Busy Marheineke Brings in Two

Busy Ricky Marheineke, manager of Pitching In Southern League Premier Division Central club St Ives Town, has managed to agree terms with two more of last season’s squad ahead of the 2023/24 campaign and has made two new signings.

After impressing towards the end of last season, defender Paddy Casey has committed to the club for the new season.

The 22-year-old graduated to St Ives` former league rivals AFC Rushden & Diamonds` first team squad after impressing at academy level, having spent time with Northampton Town`s academy.

He made his first team debut for Diamonds aged 17 in a Hillier Senior Cup game in September 2018, following that up with a man of the match appearance in the following round.

He also signed for Bugbrooke St Michaels on dual registration, playing for them in the United Counties League.

He moved to Northern Premier League Division One Midlands outfit Harborough Town in October 2022 and then to St Ives a month later.

Also committing is well-travelled midfielder Ed Hottor.

The 30-year-old signed for St Ives in early December 2019.

The Ghanaian is an experienced performer who has been a host of professional clubs within Europe, including a number of years spent with AC Milan.

He started out with Triestina and after joining Milan in 2010, had loan spells with Lanciano, Nocerina and Venezia.

In 2016, he transferred to fierce rivals Inter Milan but didn`t feature in the Nerazzurri senior side but did go out on loan with Portuguese sides Atletico Clube de Portugal and Deportivo Fafe.

His next port of call was Maltese side Sliema Wanderers before he came to England in the summer of 2018.

He had a brief spell with Kettering Town before joining Saints` league rivals Banbury United in November 2018.

The first new signing is a familiar face to Ives fans, with Myles Cowling signing a one-year contract following his excellent performances on loan from League One side Cambridge United last season.

The 20-year-old is a central midfielder who originally joined Ives on a season-long loan in August 2022.

He had signed a professional contract in July 2022 and spent much of the 2021/22 season on loan with St Neots Town, then in the Southern Division One Central, making 33 appearances.

St Ives have also announced the signing of Fernando Bell-Toxtle.

The versatile midfielder joins following a successful spell with league rivals Royston Town last season.

The 24-year-old had joined the Crows in September 2022 having re-joined AFC Rushden & Diamonds in June 2020.

He signed for Grantham Town on a permanent basis at the end of May 2019 from Basford United following a successful spell on loan with the Gingerbreads in 2018/19.

However, in late August 2019 he moved on to Ilkeston Town.

He had joined Basford in November 2018 from Diamonds.

He had originally joined Diamonds in the summer of 2018 following his release from the Cambridge United academy, but soon after his arrivals at Hayden Road he moved to Nottingham to attend university and found the distance to be a struggle alongside his studies.

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