EXPERIENCED defender Luke Edwards has signed for Bromsgrove Sporting after making the move from Midland League Premier Division side Coleshill Town.
The 32-year-old centre-half, who has made more than 200 appearances for Coleshill, played a huge part in the club’s fifth place finish in the Premier Division last season, amassing a total of 52 appearances.
After a deal for Alvechurch’s Mark Smith had fallen through, Rouslers boss Paul Smith has been on the look-out for a vastly experienced defender to complete his defensive options for next season.
Edwards becomes Sporting’s seventh new signing of the summer as he joins Robbie Bunn, Chris Lloyd, Tony Clarke, Joe Haines, Ryan Spink and Dayle Kenny at the Victoria Ground.
Smith said: “I have been looking out for an experienced centre-half for a while now and after a deal for Mark Smith fell through, I heard Luke was available and invited him down to training last night (Tuesday).
“He’s very interested in a fresh challenge and we’ve had to fight off four or five clubs higher up the pyramid to secure his signature.
“Luke has got plenty of experience and at more than 6ft tall, he’s very strong in the air and has all the attributes of a defender I was looking for.
“His performances are always eight out of ten or better and I’m very pleased to have captured him.
“The defence is all sorted now especially after Daniel Morris committed to us for another season so I’m very happy with the defenders I have at the club.
“There’s still two more places I’m looking to fill and I’m hopeful of sorting those deals out after Saturday.”
Edwards is expected to be given his non-competitive debut on Saturday when Sporting travel to FC Stratford for their first pre-season friendly of the summer.
In other news, pacy striker Kyle Turner has returned to former club Bolehall Swifts after signing for the Tamworth-based club on Sunday and Umit Eminoglu has departed for Midland League Division Two side Feckenham.
Turner made 24 appearances for the Rouslers last season (12 from the bench) and scored ten times while Eminoglu only made four appearances.
The pair become the fourth and fifth players to depart the Victoria Ground, following Reece Hewitt (Redditch United), Liam Spink (Redditch United) and Connor Collins (Fairfield Villa).
