Date: Tue 13 Jun 2023

By Steve Whitney

Seven Commit to North Leigh for 2023/24

North Leigh have retained seven of the squad that fought so hard to avoid relegation back to the Pitching In Southern League Division One Central in 2022/23.

Lance Williams

Lance Williams

New manager James Keller, who took over at the beginning of the month following the resignation of Chris Allen, has got Lance Williams, Owen Dore, James Foster, Michael Hopkins, Declan Peart, Scott Isherwood and Adam Heap to agree new terms for 2023/24.

Williams, 34, re-joined North Leigh in 2020.

He was in his second spell with Didcot Town, having re-joined in the summer of 2018 from neighbours Kidlington.

Also, previously with Abingdon Town and North Leigh.

Dore is the 18-year-old son of former Millers manager Craig Dore.

He has been amongst the first team setup and club since 2019.

He has gained good experience during his time with the Southampton and Oxford United academies.

Experienced goalkeeper James Foster, 32, only joined North Leigh in March.

He has previously played for the likes of Wantage Town, Didcot Town, Thatcham Town, Abingdon United and Hungerford Town.

Hopkins is another experienced campaigner who re-joined the Millers in March 2022 from Southern Premier Division South side Swindon Supermarine.

The 32-year-old defender had returned to `Marine in September 2021 from Southern Premier Division Central side Stratford Town, who he had joined in the summer of 2021.

He had originally been with `Marine since February 2018 after arriving from North Leigh.

Before joining the Millers, he had spells at Didcot Town and Hungerford Town after playing at Reading academy since a youngster.

Peart is another defender who returned to Eynsham Park in November 2022.

The 26-year-old played with Oxford City Nomads in the Hellenic Premier before originally signing for North Leigh in 2018.

He moved to Kidlington in September 2019 before Chris Allen brought him back to North Leigh.

Gifted right-back Isherwood signed for North Leigh in the summer of 2020.

The 22-year-old originally joined the Millers on a month`s loan from League One side Bristol Rovers in November 2019 which was extended until lockdown.

He made over 40 appearances for Rovers’ under-18 and development team prior to his move to Eynsham Park, having originally been with Hellenic League side Carterton`s youth set up.

Heap is a midfielder who has been with the Millers since arriving from Banbury United in December 2020.

The 23-year-old began his career in the junior sides at Kidlington and he was also a part of the Oxford United academy, completing his scholarship with the latter and then being rewarded in the summer of 2018 with a professional contract.

He made 2 appearances for Oxford in the EFL Trophy in 2018/19 and was a regular in their under-23 side that season.

He joined North Leigh on loan in October 2019 - a move made permanent when he was released by Oxford in January 2020.

Although born in Oxfordshire, he is eligible to play for both Northern Ireland and Wales and has played for the former at under-19 level and has also been called up to the Welsh under-21 squad for training.

North Leigh Web Site

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