Eastbourne Borough's super six can produce big things for Bloor

Danny Bloor is delighted with a six-pack of signings as he plots a successful National South campaign for Eastbourne Borough.
Dan Blackmore / Picture: Andy PellingDan Blackmore / Picture: Andy Pelling
Dan Blackmore / Picture: Andy Pelling

As revealed already Dean Cox is back at Priory Lane for the new season – but this time as Coach Cox.

But Cox is just one of six players who have put pen to paper at Priory Lane in recent days - and Bloor is excited at the prospect of all of them being available to him and his coaching team.

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Two new faces and four familiar names make up the batch of six signings, adding to those already announced.

Ben Overton / Picture: Andy PellingBen Overton / Picture: Andy Pelling
Ben Overton / Picture: Andy Pelling

Bloor’s first-choice keeper Franco Ravizzoli will have competition from new arrival Luke Glover. “Luke arrives with good pedigree and excellent experience for a relatively young keeper,” Bloor said. “He caught the eye at Haywards Heath Town, where he played every game last season.

“We like what we’ve seen and although he begins as number two keeper, he will be pushing Franco all the way, which is great.”

Also signing National South forms is defender Dan Blackmore. Bloor said: “This is a great boys-to-men story. Dan is last year’s Sussex under-18 captain and had a productive loan spell with Langney in the demanding Southern Combination. He’s now out of youth football and looking to establish himself in our first team squad.

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“Dan has been in and around the first team already, and he is proof that there is a clear pathway here at the Lane for good young players. We love his versatility – he can play centre-back, or holding midfield, and has slotted in at full-back.”

Luke Glover / Picture: Andy PellingLuke Glover / Picture: Andy Pelling
Luke Glover / Picture: Andy Pelling

Another bright prospect is frontman Ben Overton. Bloor said: “Our supporters had just a couple of glimpses of Ben last season – the very first time he came on as a substitute he was turning centre-back inside out.

“He is only just seventeen and he is a versatile boy and a talent whom we look forward to nurturing. We won’t rush him but we think he has a really bright future.”

Danny Bloor is delighted to welcome back James Ferry for another season. Bloor said of Herald columnist Ferry: “I didn’t really know James until I took over, but he has grown and grown on me – culminating with his outstanding performance in the 3-0 win over Maidstone which terminated our season.

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“James is a manager’s dream: he’s an eight out of ten every week and he just gets on with it. At 23 he is already one of the best midfielders in the league.

“The manner in which he’s gone about his career – including his journalism training and his teaching work – is exemplary. I am sure James can still go higher, but at present he is fully committed to Eastbourne Borough.

“James goes against the flow of our current thinking about an Eastbourne-centred team. But he loves playing for us despite the travelling ... we’re good for each other.”

Perhaps Bloor’s most intriguing signing so far is James Vaughan. The manager added: “James was in and around the club some time back as a young prospect when Tommy Widdrington was manager. Since then he’s travelled extensively, including playing and studying in the United States.

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“That is such a terrific learning curve for a gifted young player. The current world situation prevents him from going back to the US, but James is an Eastbourne lad who is bursting to play for Eastbourne Borough.

“He’s a player the supporters will quickly take to, who can slot into more than one position. I see him possibly in a full-back role but he can equally play in midfield. That sort of versatility is a huge asset to a player, and of course to a manager.”