Familiar names headline latest signings

Friday 24th July 2015

A pair of familiar names are among the latest new signings to put pen to paper at Royal Wootton Bassett Town as Paul Braithwaite works towards finalising his squad ahead of the start of their Uhlsport Hellenic League Premier Division campaign.

While midfielder Sam Packer, with two previous spells with the club between 2010 and 2012 and during the 2013-14 season, is a player who won't require any introduction, the other recognisable name - Dan Comer - is one who will.

Long-time followers of the club will remember his father Paul, who kept goal to a high standard for Bassett for a number of seasons during the 1980s.

Now the young defender, comfortable at centre half and right back, will be following in his footsteps. Joining from Cirencester Academy and having been selected to represent Wiltshire Under 18s, he certainly has the pedigree to establish a reputation for quality play similar to his father's.

Joining alongside those two is tough tackling central midfielder Matt Cheetham who makes the step up from Division One West Clanfield, with whom he made 27 appearances last season.

Commenting on his latest three captures, Braithwaite said: "I'm looking forward to working with all three players."

"Dan is a young, hard-working defender, with a great delivery and will be a fantastic addition to the club. Matt is a reliable, combative player who will add some bite to the midfield and is looking forward to stepping up a league."

"Sam Packer, meanwhile, has been fantastic in pre-season. He's worked hard at training and is a player who can turn the game from defence to attack very quickly through the midfield. He's also got Southern League experience from his time at Cirencester Town and Abingdon United, and it's always a bonus to have players who have been at that level."

In a busy week that has seen Bassett win friendlies against Faringdon Town and Carterton, Braithwaite has also secured the signatures of four more of last season's squad.

Heading that quartet is attacking midfielder Dan Bailey, who was arguably the team's outstanding attacking player in 2014-15. He finished top scorer with 19 goals in 46 games, while also setting up numerous goals for his teammates.

Club captain Steve Yeardley, who will begin the new season 17 appearances short of 400 for Bassett, was another to commit himself for another campaign.

'Keeper Luke Kuczynksi, who enjoyed an impressive extended run in the number one jersey after stepping up from the reserves midway through last season, and promising young wide player Hugo Vivash, a goalscorer in the week against Carterton, round off the latest batch to sign.

Last modified on Friday 24th July 2015 at 18:39.