by Peter Scherer
Redditch Utd our visitors for the final home game of the season have had a similar season to us, and are currently just two points behind in eighth place.
They have one more game after Saturday, whereas Sports head for Stourbridge on Monday evening and Bedford on the final day. Redditch have won five of their last six games, having beaten Alvechurch 1-0 at home on Easter Monday
Matt Clarke has been in charge at the Trico Stadium since September 2020 and is a former player for the club. He also played for Wolves, West Bromwich Albion and Kidderminster during his playing career.
First choice goalkeeper Adam Harrison signed from Worcester in December, having joined them during the previous season from Tividale.
He was a Leicester City junior and also played for Bedworth Utd.
Scott Cashmore and Sam Rowbottom are the clubs deputy keepers, having come through the clubs own scheme.
Captain Jack Byrne is a midfielder and has been with the club since November 2021, when he came from Telford.
It’s his second spell with the club having previously arrived in January 2009 from Stratford. He also played for Kidderminster, Solihull, Brackley and Nuneaton.
Centre back Ryan Wollacott started out at Stourport, before spending just over three years in the Welsh Premier League with Aberystwyth. He then moved to Alvechurch, before returning to Stourport, from where Redditch signed him in July 2021.
Left back Calum Flanagan is another ex-Villa Junior. After a loan at Kettering he joined Hinckley on his release, before making his first stop at Redditch in 2015, when he came from Worcester.
Further moves to Hednesford, Solihull, Rushall and Halesowen, with a couple of career breaks in between, preceded his return to Redditch in January.
He isn’t the only Flanagan in the squad though, as brother Reece is a midfielder and former Walsall Junior.
He joined Leamington after his release and had spells at Rushall and Stratford, before Redditch signed him from Hednesford pre-season.
Ioan Richards is another centre back and is in his second with our visitors. He first arrived from Gloucester in July 2020, before going to Taunton a year later. He then moved to Yate Town for another year, before returning to Redditch last month.
Martin Riley is another centre back with vast experience. After starting as a youth player at Wolves, his career has taken him to Kidderminster, Cheltenham, Mansfield, Wrexham, Tranmere, Halifax, Alfreton, Hereford, Stourbridge, Tamworth and Hednesford, before arriving at Redditch in January, after two months at Stratford, with over 100 league two games under his belt
Midfielder Max Sheaf had spent most of his career with Hull City, making 19 League Two appearances. He had loans at Cheltenham and Torquay, before going to Gloucester following his release. After a loan at Hungerford, he made his move to Redditch in August 2022.
Harvey Gregson is another midfielder who has come through Fylde’s youth scheme. He has spent most of the last couple of years out on loan at Bamber Bridge, Prescot Cables and Bromsgrove, before coming to Redditch last December. After a brief return to his home club, he returned to see the season out from March.
Winger Bernard Mensah was a pre-season signing. He started off at Watford, being loaned out to Braintree and Barnet, before a permanent move to Aldershot.
He has also played for Bristol Rovers, Lincoln City and Maidenhead, before joining Gloucester in January 2020. He was initially loaned to Redditch in February last year, before making it permanent in the summer.
Full back Lewis Hudson came from Coventry Utd in July 2021 and played for Rugby Town, Coventry Sphinx and Racing Club Warwick too.
Midfielder Danny King was initially on loan from Gloucester City, but his stay became permanent at the end November.
Aram Soleman is a midfielder and former West Brom Junior. He went to Solihull Moors after his release, but soon moved on to Coventry Utd. His carer continued to move on quickly to Rushall, Guiseley, Bromsgrove, Tamworth and Matlock, before a return trip to Guiseley.
He then had a few weeks at Hednesford, before coming to Redditch last December.
Striker Ryan Boothe signed in January 2022 from Halesowen. He has played for Racing Club Warwick, Rushall, Sutton Coldfield, Solihull, Barwell, Bilston, Lye Town, Anstey Nomads, Walsall Wood and Highgate Utd too.
Striker Jerell Sellars was signed in early November. Aston Villa had signed him from Lincoln City and loaned him to Wycombe, before a permanent move to Cheltenham.
He played 39 games in League Two scoring two goals, but moved to Sweden after his release, spending nearly three-years at Ostersund, before returning to the UK.
Riley O’Sullivan was a junior with Mansfield Town. The striker then joined Coventry Utd on his release, before a 14 month stay at Hednesford, preceded his Redditch move in February.
Worcester Raiders captain Joe Billingham is a recent arrival on a dual registration. He is a midfielder with a goal scoring touch.
Midfielder Harry Reilly came from Kettering in February. He has also played for Banbury, Daventry and Stratford and had a speel in the US with Red Storm.
Midfielder Murphy Culkin was a pre-season signing for this season, from Barton Rovers. He was previously at Eynesbury Rovers, Potton Utd and Biggleswade.
Henry Smith, Adam Hanson and Josh Clews have also been on the bench a number of times, having come through the Redditch youth programme.
Kick 3pm as usual and remember the end of season awards and entertainment after the match.