Hinckley AFC have wished Preston Bitemo 'all the best' following his move to Hereford.
After a magnificent first season in men’s football, Preston Bitemo will leave Hinckley AFC to take a major step in his career and join National League North side Hereford.
Preston has been a mainstay in Hinckley’s midfield over the last two seasons, aside from an injury towards the start of the last season. He played 33 times for the club, scoring three goals and earning last year’s Young Player of the Year award.
He has been on trial at Edgar Street over the summer, and impressed so much that manager Paul Caddis offered him a deal.
Joint Manager Courtney Hunter-Belford said the club won’t stand in the way of young players wanting to progress their career. He said: “He’s been unbelievable. Since the first time we saw him in pre-season, we knew we had something special. For a lad of his age, to do what he does, getting around the pitch and affecting the game so much is great.
“We had a conversation with Paul last week and he let us have Preston for the start of our season because theirs doesn’t start for a couple of weeks. So we appreciate Hereford doing that for us.
“He’s such a humble lad, and I think he’ll go on to have a great career in football. It’s a great move for him, to go from step six to five and then to step two is some jump. Hopefully he’ll be able to go again. He’s got an old head on young shoulders, hopefully he can continue to progress and he’s at a great place to do that in front of those sorts of crowds under a good manager.
“We gave him a send off in the dressing room and the boys are made up for him. It would have been easy for him to take his foot off the gas in our last two games but that’s not what Preston’s about, he was full-blooded again.
“He’s an unbelievable player and an unbelievable human being. We wish him all the best as a club.”
Thank you for your efforts at Hinckley, Preston – and very best of luck for the future!
Editor's note: Bulls News regrets that this story was initially published with a picture incorrectly identifying Preston Bitemo