The music has finally stopped on the goalkeeping musical chairs with no less than five keepers set to make their debuts at local clubs.
Technogroup Welshpool, Guilsfield, Berriew, Dyffryn Banw and Llanfair United were all involved as a clutch of keepers finally seem to have settled at new clubs following a dramatic week. And to confuse matters further, two of the goalkeepers share the same name!
The saga started when Guilsfield signed former professional Dave Maguire from Cefn Druids; sparking David Jones’s decision to move to Technogroup Welshpool, who missed out on a place with his home village after departing Newtown.
That move did not go well with Town’s talented stopper Gary Foster who immediately switched to Spar Mid Wales Division One side Dyffryn Banw after they faced their own goalkeeping crisis with the imminent departure of Wales U18 keeper Stef Harris to college.
While that was going on, Berriew manager Russell Cadwallader, who had stepped in to fill his own vacant keeper’s jersey, injured himself last Saturday but managed to swoop for Caersws stopper, another David Jones.
Meanwhile, Lee Andrew, who suffered an horrific ribs and lung injury pre-season playing a trial match for Guilsfield against Newtown, has made a remarkable recovery to make his debut for Llanfair United tonight at Abermule.
Confused? Here’s who went where and what’s been said.
Technogroup Welshpool – David Jones (from Newtown)
“David has played at a very high level and is extremely talented and very experienced,” manager, Graham Evans.
Guilsfield – Paul Maguire (from Cefn Druids)
“Mags will be one of the best keepers in the league. I have tracked him for some time and it is a big signing for Guilsfield to provide competition for the No1 jersey,” manager, Mike Barton.
Dyffryn Banw – Gary Foster (from Technogroup Welshpool)
“It’s a big signing for the club. Gary is an excellent keeper as we were going to be really struggling once Stef goes to college next week,” player-manager, Chris Roberts.
Berriew - David Jones (from Caersws)
“I had to play in goal because there weren’t many keepers about during the summer after we lost Lee (Andrew) to Llanfair. It’s a real boost to the squad to be able to sign someone like Dave at this stage of the season,” manager, Russell Cadwallader.
Llanfair United – Lee Andrew (from Berriew/injury)
“Initially I was told three months at the very earliest. Thankfully the pierced lung has healed and I came through training on Wednesday so I feel ready to play again,” keeper, Lee Andrew.