A whirlwind week at Northallerton Town has seen seven new player signings and the announcement of a fresh coaching team.
New manager Jason Newall has put his stamp on the squad by introducing four recruits from his highly successful Richmond Town side.
Back at the Calverts Stadium is attacking midfielder James Coatsworth, 28, who started his football career in his hometown club’s youth team before becoming a member of the Huddersfield Town Academy.
He also played for Darlington FC and Darlington RA before joining Richmond last season.
Also back in the black-and-white stripes is another local lad, winger Jack Stapley, 23, who made 46 appearances in his first spell with Northallerton after graduating from the youth team.
The former student of Northallerton School & Sixth Form College played for Northern Ireland U-16s through a link with his grandfather, who was born in Belfast, and was also a member of the Middlesbrough FC Academy before joining Thornaby.
Centre-back Josh Allen, 29, played a starring role for Richmond during Newall’s tenure at the Clark Arena and has also represented Bedale.
Prolific striker Tafari Nicholas, 21, scored 44 goals in 70 matches for Richmond and also has Northern League experience with Crook Town.
Versatile midfielder Adam Walker, 24, also arrives from Richmond. Meanwhile, fellow midfielder Stefan Hornsby, 22, has previous experience with Crook Town and Darlington Town.
Jamie Harwood, 39, will play a dual role as player-coach. The vastly-experienced central defender has more than 500 appearances un-der his belt at Northern League and National League clubs including Shildon, Bishop Auckland, Spennymoor, Gateshead, Worksop and Crook.
Completing the coaching team are Alan Woodbridge and Joe Chidanyika. Former PE teacher Woodbridge, a qualified UEFA B coach, joins from Richmond where he was a key lieutenant in Newall’s backroom team.
Chidanyika, a former semi-professional footballer in his native Zimbabwe, is FA Level Two (UEFA C) qualified with more than ten years’ experience and is an accomplished goalkeeping coach.
The new-look squad held its first training session last weekend ahead of their first match of the 2024-25 season, at home to Guisborough Town, on July 27.
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