Stowmarket Town who came fourth in the Thurlow Nunn Premier Division last season have made some very impressive signings for a Step Five side over the summer and have to be considered one of the favourites for the title this season.
After a twelve season stay in Division One the club achieved promotion in 2017 and have since finished 3rd and 4th in the Premier Division. Their points total of 103 points in 2017/18 would of been more than enough to win the league in many seasons - they were beaten by Felixstowe & Walton United (109) and Coggeshall United (115) who were both promoted to the Isthmian League.
Left Back Seb Dunbar, 27, has been signed from Leiston where he made over 250 appearances for the Suffolk club. In 2017/18 he was in the Isthmian Premier Division team of the year so it's a fantastic signing for the club.
Defender Curtley Williams, 29, has signed after taking a break from the game. He was last with Needham Market back in December 2017. He came through the academy ranks at Ispwich Town but then dropped down the pyramid to play for Stafford Rangers, Jerez Industrial (Spain), Chelmsford City and Lowestoft Town where his performances attracting many football league scouts. He moved to then League Two side Luton Town in 2014 where he only made three appearances in a two season stay at Kenilworth Road. He moved on to Dagenham and Redbridge before his short stay with The Marketmen.
Dunbar is not the only former Leiston player to sign for The Old Gold and Blacks.
Defender Jack Ainsley is probably most well known for his spell with Lowestoft Town where he made over 100 appearances for The Trawler Boys between 2013 to 2016. He was with Leiston between 2016 to 2018 and then spent last season with his home town club Felixstowe and Walton United.
Striker Christy Finch also moves form Leiston where he has been for the last four seasons scoring 59 goals in 167 games. He has played in the Eastern Counties league during the 2013/14 season where he scored 33 goals for Gorleston.
Defender Joe Jefford made over 400 appearances for Leiston from 2011 to 2019. His centre back partner Tom Bullard follows him from Victory Road who has also played for Bury Town. Jefford was out of contract so was a free agent but Bullard was still under contract so an undisclosed transfer was paid to secure his services.
Midfielder Dominic Docherty, 24, joined Leiston from Lowestoft Town in May 2017 is another to make the move
Goalkeeper James Bradbrook spent some time on loan with the club during 2017 where he made 18 appearances. He was Isthmian Premier Division Brightlingsea Regent's number one last season clocking up 54 games and 15 clean sheet.
Striker George Clarke, 23, scored 13 goals in 28 games for Brantham Athletic last season and counts Hadleigh United, Brightlingsea Regent, AFC Sudbury (where he won an Isthmian League North Division championship medal) and Maldon & Tiptree as his former clubs.
Midfielder Dave Cowley, 31, moves from Ware to return to the club he was with between October 2017 and February 2018.
It's been a busy summer for Manager Rick Andrews with lots of ins and outs. Phil Weavers, Scott Chaplin and Ollie Canfer (all to Mildenhall Town) along with Matt Paine (Hadleigh United), Max Melanson (Thetford Town), Craig Brand (Ipswich Wanderers), Ryan Clark (Walsham-Le-Willows) and Remi Garrett & Jack Baker (Whitton United) have all left the club.
Their first game tomorrow is a trip to the Essex seaside to play FC Clacton who finished in sixth place last season. They have lost strikers Adam Hampson (Brightlingsea Regent) and Karl Andrade (Brantham Athletic) over the summer but have recruited Brad Westley, Chris Ribchester and Mekhi McKenzie.
Defender Westley returns to the club after a spell with Step Six side Harwich & Parkeston last season with Ribchester, also a defender, returning after a spell with neighbour's Holland FC. Striker McKenzie has joined on loan from AFC Sudbury - He spent time on loan with Hadleigh United last season and played for Sudbury's reserves in the Thurlow Nunn First Division North. Expect him to score more than a few goals for The Seasiders this season.
I would say this fixture is the Premier Division game of the day!
What Stowmarket Town will find with all the signings they have is that they will be the team everyone wants to beat with opposing players really raising their game against them.
Stanway Rover's (returning to the league after a one season stay in the Essex Senior League) game against Newmarket Town is also a stand out fixture. The Jockeys have recruited well over the summer and should improve on last season's tenth place finish. Former Ipswich Town defender Joe Robinson is the stand out signing for them - He joins from Kings Lynn Town. He was a first team regular with Bishops Stortford during the 2017/18 campaign. Other signings are Mark Lovell (Soham Town Rangers) James Seymour (Mildenhall Town) and Ross Paterson (Cambridge City) were all playing at a higher level of football last term.
Stanway Rovers have also made a number of new signings under Manager Danny Slater and Director of Football Angelo Harrop.
Former Stowmarket Town defender Jon Carver has joined from Thetford Town. Winger Jordan Blackwell re-joins after a season with AFC Sudbury. Midfielder Jack Plane joins from Brantham Athletic and counts Wivenhoe Town and FC Clacton amongst his former clubs. Dedender Craig Hughes is also another player to return having spent last season with Brantham Athletic. Striker Tom Holdstock joins from FC Clacton.
With Godmanchester Rovers (3rd last year) and Woodbridge Town (2nd) it's likely to be one of the most exciting and strongest Thurlow Nunn Premier Division's seasons for a long time. It was an outstanding achievement for The Woodpeckers to finish runner's up last season after they won Division One in 2017/18.
First Division North Champion's Swaffham Town return to the Premier Division after a two season stay in step six. They have a tough opening home fixture against Godmanchester Rovers.
2016/17 title winner's Mildenhall Town return to step five after finishing 22nd (of 24) and 20th (of 20) in their two seasons in the Isthmian Division One (North).
Friday 2nd August
Thetford Town v Walsham Le Willows
Saturday 3rd August
Brantham Athletic v Mildenhall Town
FC Clacton v Stowmarket Town
Gorleston v Ely City
Kirkley & Pakefield v Hadleigh United
Long Melford v Woodbridge Town
Stanway Rovers v Newmarket Town
Swaffham Town v Godmanchester Rovers
Whitton United v Norwich United
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