Thursday 14 July 2022

TWENTY-ONE VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE TRANSFERS TO LOOK OUT FOR THIS SEASON (IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER)

(1) ELLIOTT LEE - WREXHAM
Wrexham already have a highly impressive squad that many would say underachieved last season in finishing second and losing to Grimsby Town in the play-offs. The Welsh club have made a real statement of intent in the signing in striker Elliott Lee who joins from Championship side Luton Town. The 27 year old spent last season on loan with League One side Charlton Athletic and comes with 185 football league appearances and 39 goals to his name. 

(2) ARMANDO DOBRA - CHESTERFIELD 
Chesterfield looked like they were going to challenge for the title last season as they were top of the table at Christmas but a drop in form over the second half of the season saw The Spireites eventually scraping into the play-offs finishing seventh in the table. Paul Cook rejoined the club as Manager in February and has made some notable signings in preparation for the 2022/23 campaign. 

Winger Armando Dobra, 21, has signed from Cook's former club Ipswich Town where he 33 football league appearances including a spell on loan with Colchester United. He has been capped by Albania at u19 and u21 level. 

(3) ALEX REID - SOLHULL MOORS 
Striker Alex Reid joins The Moors on loan from champion's Stockport County where he has spent the last two seasons. He has played for Solihull Moors on two previous occasions in 2015 and on loan in 2018. He was part of the AFC Fylde squad who won the FA Trophy in 2019 whilst on loan from Football League side Stevenage. 

He scored 17 goals in 42 league games for County in the 20/21 season but last season only made 6 starts and 7 sub appearances scoring just 1 goal. 

Standing at 6ft 4in Reid could be a replacement for 6ft 9in centre-forward Kyle Hudlin who has been a revelation for the club since signing from Midland League Division Two side Solihull United in October 2020. Hudlin, 23, has signed for Championship side Huddersfield Town and looks to have an amazing career in front of him. 

(4) MAX KRETZSCHMAR - WEALDSTONE
A 28 year old midfielder with a eye for goal. Max Kretzschmar joins The Stones after an impressive 21/22 season with Woking where he scored 13 goals in 36 league and cup games. He netted 10 goals in 37 games during the 20/21 season. Whilst with Hampton & Richmond Borough he netted 20 goals in 48 league and cup games in 17/18 and in first season with Woking got 15 goals in 42 games. 

The Stones fans raised a five-figure sum to fund Kretzschmar coming to their club so is likely to be a real fan's favourite at Grosvenor Vale. 

(5) DOM HUTCHINSON - WEALDSTONE 
Dom Hutchinson is an attack minded left winger who joins The Stones from Watford. A graduate of The Hornets Academy, he spent the 21/22 season on loan with Vanarama South side Eastbourne Borough where he gained many admirers with his performances where he netted 8 goals in 29 games helping the Sussex side to a play-off place. He also scored on a regular basis in the Watford u18 and u23 sides. Hutchinson is only 20 years of age so has plenty of time on his side to move back to the football league. I expect him to be a stand out player for The Stones this season. 

(6) RYAN SEAGER - DORKING WANDERERS 
A striker signed as the likely replacement for the departing Jason Prior who left Wanderers after their play-off win against Ebbsfleet United and has re-joined Havant & Waterlooville. Ryan Seager is 26 years old and joins from Vanarama South side Hungerford Town where he has had a highly impressive two year spell. He came through the ranks at Southampton spending time on loan with MK Dons, Crewe Alexandra, Yeovil Town and Dutch club Telstar. He spent the 19/20 season with Yeovil Town and had loan spells with Frome Town and Havant & Waterlooville. 

It wasn't until he joined The Crusaders did his career and goalscoring talent take off as he netted 41 goals in 59 league and cup games in the 20/21 and 21/22 campaigns. 

(7) CEDWYN SCOTT - NOTTS COUNTY
The 23 year old Hexham born striker had a stand-out season for Gateshead in 21/22 helping them The Heed to the Vanarama North title scoring 24 goals in 42 league games which saw County sign him on a two year deal for an undisclosed fee in June. Cedwyn Scott came through the academy ranks at Huddersfield Town before moving North of the Border with Dundee, Berwick Rangers and Forfar Athletic. He then played for Hebburn Town and Dunston UTS before a short term contract with football league side Carlisle United in 2021. 

Prior to signing for The Cumbrians he had a four week trial with Newcastle United and has been described as the next Jamie Vardy by fans who have seen him play. 

(8) MACAULAY LANGSTAFF - NOTTS COUNTY 
Another big loss for The Heed as they lose their player of the season who scored 32 goals and made 14 assists in their Vanarama North title season. Macaulay Langstaff also joins Notts County. The 25 year old striker has also played for York City, Blyth Spartans and Billingham Synthonia during his career. 

(9) LEWIS KNIGHT - GATESHEAD 
Moving in the opposite direction from Notts County to Gateshead is 23 year old centre-forward Lewis Knight who has spent much of the last two seasons on loan with Bradford (Park Avenue) where he scored 14 times in 34 league games. 

(10) LIAM HOGAN - OLDHAM ATHLETIC 
After relegation from the football league and 75 goals conceded in 46 league games it's clear the former Premier League club needed to sign some experienced, reliable and dependable defenders. Centre-Back Liam Hogan fits the bill as he counts FC Halifax Town, Fleetwood Town, Tranmere Rovers, Gateshead, Salford City and Stockport County as his former clubs. He played 27 league and cup games for the Vanarama National League champions last season. 

The 33 year old has made 32 football league, 181 National League and 102 National League North appearances during his career. 

(11) EMMANUEL DIESERUWE - FC HALIFAX TOWN 
6ft 5in centre-forward Emmanuel Dieseruwe joins The Shaymen from Tranmere Rovers. The 27 year old is probably best known for his spell with Salford City where he scored in the 2019 Vanarama National League play-off final. He played a major part in Grimsby Town's promotion last season joining them on loan in February scoring the winner against Notts County and against Wrexham in the semi-final. He scored a total of 7 goals in 15 games for The Mariners. 

(12) JORDAN KEANE - FC HALIFAX TOWN 
The Shaymen who finished 4th last season have made some very impressive signings for the 22/23 season. Centre-Back Jordan Keane joins from Vanarama League champion's Stockport County. He made 19 league appearances last season and played a total of 137 games for them since joining them from Boston United in 2018. 

(13) CORIE ANDREWS - TORQUAY UNITED 
Centre-Forward Corie Andrews joins from AFC Wimbledon. He joined The Dons from Isthmian League side Kingstonian in January 2021. He didn't make a first team appearance for the League One side but spent time on loan with Aldershot Town and Colchester United. The 24 year old came through the academy ranks at Crystal Palace. 

(14) ALFIE EGAN - BOREHAM WOOD 
Midfielder Alfie Egan was one of the stand out players in the Vanarama South division last season helping Ebbsfleet United to the play-off final. He spent part of the 20/21 season on loan with Maidenhead United. He made a total of 21 league and cup appearances for AFC Wimbledon from 2016 to 2019. 

(15) LEE NDLOVU - BOREHAM WOOD 
Scored 14 goals for Vanarama North side Brackley Town last season and now makes the step up to non-league's top division. Lee Ndlovu has also played for Holbeach United, Grantham Town and Ilkeston. He had been with The Saints since 2015. 

(16) PADRAIG AMOND - WOKING 
A big signing for Woking under the new management of former Yoevil Town boss Darren Sarll. Padraig Amond joins after his release from Newport County. He spent last season on loan with Exeter City helping them to second place in League Two. The 34 year old striker is hugely experienced having played for Shamrock Rovers, Sligo Rovers, Accrington Stanley, Morecambe, Grimsby Town, Hartlepool United as well as the aforementioned clubs. 34 year old Amond is highly experienced - He has played 393 football league games scoring 95 goals and 44 National League games scoring 31 goals. 

(17) LOUIS LOMAS - SOUTHEND UNITED 
Louis Lomas is a 21 year old centre-back who came through the Norwich City academy but joined Vanarama North side Brackley Town for the 21/22 season where he made 40 league appearances for The Saints. I think he will be a stand out player for The Shrimpers this season. 

(18) DAVID SMITH - BROMLEY 
Centre-Forward David Smith had a stand out season for Folkestone Invicta in the Isthmian Premier scoring 35 goals in all competitions. The 23 year old athletic and strong player will benefit from moving into full time football with The Ravens.  

(19) DARREN OLDAKER - CHESTERFIELD 
A midfielder who moved to Dorking Wanderers in October 2021 from Isthmian South-East side Hythe Town. Darren Oldaker helped The Wanderers to promotion from the Vanarama South. The London born 23 year old came through the academy ranks at QPR and Gillingham where he made 21 football league appearances from 2015 to 2020. 

(20) COLE KPEKAWA - MAIDEHHEAD UNITED 
Left footed centre-back Cole Kpekawa makes the jump from Step Two to Step One for the 22/23 season joining Maidenhead United from Hemel Hempstead Town. He was capped by England at under 20 level in 2015 when he was a QPR player. After leaving the West London side he played for Barnsley, Colchester United, St Mirren, Billericay Town, AC Trencin and Chelmsford City before joining The Tudors. 

(21) CONNOR SMITH - BARNET 
Bee's head-coach has Dean Brennan has made a large number of singings for the 22/23 season. He will know Connor Smith well as he was a Wealdstone player when Brennan was manager and won the Vanarama South division in the 19/20 season. The midfielder started his career with Watford but left Vicarage Road in 2016. He has since played for Plymouth Argyle, Yeovil Town, Boreham Wood, Billericay Town and Wealdstone. 

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