - New Signing!
Sponsored by: Howard Brothers Construction
Former Clubs: Alresford Colne Rangers, Tollesbury
Another summer addition who steps up to the Thurlow Nunn League with a good goalscoring record in the Border League for Tollesbury and more recently Alresford Colne Rangers.
Kalon Harms - Forward - New Signing!
Available to Sponsor
Former Clubs: Holland, FC Clacton, St Osyth, Thorpe Athletic
A versatile attacking player who joined this summer scoring three times in pre-season games. Harms has previously experience of the level with FC Clacton and Holland but more recently has been playing his football in the Border League. An energetic player who looks to score and create goals for others.