Non League Today I Dragons Make Impressive Late Recruits

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Dragons Make Impressive Late Recruits

Vanarama National League title favourites Wrexham bolstered their squad ahead of the signing deadline with three new recruits.

Friday 24 March 23 I 16:42:45	I	Photo by

Top of the bill is the return of former England goalkeeper Ben Foster, who has come out of retirement to help out at the Racecourse Ground following an injury to Rob Lainton. The experienced 39-year-old returns to the Racecourse Ground 18 years after he last played for the club, on a loan spell which included a starring role in the LDV Vans Trophy Final success at the Millennium Stadium. Foster first arrived at Wrexham on loan from Stoke City, making 21 appearances in all competitions to earn his move to Manchester United – having starred at the Millennium Stadium alongside Sir Alex Ferguson’s son Darren. He made 23 appearances for United, and spent two seasons on loan with Watford, before moving to Birmingham City and then West Bromwich Albion. He returned to Watford in 2018, and was an ever-present in the next two Premier League campaigns, before helping the Hornets bounce back to the top flight after relegation. Last season, he made a further 26 Premier League appearances and arrives back at Wrexham having made more than 500 appearances, as well as earning 8 full England international caps. Manager Phil Parkinson told https://www.wrexhamafc.co.uk: “We’re delighted to welcome Ben to the Club. “With Rob Lainton getting injured last weekend, it was important we had all bases covered going into the last part of the season, which this signing ensures.” Striker Billy Waters (pictured) has joined the Dragons from SkyBet League Two side Barrow AFC for an undisclosed fee. The experienced forward, 28, has signed a contract until the end of the 2024/25 season. Waters has scored nine goals in 32 league games for Barrow in League Two this season, helping The Bluebirds to tenth place. Waters is a product of the Crewe Alexandra youth academy, making his professional debut in League One in 2013. After 30 appearances for Crewe, he signed for Cheltenham Town in 2015 and scored 11 goals to help fire the Robins to promotion to the Football League and added a further 16 goals in the following campaign – for which he was named the Club’s Player of the Year. That earned a move to Northampton Town, where he spent three seasons, before dropping back into the National League with Torquay for the 2020/21 season. He scored eight goals – including two in the play-offs – as Torquay reached the play-off final, before a move to FC Halifax Town in the summer. With the Shaymen, he again reached the play-offs – this time netting 19 times in 47 games in all competitions. While Halifax missed out on promotion, Waters followed manager Pete Wild to Barrow where he continued his good form in front of goal. He arrives at Wrexham having made more than 300 professional appearances, scoring 68 goals. Meanwhile, attacking midfielder Malik Dijksteel will link up with Wrexham’s reserve squad until the end of the season. The 21-year-old – brother of Middlesbrough defender Anfernee – has previously played in the youth set-up with Dutch sides Feyenoord and Telstar, before his move to Boro in 2021. He made a number of appearances in Premier League 2 during his time on Teesside, with Middlesbrough’s under-23 team, before spending time with Pitching In Northern Premier League Premier Division side Whitby Town during this campaign.

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