Matlock Town new boy Jonathan Wafula targets promotion

By Matt Green

JONATHAN Wafula says he has targeted promotion with Matlock Town.

The 27-year-old, who can operate through the middle or wide, and he starts a second spell with the Gladiators after joining from National League North side Guiseley.

“I’ve played with the likes of Ryan Qualter and Alex Byrne and having played for Guiseley against Matlock last season, I could see what a good side Matlock looked,” said Wafula, whose former clubs include Chesterfield, Shaw Lane, Worksop Town and Gainsborough Trinity.

“I’ve come here to win games, I want to help Matlock win promotion, I don’t want to play in a struggling side.”

Matlock were in eighth position in the NPL Premier table with 13 points from six games when the pandemic curtailed the campaign.

AIM: Jonathan Wafula

Manager Paul Phillips said: “He’s got pedigree having been in the Conference North for a long time now. He’s a great lad who knows our lads well and can play in numerous positions whether it be as a nine, seven, eleven or ten, he’s six foot and can hold the ball up well, we know what we’re getting and it won’t upset the balance of our team.”

Phillips has also completed the signing of midfielder Craig King from Frickley Athletic.

King started his career at Leicester City and had loan spells at Hereford & Northampton, while he also earned two Under-19s caps for Scotland. He has also previously featured for Telford, Worksop, Buxton and Gainsborough.

● Loughborough Dynamo have signed forward Ryan Nesbitt from Solihull Moors, while Alex Steadman has committed to the club.

Nesbitt, 23, is manager Lee Attenborough’s second summer addition after Michael Jacklin joined from Gainsborough.