Drury Makes First New Signing for Stamford

Graham Drury, manager of Stamford AFC, promoted to the Pitching In Southern League Premier Division Central, has announced his first new signing of the summer to date.

Defender Ashton Hall has made the short trip down the A1 to the Zeeco Stadium from Northern Premier League Division One East side Grantham Town.

The 22-year-old had been with the Gingerbreads since February 2022 after arriving from league rivals Sheffield FC.

He had moved to Club in November 2021.

NPL Premier Division side Matlock Town fought off other potential suitors to bring the defender back to the Proctor Cars Stadium in August 2021.

He was originally a leading light in the Gladiators’ academy and reserve sides, being named captain of both before finally breaking through to the first team in 2018/19.

He signed a contract with Matlock in October 2018, his performances attracting the attention of a number of League clubs, in particular Leeds United and Sheffield United.

He joined the Blades in July 2019 and played for the United under-23 team and had a spell on loan at Guiseley AFC when they were in the Vanarama National League North in 2020/21.

Drury was also delighted to retain the services of goalkeeper Dan Wallis and defensive duo Joe Burgess and Connor Bartle as they head into 2023/24.

Wallis won the NPL Division One Midlands` `golden glove` last season.

The 24-year-old returned to the Daniels in March 2022 from Matlock Town.

He had joined Gainsborough Trinity from Matlock in January 2020 and then switched to another league rival, Grantham, two months later.

He was released by Sheffield Wednesday in the summer of 2019, having spent four years at Hillsborough and signed his first professional deal in June 2017.

He featured for both the Wednesday under-18s and under-23s, winning the Professional Development League Two North and National title in the 2016/17 season.

In 2018/19 he went out on loan to then-NPL Division One East side Frickley Athletic and trialled with National League outfit Chesterfield in the close season before joining Matlock, making the move to Valdres FK of Norway in November 2019.

Burgess re-joined Stamford in March 2020 after leaving the Zeeco Stadium for Corby Town in July 2019.

The 27-year-old has also played for the likes of Boston United, Ilkeston, Histon, Fleetwood Town and Peterborough United.

Bartle is a former Notts County youth team player who joined Basford United in 2017 and was part of their 2017/18 NPL Division One South championship winning side.

He joined Carlton Town for the 2018/19 season before moving on to the Grantham in February 2019.

He moved to Stamford in July 2020.