To say Bedford Town have had a busy couple of weeks is an understatement, with lots more new signings announced over the weekend to take the number of new faces at The Eyrie up to fourteen as new manager, Lee Bircham looks to reshape the Eagles and bounce straight back up to the seventh tier.
Read: Bedford Town quick off the mark with quartet of new signings
New goalkeeper Nathan McDonald, defenders James Towell and Harry Seabrook along with central midfielder, Jack Green showed Bircham meant business and he has shown he is not shy in delving into the transfer market with more reinforcements now confirmed.
Former Lille academy player heads the list
Perhaps the most eye-catching is the signing of former French academy player, Emmanuel “Manny” Dahie who makes the short journey from Kempston Rovers to help muscle up the midfield.
Dahie said, “I’ve always seen Bedford Town as a big club around Milton Keynes and Bedfordshire and played against them multiple times with Kempston Rovers. We lost a couple of games against them.
“I’m a winner. It’s something that I drive to and I feel that this club is a place where I can definitely win and challenge for the title this year. I believe in my teammates and driving in the same direction, which is to win”.
Attacking midfielder, Adam Watkins won Southern League Central Division One last season with Berkhamsted and will look for a repeat as he joins an ever-growing squad, turning down many other approaches in favour of The Eyrie.
“Adam is a fantastic signing and he gets better with age”, said manager Lee Bircham.
“He has had so many clubs hot on the trail for his signature and we are delighted to say he has chosen the Eagles to play for next season.
“He is a very exciting player who has so much experience. A really solid central midfield player who orchestrates and pulls the strings in the middle of the park.
“He will be a player that makes a real difference and you can rely on him getting the team playing in the right areas. Adam was an absolute no brainer to sign when we knew he was available.”
Striker turned defender, Shane Bush is also a new face, joining from National League South side, Slough Town and adds some key step two experience after spells at Dunstable Town, Kempston Rovers and Rushden and Diamonds before taking the step up to National League level.
Bircham said, “We’re delighted Shane has decided to join us at the Eyrie.
“He is a player who was tracked by numerous clubs when he left Slough, and to join us by turning down step two, three and four clubs is a great vote of confidence.
“He will provide so much experience and will give us that platform we need, alongside the other great signings we have made at the back.”
Another defender to join the ranks is 29-year old, Ben Walster and boasts over 200 games at step three level where Bedford Town will hope to be returning to come April.
Described as a “player who absolutely loves defending”, Walster joins a lot of new defenders in the Eagles back line and will bring more experience to the squad.
“You can rely on him popping up in the opponents box from set pieces with some very important goals”, said Bircham.
“He loves defending and will put his body on the line defending our goal and will bring an ordinate amount of experience to our back line.”
“We cannot wait for Ben to put his Eagles shirt on and get going. He is a very loyal player that has come to us and wants to be challenging up there this season.”
Ben Spaul, Adam Cunnington, Kyle Connolly and former Tamworth captain Alex Collard have also joined an ever-growing list of new faces.
Strikers Archie McLelland and Harry Crawford – who has National League experience – complete the new signings for now, with many Eagles fans excited by the plethora of new faces hoping to inject some optimism and more importantly, goals into the side and challenge for the league title.
Pre season fast approaching
Local football fans do not have long to wait as the pre-season schedule kicks off on 11th July when Bedford Town host Chalfont St Peter at The Eyrie.
Hendon, Wealdstone, Tring and Championship side Queens Park Rangers complete the July fixtures before a trip to Amersham Town and a home friendly against Uxbridge are the current two fixtures in August before the league calendar kicks off on 12th August along with the FA Cup.
But for now, Bircham must concentrate on gelling many new faces into a coherent system and with the likes of Callum Donnelly, Connor Tomlinson and Will Summerfield returning, he won’t be short of faces in what is a congested non-league calendar.
