A
more experienced arrival at Langford Road is the adaptable defender or
midfielder Lee Close.
The
29-year-old joins from new league rivals Welwyn Garden City.
He
had re-joined City in June 2019, having spent the second half of the previous
season with Barton Rovers.
He
also numbers Boreham Wood, Potters Bar Town and AFC Dunstable amongst his other
former clubs.
Tricky
wide player Marcus Gouldbourne (pictured) has moved to Langford Road from Southern Premier
Division Central side Royston Town.
He
had joined the Crows in November 2021 from Vanarama National League South side
Braintree Town.
The
21-year-old pacey winger or striker came through the Stevenage under-18 ranks
and spent time on loan at Dunstable Town whilst on Boro’s books.
The
Luton-born youngster also had a brief spell in Swedish football with
Ytterhagdaka IK before returning to the UK in the summer of 2020 when he signed
for Royston`s league rivals Hitchin Town, in what was a truncated season
because of the Covid outbreak.
In
July 2021 he signed for Braintree and had a two-month loan spell with Isthmian
League Premier Division outfit Brightlingsea Regent where he played 15 times.
Joining
on a more permanent basis from Isthmian League Premier Division side Wingate
& Finchley is 20-year-old forward Liam Smyth, who featured on loan with the
Waders in the latter part of the 2021/22 season.
Smyth
made 27 appearances and scored 4 goals after signing for Wingate in July 2021
from Stevenage.
He
came through the Stevenage academy under O`Keefe and made his first-team debut
aged only 17.
He
spent the incomplete seasons on 2019/20 and 2020/21 on loan with Braintree and
has featured regularly for Northern Ireland under-19s.
(Photo: Kappa Sports) |