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Next Game: Home Against Southport In The League On Saturday January 18th At 3.00pm ( assuming the floodlights are working )

Saturday, August 10, 2024

All the players who have signed for Hereford ahead of new season

Hereford's season gets underway on Saturday as South Shields visit Edgar Street, with 21 players currently with the club.

Here who they are:

Goalkeeper

Aaron Chapman - the 34-year-old, 6ft 8in goalkeeper who has played for clubs Accrington Stanley, Bristol Rovers, Peterborough United and, more recently, Boston United will command his area, Caddis said. Bringing a huge level of experience, as well as quality and personality, Boston were interested in keeping him but instead opted to keep Cameron Gregory as their first choice.

Matt Horton - an as yet unannounced signing believed to be 18-year-old Matt Horton who was with Bromsgrove Sporting earlier this summer. The surname was on the squad number announcement last night, and the teenager has recently been on the books at Halesowen Town.

Defence

Aaron Skinner - the 22-year-old former Tottenham Hotspur and Bolton Wanderers youngster was with Hereford last season after leaving Bamber Bridge. He impressed at right-back but also filled in at left-back and midfield when needed. He was one of only four players to play more than 30 league games, making a total of 51 appearances in all competitions and scoring two goals.

Lewis Hudson - the 25-year-old Coventry-born right-back joined midway through last season from Rushall Olympic having been a regular starter in the Pics' defence. He went on to make 15 appearances and score one goal.

Kyle Howkins - Caddis joked the 28-year-old former Newport County man had cost the club dearly in tape used for his knee, having joined Hereford last summer after spending two years out of the game with an ACL injury. He stayed fit and made 37 appearances and scored one goal.

Mark Derricott - the former Hereford youth team player made three appearances last season for the Bulls. He also gained valuable experience and game time at Bromsgrove Sporting after picking up a back injury earlier in the season.

Matt Preston - the 29-year-old Birmingham-born centre-back will be a familiar name to some Hereford fans having had two stints at Kidderminster Harriers recently. Caddis said he was really pleased to bring Preston to Edgar Street, saying he had to fight off the competition for his signature - a big coup.

Sammy Robinson - another former Harrier, the 22-year-old came through the ranks at Leeds United and Manchester City before signing for League Two club Port Vale. After the expiry of his 18-month deal, he joined the Aggborough outfit where he made 21 appearances. Caddis praised Robinson's ability to play across the back four, and as a wing back. He labelled him a tough tackler and someone who plays the game with aggression out of possession but a real calmness in possession with immense quality and technical ability.

Midfield

Aurio Teixeira - having signed on a two-year deal last summer, Teixeira was another of the four players who made more than 30 league appearances. A tenacious midfielder, the former West Brom youngster made the step up to step two having most recently been at Alvechurch. He made 48 appearances in all competitions and scored one goal.

Alex Babos - another of the four players to make more than 30 league appearances last term, Babos quickly became a fans' favourite as his goal and assist tallies both reached double figures. The 25-year-old former Derby County youngster had spent two years and Banbury United before making the move to Edgar Street last summer.

Lawson D’Ath - another late addition to Paul Caddis's squad last season, D'Ath also arrived from Banbury United as they shipped players out ahead of their inevitable relegation. Having been the Puritans' captain and described as a lynchpin of the side, Caddis knew could bring experience and quality to us

Chay Tilt - a player Caddis is really excited to have brought in, who has already impressed in training and has been described by the gaffer as "really exciting on the eye", he makes the jump up from step four. He was also dubbed a creative and clinical winger who has previously played for West Bromwich Albion, Queen’s Park Rangers, Stourbridge, Tamworth, Redditch, Hednesford and Macclesfield Town.

Cosmos Matwasa - Caddis's third signing of the summer, the winger helped Brackley Town to the National League North play-off final last month. Caddis told the official club website that Matwasa is a player supporters will react to, with attributes he really likes - such as huge pace and power.

Tate Campbell - he can play across the back-line or in midfield and was one of the players released by Birmingham City at the end of last season following the club's relegation to League One. The 22-year-old didn't make an appearance for Blues last term having been hampered by hamstring injuries - and had been considering quitting football or playing part-time to reignite his love for the game.

Preston Bitemo - an 18-year-old who Caddis said has a huge career ahead of him, last season he helped step six side Hinkley AFC to the Midland League Division One title. A "proper good young man who wants to learn and hasn’t looked out of place amongst our most experienced players", Caddis is looking forward to helping Bitemo progress his career.

Yusifu Ceesay - a player who needs no introduction to Hereford fans, the 29-year-old had aspirations to play abroad but a move does not appear to have materialised. Having reportedly loved his time working under Caddis and the staff, as well as the connection with supporters as he made 36 appearances and contributed eight goals after signing in September, Ceesay will be back in a Bulls shirt.

Forwards

Adam Rooney - Caddis's right-hand man, Rooney soon found himself leading the line for Hereford last season when both Andy Williams and Jason Cowley suffered lengthy spells out injured. The gaffer said he has known Rooney for a number of years, they have a good relationship and he can be a good sounding board. As a player, he made more than 100 appearances for Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Aberdeen and was with Brackley Town before moving to Edgar Street.

Andy Williams - a player who needs no introduction to Hereford fans, Willo managed to agree a new deal with the club for the coming season. After starting his career at Edgar Street under Graham Turner, he went on to play for a host of Football League club, ending up at Walsall where he left last summer. He scored 10 goals in 23 appearances last season.

Jason Cowley - Hereford paid a fee for Cowley as he left Stourbridge last summer having scored 29 goals that season. He had had a trial with Hereford in 2020 but never made the move, but after he did in 2023 he scored 12 goals in 36 appearances. Having played for a handful of Midlands clubs, at Bromsgrove Sporting the tenacious and hard-working frontman hit an incredible 107 goals in 128 appearances as the club secured three consecutive promotions in the process.

Montel Gibson - another recruit this summer, Gibson was most recently at AFC Telford United in step three. Caddis has described the 26-year-old as a nuisance in attack but with a work ethic and quality to match and he has also been with a number of Midlands clubs. Despite people outside football saying he's money-motivated, Caddis has said he joined Hereford because he wants to climb the football pyramid.

Ahkeem Rose - a later addition to the squad, Rose has had to stints training with Hereford. The 25-year-old started his career at Grimsby Town where he played 34 games in League Two before a move to Dover Athletic. After a spell with Weymouth, he moved north to Scottish Championship side Ayr United. Rose has joined on a short-term deal and Caddis thinks he has "real scoring abilities".