Wednesday, 1 November 2023

TEAM COMPARISON PART TWO - CRAWLEY TOWN

It was a highly eventful 22/23 season for Crawley Town who started off with Kevin Betsy as Manager who had joined from the Arsenal Academy in the summer of 2022. He was replaced by Lewis Young in October in a caretaker capacity who was then followed by Matthew Etherington at the end of November who left after a very short spell at the end of December. Scott Lindsey moved from Swindon Town who were then in 8th place in League Two in January and a good run of form towards the end of the season kept Crawley Town in the football league finishing in 22nd place just three points from Hartlepool United in the relegation zone. Here we take a look at how The Red Devil's team have changed since this time last season. 

They are currently in a comfortable mid-table position in League Two - They are 14th on 21 points which is just five points off the play-offs but only eleven away from the drop zone. 

They travel to Notts County in the Emirates FA Cup First Round on Saturday before hosting Accrington Stanley in the league next Saturday. 

v BRADFORD CITY (29/10/22) v FOREST GREEN ROVERS (28/10/23)
Ellery Balcomb Corey Addai
George Francomb  Will Wright 
Ludwig Francillette Travis Johnson
Tony Craig  Lawrence Maguire 
Nick Tsaroulla  Kellan Gordan 
James Tilley  Ronan Darcy 
Jake Hessenthaler  Jay Williams 
Jake Powell  Liam Kelly 
Mazeed Ogungbo  Nick Tsaroulla 
Ashley Nadesan  Danilo Orsi 
Tom Nichols Klaidi Lolos
David Robson  Luca Ashby-Hammond 
Harry Ransom  Tobi Omole 
Zaid Al Hussaini Kamarai Swyer 
Teddy Jenks  Harry Foster 
Rafiq Khaleel  Jack Roles 
Dominic Telford  Aaron Henry 
Aramide Oteh  Rafiq Khaleel 
PLAYERS HIGHLIGHTED IN YELLOW WERE WITH THE CLUB AT THE TIME OF THE BRADFORD CITY GAME. 

Ellery Balcombe - Was on loan with Crawley Town from Premier League side Brentford from the start of the season through to January where he made 12 league and cup appearances. He played with Bristol Rovers on loan for the final part of last season. Currently third choice keeper with The Bees where he made a competitive debut against Newport County in the Carabao Cup where two saves in the penalty shoot out helped them to victory. Has been with Brentford since 2018 where he had also played for Boreham Wood, Doncaster Rovers, Burton Albion, Bromley and Danish side Viborg FF. 

George Francomb - Had been with The Red Devils since 2018 but left to join Vanarama National side Dorking Wanderers in February 2023. Before his spell with Crawley Town he played for AFC Wimbledon. 

Ludwig Francillette - Former Newcastle United academy player who left Crawley Town after a two season spell in July. He is currently playing in the Vanarama National Division for Eastleigh.

Tony Craig - Millwall legend who had been with the club since 2020. He joined Dorking Wanderers on loan in February and played a big part in keeping Mark White's team in non-league's top division. Joined The Wanderers on permanent basis in the summer. 

Nick Tsaroulla - Defender who has been with the club since 2020 after playing in Tottenham Hotspur and Brentford academy teams. 

James Tilley - Former Brighton & HA academy and professional from 2011 to 2020 where he joined Grimsby Town for the 20/21 season. After two seasons with The Red Devils he moved to AFC Wimbledon in the summer. 

Jake Hessenthaler - Former Gillingham and Grimsby Town midfielder who joined Dagenham & Redbridge in the summer. Was on loan with Woking from January to the end of the season. 

Jack Powell - Former Millwall midfielder who dropped down into the non-league game with Ebbsfleet United and Maidstone United from 2016 to 2019 before joining Crawley Town. Joined Crewe Alexandra in the summer but unfortunately suffered a ligament injury which has ended his 23/24 season. 

Mazeed Ogugbuno - Republic of Ireland u19 and u16 International spent last season on loan with the club from Arsenal where he had turned professional in 2021 after being in the academy system from 2015. Joined Barrow on a permanent basis in the summer for an undisclosed fee. Has only made one sub appearance for the Cumbrian club so far. 

Ashley Nadesan - Joined Gillingham in July for an undisclosed fee. The striker had been with Crawley since 2019. Began his career with Horley Town in the Combined Counties League from 2013 to 2016 before a move to Fleetwood Town where he also played on loan with Carlisle United. 

Tom Nichols - Striker who had been with Crawley Town since 2020 who joined Gillingham for an undisclosed fee in Janauary 2023. Has also played for Exeter City, Peterborough United and Bristol Rovers as well as a host of clubs on loan. 

David Robson - Goalkeeper who spent a short period on loan from Hull City from August to January playing six games in league and cup. Has been with The Tigers as a professional in 2018 where he also spent time on loan with East Yorkshire Carnegie, Stocksbridge Park Steels, Tadcaster Albion, Gainsborough Trinity and Farsley Celtic. Currently on loan with Vanarama North side Darlington. 

Harry Ransom - Joined Crawley Town from Millwall in 2021. He started his career with Eastbourne Borough between 2016 to 2019. Spent the 21/22 season with Dover Athletic. Last played for the club in the recent Papa Johns Trophy game against Sutton United. 

Zaid Al Hussaini - Had been with Crawley Town since 2020 but never made a football league start - He was an unused sub in this game. Spent time on loan with Weymouth, Chelmsford City, Chippenham Town and Maidstone United. He signed for Farnborugh on a permanent basis in February 2023.  

Teddy Jenks - Was on loan with Crawley from Brighton & HA. The 21 year old midfielder also spent time of loan with Aberdeen in the 21/22 season. He joined Forest Green Rovers on a permanent transfer in the summer. 

Rafiq Khaleel - Still with the club but has only made one football league appearance this season. He joined the club in 2020 having played youth football for Cheshunt. 

Dominic Telford - Started the season with Crawley but signed a two year deal with Barrow in August. Scored 15 goals in 47 games for the club last season who he joined from Newport County. 

Aramide Oteh - Former QPR and Tottenham Hotspur player who spent the 22/23 season with the club. Has also played for Bradford City, Stevenage and Colchester United on loan as well as Salford City. He signed for Walsall in the summer.

Corey Addai - Was with the club in October 2022 but didn't feature in the Bradford game. Joined in July 2022 after playing in the Danish second tier for Esbjerg FB for the 21/22 campaign. Started in the Arsenal and Coventry City academy before turning pro with The Sky Blues where he spent time on loan with Hendon, Dulwich Hamlet, AFC Telford United and Redditch United. Spent the 20/21 with Barnsley where he went on loan with Chesterfield. 

Will Wright - Signed in August for an undisclosed free from Gillingham where he had spent the 22/23 campaign. Started his career in the non-league game with Biggleswade United, Hitchin Town, Bedford Town and Barton Rovers before a move to Colchester United in 2017. Played for Dagenham & Redbridge between 2017 to 2022.  

Travis Johnson - Signed for Crewe Alexandra in June 2022. Was not involved in the Bradford City game but did make 32 league and cup appearances last season. 

Laurence Maguire - Defender who joined on loan from Vanarama National side Chesterfield in August which runs through to the end of January. Has been with The Spireites since 2015. 

Kellan Gordon - Joined from Mansfield Town in January 2023 for an undisclosed fee. Has also played for Derby County, Swindon Town and Lincoln City. 

Ronan Darcy - Signed from Manager Scott Lindsey's former side Swindon Town in July 2023. Came through the ranks at Bolton Wanderers spending time on loan with Skelmersdale United, Sogndal (Norway) and Queens Park. 

Jay Williams - Spent the 21/22 and 22/23 with Banbury United. Has also played for Northampton Town, Kettering Town, Harrogate Town and AFC Rushden & Diamonds. In June he joined The Puritan's local rival's Brackley Town but in July he moved to Crawley Town for an undisclosed fee without making an appearance for The Saints. 

Liam Kelly - Summer signing from Rochdale. Began his career with Reading before a move to Feyenoord in 2019 where he spent two seasons making just one appearance and spending time on loan with Oxford United. 

Danilo Orsa - Another summer signing this time form Grimsby Town. He started his career in the Spartan South Midlands League with Cockfosters before playing for Eastern Florida State College in the USA whilst he was studying. On his return he played for East Thurrock United, Hampton & Richmond Borough, Hungerford Town and Maidenhead United. He then moved into the football league with Harrogate Town in 2021 where he spent time on loan with Boreham Wood before his transfer to Grimsby Town. 

Kliadi Lolos - Greek centre forward who played with Olympiacos, Crystal Palace and Plymouth Argyle academies before turning full time professional with The Pilgrims. He spent the 21/22 season with Torquay United and the 22/23 campaign with Oxford City. 

Luca Ashby Hammond - 22 year old goalkeeper who is currently on loan from Fulham. Spent the 22/23 season with Aldershot Town. His older brother was also with Fulham and is a goalkeeper as well - Taye Ashby-Hammond recently made the move to League One side Stevenage. 

Tobi Omole - Initially played youth football with Thamesmead Town before moving on to Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur. A defender by trade, he was released from Spurs and joined Crawley Town in July 2022. Played in 4 football league games last season suffering with a long term knee injury for a large part of the campaign.   ]

Kamari Swyer - 20 year old attacking midfielder currently on loan from West Ham United. He has been a full time professional with The Hammers since 2021 where he has played since being eight years old. 

Harry Foster -  Joined from Vanarama National League side Bromley in the summer. He had been with them since 2020 whom he joined from Watford where he came through the academy system. 

Jack Roles - 24 year old who represented Cyprus at u19 and u21 level. Started his career with Tottenham Hotspur spending time on loan with Cambridge United, Burton Albion and Stevenage before a permanent move to Crystal Palace in the summer of 2021. He left The Eagle in January 2022 and singed for Vanarama National side Woking a few weeks later. He joined Crawley Town in January for an undisclosed fee. 

Aaron Henry - 20 year old midfielder currently on a season long loan from Charlton Athletic. Spent the later part of 22/23 on loan with Vanarama National league side Wealdstone. 

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