These are all the players Hereford have signed this summer

It's been a busy summer for new Hereford boss Paul Caddis as he's completely rebuilt the squad.

Only one player from Josh Gowling's time as manager remains, young defender Mark Derricott who has got minutes under his belt over the course of the pre-season schedule.

Even players who had either been offered new deals or invited back for pre-season training have moved on, including Ryan McLean who signed for AFC Wimbledon, Harry Pinchard who has linked back up with Yan Klukowski at Gloucester City and Aaron Amadi-Holloway whose contract was cancelled and he joined Chippenham Town.

Jack Evans had also been offered a new deal, but it's understood that offer has now expired, though no club has so far announced that they've signed him.

As for the new players, they are:

Goalkeepers

Curtis Pond

He's a 6ft 4in goalkeeper who has been with Chasetown for the last ten seasons and made 291 appearances for them.

"Curtis is everything I look for in a goalkeeper – courageous, commanding of his box, unbelievable technical ability and most importantly, he’s someone who can make big saves at big moments," said Hereford manager Paul Caddis.

"After spending some time with Curtis he fed off my enthusiasm and the drive of this football club, and has decided now is the time to play at a level he should have a long time ago."

Defence

Ollie Southern

A right back, he was with Bala last season.

“I am excited to bring Ollie onboard with us for this coming season," said manager Paul Caddis.

"He’s a versatile right back, who can also play at centre half. He has a presence and size that we need in a tough uncompromising league.

"Ollie has spent the last 3 years in senior football and for his age has played a lot of games, including appearances in the Champions League qualifiers."

Southern is 21 and before joining Bala in July 2021 had a spell with Curzon Ashton.

Aaron Skinner

The 21-year-old left-back started his career at Bury playing in their youth sides up to under-18 level, including playing in the squad which reached the quarter-final of the FA Youth Cup in the 2018/19 season.

In October 2019 he moved to Bolton Wanderers Under-18s, however within two months he was snapped up by Tottenham Hotspur.

He earned a pro contract with the Premier League side featuring in their Under-23s.

He joined Bamber Bridge in November 2021, his most recent club before the Bulls.

Mark Derricott

Derricott has progressed from the under-18s, and last season spent time on loan at Hednesford where he gained valuable first-team experience.

Jordan Cranston

He's a 29-year-old left-back who played for AFC Fylde last season.

He started his career with Wolves and played for the Wales Under 18's. 

"Jordan played a part in securing the National League North title with Fylde last year so he doesn’t just possess quality, he also has a winning mentality," said manager Paul Caddis.

"Naturally a left-sided full-back, he can comfortably play at centre half and across the midfield as well. He has a brilliant left foot with enormous quality and always looks to play forward.

"Jordan will bring a calmness and experience to our group and again, he is another player who had financial offers superior to what we can offer here, but who has decided to join us at what he sees as a really exciting forward-thinking football club."

Coach Adam Rooney and Cranston played at Solihull during the 21/22 season.

Nathan Cameron

Cameron tackling former Bulls forward Miles Storey

The 31-year-old started his career at Coventry before making 126 appearances for Bury.

He then had spells with Macclesfield, Solihull and Kidderminster and was most recently at AFC Telford United.

He has made more than 200 Football League appearances and was previously part of England's under-20s.

Speaking to the club's website, Caddis said: "Clearly the squad lacked depth in the centre of defence, but as with all the signings made to date, we wanted this to be the right signing and not a rushed one.

“Nathan will bring a tenacity and physicality to the back line, as well as the communication and organisational abilities needed to be a successful central defender.

“Having shared a dressing room with Nathan many years ago, I know the type of human being he is and one of the key factors in bringing Nathan to the club was knowing his characteristics not just as a player, but also as a person."

Kyle Howkins

27-year-old Howkins is a 6ft 5in defender who played in the second half for Hereford in their pre-season friendly at Pegasus last Saturday. 

"Kyle Howkins stands at 6ft 5 with a brilliant physique and a character that I don’t think will be matched at this level," said manager Paul Caddis.

"He has single-handedly recovered from a long-term injury on his own – the mental strength, hard work, desire and character that takes from anyone in any walk of life has to be applauded.

He added: "I have promised from day one we will have a hard working team that will run through brick walls for the badge they are representing and Kyle is another addition to that."

Howkins started his career with West Bromwich and was loaned out to several teams including Kidderminster, Mansfield, Cambridge United and Port Vale.

In July 2019 he moved to Newport County and then in January 2021 went out on loan to Solihull where he sustained an ACL injury which has kept him out of the game until recently. 

Midfield

Lassana Mendes

He joins the Bulls from Bala.

"He’s a hard-working wide midfielder with Europa league experience who will bring quality to us at the top end of the pitch," said manager Paul Caddis. 

Mendes is 26 and has been at Bala since July 2019.

Previously he played for Colwyn Bay, Stalybridge and Radcliffe. Before moving to the UK he played for Cadiz, CD Roquetas, and PV EJido in Spain.

Aurio Teixeira

20-year-old Teixeira has signed a two year deal.

Recently he has been at Alvechurch.

He started his career with West Brom but was released in July last year.

"We have beaten off a lot of full-time clubs to capture Aurio’s signature," said Caddis.

"He is a player that epitomises what I see this football club as, hard working with an abundance of character and a desire to get better."

Alex Babos

Babos made 45 appearances for Banbury last season and scored in a 3-2 win at Edgar Street.

"Alex is a player who, after speaking to him about the possibility of joining our club, was really hungry, enthusiastic and excited to become part of our rebuild moving forward," said manager Paul Caddis.

"After a successful season at Banbury in 22/23, in which he showed the robustness and fitness base that is needed to be a part of my squad by making more than 50 appearances, I am absolutely delighted to have secured his signature on a one-year deal."

Adam Livingstone

He is a 25-year-old left-sided player who started his career with Motherwell. 

Since then he has played for a number of clubs including Stafford, Hednesford and AFC Telford. 

"He is a fit, athletic player who has built up a reputation for his cultured left foot," said manager Paul Caddis.

"I have no doubts whatsoever that Adam is a player our forward players will love to have in the side.

"He’s very calm in possession and understands his role in the team and puts a lot of high demands on himself both personally and professionally."

Stanley Anaebonam

He is viewed as a replacement for Ryan McLean who has moved to AFC Wimbledon. 

Anaebonam was a trainee with IK Start back in Norway before heading to England in 2016. He featured for AFC Wulfrunians during the 2017/18 season before linking up with Solihull Moors.

Over the next two years he played for Moors Academy and Solihull United in the Midland Football League before linking up with Redditch United in January 2020. 

The covid pandemic then disrupted football significantly for over a year, but Anaebonam returned to action with a move in September 2021 to League Of Ireland club Shelbourne (where the league is played in the summer).

The First Division side won promotion back to the Irish Premier Division for the 2022 season as champions a month later and he agreed to stay on for the new campaign.

He had trials for Yeovil Town in the summer of 2022 before signing for Truro City ahead of the start of the 2022/23 season, but in October 2022 he returned to the Midlands and joined Hednesford Town where he quickly impressed. 

Later he moved to Stourbridge. 

Koby Arthur

Koby Arthur is a 27-year-old midfielder who was part of Birmingham City's youth set-up. He scored in the 4-1 win at Nuneaton.

He made 12 senior appearances and had loan spells at Lincoln City and Cheltenham Town before leaving.

He then played for Macclesfield Town, helping them to the National League title and staying for 20 League Two appearances, Kidderminster Harriers, Dover Athletic and Maidenhead United. He left at the end of last season.

Bulls boss Paul Caddis has admitted he thought Arthur was out of reach for Hereford.

Forwards

Andy Williams

Needing no introduction, Williams started his career with Hereford and went on to feature for several other clubs including Bristol Rovers, Yeovil, Swindon, Doncaster, Cheltenham and Walsall.

He has scored nearly 150 goals to date.

"I think the capture of Andy Williams is a real coup for our football club and I genuinely believe that the support from everyone getting behind the season ticket sales and squad builder campaign has had a big impact on getting this done," said Caddis. 

"The interest levels have been absolutely mind-blowing considering we are only five weeks post-season and nine weeks before our opening game, and Andy has been very much aware of what has been going on.

"It goes without saying that I am delighted to see ‘Willo’ return to Edgar Street, the stadium where he started out on his long and established football league career. He truly has a connection to this city.

"Willo is an ex-team-mate – and opponent – so I know what makes him tick and I know what his strengths are in terms of the threat he possesses to worry opposition teams.

"He has a hunger and drive like no other and a fitness level that he takes great pride and professionalism in. I’m sure a signing of his calibre from a League Two club – when he had other more lucrative full-time deals on offer – shows the supporters we aren’t standing still as a football club.

"Hereford FC is not here just to take part – we are here to progress."

Jason Cowley

A deal had been agreed for the 27-year-old to move to Hereford from Stourbridge for a small undisclosed fee.

The Glassboys extended Cowley’s contract following on from his outstanding contribution last season when he scored 29 goals.

Cowley re-joined Stourbridge in June 2021 from league rivals Bromsgrove Sporting.

He signed for the Rouslers in early October 2020 following the sad demise of Macclesfield Town, who he had joined a month earlier.

He began his career with Midland League Division Two side Redditch Borough back in 2015, where he scored 26 goals in just 19 appearances for the Worcestershire outfit before having a brief spell with Southern Premier Division neighbours Redditch United, as well as spells at Corby Town, Stevenage and Solihull Moors.

Adam Rooney (player assistant manager)

Last season he was a player with Brackley.

"I am extremely grateful to Adam for agreeing to come in as my Assistant Manager, as well as a player," said manager Paul Caddis. 

“I have known Adam for a number of years and we have a good relationship that, moving forward, will grow stronger as our football thinking is aligned and we are built from the same characteristics in terms of what we expect from our players.

“Adam is another individual who had full-time offers, but he has been coaching for a while now and sees this opportunity as something he couldn’t turn down."

35-year-old Rooney hails from Dublin. Below is his 'history' which was posted by Brackley last October.

He started with his local side Crumlin United before moving to Stoke City in the summer of 2005. He played five times for the Potters scoring four times. Three of those goals came in a final day win over Brighton and at 18 years-old he became Stoke's youngest ever hat-trick hero. He also had three loan spells during his time at the Britannia Stadium, at Yeovil Town, Chesterfield and Bury.

He has also played for Caledonian Thistle, Swindon Town, Oldham Athletic, Pittordrie, Salford City, Solihull Moors and Stratford Town.