by Peter Scherer
After two consecutive league games of mixed fortunes, it’s back on the road when we visit AFC Sudbury on Saturday. Back in September we were 5-0 victors in the parallel fixture, thanks to an Andree Wright hattrick.
Marc Abott’s side and currently 19th in the table, with three wins in the last 10 games, the last being a 1-0 victory over Needham Market.
Despite our own form problems, we are still in the play-off positions and with a number of players almost fit from injury, the future will be interesting.
Goalkeeper James Bradbrook was the clubs first summer signing from Stowmarket Town. He started out at Needham Market, before joining Brightlingsea Regent. After a loan spell at Stowmarket his stay became permanent.
Right back Joe Tarpey was another new pre-season signing. A former Cambridge Utd Junior, he spent last season on loan with St.Neots Town.
Daniel Cousens is a right back too, and is a former Ipswich Junior, who arrived last following his release.
Striker Joe Neal is one of the clubs main goal scorers. Another former Cambridge Utd Junior, he was loaned to Needham Market and St.Neots, before joining Biggleswade after a further loan spell. He moved to St.Albans in February last year, and was another pre-season arrival at Sudbury.
Former Manchester City Academy striker Romario Dunne returned at the start of the season from a cruciate ligament injury after an 18 month absence. He was signed from Cheshunt in June 2021 and had a spell on loan at Braintree too, as well as playing for Brightlingsea Regent and Hadleigh Utd.
Centre back Tom Dickens continued the pre-season signing trend. Another ex Cambridge Utd Junior, he had loans at St.Neots and Chelmsford City before joining Welling Utd on his release. He quickly moved on to Cheshunt, who loaned him back to St.Neots, where he completed last season.
Midfielder Ben Hunter came through Sudbury’s own Academy, before moving to Leiston in June 2021. He came back to the club last season, but had a loan spell at Stowmarket too. He is one of the few Sudbury players remaining from last season.
Centre back Josh Okpolokpo played his early football with Ipswich and Huddersfield, including a loan at Pontefract Collieries, before joining Leiston in September last year. He spent most of last season on loan at Gorleston on a dual registration.
Olumide Oluwatimilehin is a midfielder known as Olu, a summer signing from Haywards Heath. He started at Hoddesdon and has played for Whitehawk, Hornchurch, Wingate & Finchley, Braintree, Kingstonian and Lewes.
Right back Ollie Brown is one of last years team survivors. He came from Stowmarket in June last year.
Defender Reiss Oteng arrived in the summer from Biggleswade, he has played at Haverhill Rovers and West Wratting too.
George Whitehall is the second choice keeper. An ex Cambridge Utd Junior, he was signed from St.Neots, but has played for Whitton Utd and Godmanchester Rovers too, before joining Sudbury’s influx of summer signings.
Central midfielder Reuben Swann is one of the recent Sudbury Academy players to break into the first team., scoring his first senior goal in the FA Cup tie at Mildenhall.
Midfielder or defender Charlie Lewis arrived pre-season from St.Neots, having previously spent a couple of seasons at Histon.
Malachi Napa has experience in both League One and Two. He is an attacking midfielder who started at Reading, before moving to Oxford Utd. he was loaned to North Leigh, Hampton & Richmond and Macclesfield, before joining Woking on his release.
Stops at Maldon & Tiptree, Wealdstone and Dartford following, before joining Billericay in July, from where he is currently on loan.
Central midfielder Jake Turner is in his third season with our hosts, since coming from Coggeshall. He started out at Braintree and has also played for Brightlingsea. It’s his second spell at Sudbury, having played for them for three months back in 2017.
Midfielder Philip Bampoe was signed in September from Canvey Island. He has played for Romford, Tilbury, Maldon & Tiptree, Barking, Bognor Regis and East Thurrock.
Jame Bennett is a striker that came from Brightlingsea Regent and was previously at Walthamstow. Ben Bradley was previously at St.Neots, while midfielders Alfie Lambert, Liam Pearce, Billy Walsh and Kaya Donohoe all came through the clubs own Academy.
Striker Reuben Marshall is currently on loan from Peterborough Utd.
Former Needham Market Academy and Ipswich Town striker Callum Page is the newest signing, he arrived just after Christmas.
Kick off is 3pm, and as usual, YOUR SUPPORT WOULD BE WELCOMED!