Tom Roberts has hailed a double transfer coup that has seen Holbeach United lure Spencer Tinkler and Stuart Eason to Carter’s Park for next season.
Defender Tinkler has agreed to join from ChromaSport UCL Premier Division rivals Deeping Rangers, having made more UCL appearances for them than any other player.
Striker Eason, who had a loan spell with Spalding United last season, arrives from step three outfit St Ives Town. He was part of the Saints side that won promotion from the UCL back in 2013.
The pair are the third major signings sealed by the Tigers this summer, having also snapped up left back Adam Jackson from Spalding.
Player/boss Roberts, who has also tied down Josh Ford, Jamie Stevens, Ollie Pinner, Nick Jackson, Ricky Drury, Tommy Treacher, Aaron Eyett and Jake Clitheroe, feels things are shaping up superbly ahead of next season.
“I’m really pleased to get both deals done,” said the Holbeach boss. “I think they show that we mean business.
“Getting Spencer to come here has to be considered a bit of a coup. He’s Deeping’s top UCL appearance maker and has been a key player for them for the best part of the last ten years.
“The fact that he’s chosen to come and play for us as part of a new challenge is a real boost.
“We’ve been speaking to him for a while and I’m glad to get the deal done, I think he’ll be a really big player for us.
“Stuart is another really big signing for us. I know he wasn’t short of offers.
“He’s scored a lot of goals at UCL level and above, so we’re very pleased that he’s chosen to come here.
“You can’t ask more than to sign somebody that was part of a team that has won promotion from our league.
“He’s come to us for the right reasons, too.”
As well as Tinkler and Eason, talented midfielder Tyler Wright has joined from Pinchbeck United.
He’s dubbed “young, hungry and keen to progress” by the Tigers boss.
Roberts is also in talks with a midfielder and a winger as he bids to get his squad for next season sorted. All players from last season’s squad have been invited back too, with the Tigers chief hopeful of finalising his squad in the coming weeks.
Another player Roberts is excited to see back in yellow and black is right back Jonny Allen, who will join up with the squad for pre-season.
He missed 18 months with a broken leg picked up while Graham Drury and John Chand were still in charge at Carter’s Park, but did make his return for Pinchbeck United Sunday at the back end of last season.
Roberts admits that he’ll be like a new signing and feels he’ll make a solid Holbeach backline even more formidable.
“Jonny is so versatile,” added Roberts, who steered the Tigers to fourth in 2015/16. “He can play anywhere, but I see him as one of the best five defenders in the UCL.
“It’s always tough for a player to have that long out, but I’m excited to see him back for pre-season – he’s essentially another new signing. “With that in mind, things are coming together nicely.”
Holbeach have also made an addition behind the scenes, with physio Julian Holland joining their ranks. He’s the husband of ex-Tigers physio Carol Holland, who will be with Stamford next season.
