Note that this page is from our archive during the time when the club was called Gresley FC. It may not be related to the old Gresley Rovers.
Hebberd Joins Bardon
Liam Hebberd
Liam Hebberd is to become the second player this week to leave the Moat Ground.
Hebberd is set to re-join Bardon Hill after the Leicestershire Club put a seven day approach in earlier this week. The news comes hot on the heels of Tom Land's departure to Graham Street Prims. After discussion with Hebberd, manager Gary Norton agreed to waive the required seven day period and allow him to rejoin with his ex team mates ahead of this weekend's games.
Although disappointed to lose his player Norton was far from downbeat about it saying: "Liam and I had a chat earlier this week and the upshot is that he's not enjoying the role we were asking him to play. In our style of play I want our wide men to work hard both attacking wise as well as defensively and he thinks the defensive element detracts from his overall game. It's an area of his game we have worked hard with him to improve but he's not enjoying what we want him to do in terms of tracking back and he feels a move back to Bardon will better suit his game. It's a pity of course but we wish him well and move on."
He added: "We are sorry to lose Liam at this stage of the season, especially when he's been a regular starter for us. I can understand Tom Land moving on as he couldn't see himself getting in the side regularly ahead of Jamie Barrett, Barry Woolley, Gareth Langford or Rich Butler but Liam more often than not started games for us when he was fit and in form. That said, if he's not enjoying the role we ask him to play in the team then it's perhaps better for both parties that he moves on. We don't want to keep a player at the club who isn't enjoying it for obvious reasons.
"We are fortunate in the fact we have several other good options in wide areas especially since the recent additions of Kyle Bryant and Aaron Dillon to the squad. Don't forget that we also have Brian Woodall and Rob Spencer who often play there so Liam moving on hopefully won't affect our squad too much."
In other news the manager had positive signs on the injury front ahead of this weekend's game at Borrowash Victoria with both Gareth Langford and Barry Woolley coming through midweek training sessions. On the prospect of both being available for Saturday's game Norton said "Both lads seemed to come through training okay and if they have no adverse reactions then both could be included in the squad for the weekend. We restricted what they did as a precaution and so we will have to see how things go between now and Saturday. However, the fact the seemed to come through the session okay is positive and we are hopeful that one or perhaps both lads could be fit."
Norton added: "We also have a few seven day approaches of our own for defenders that expire before the weekend so we will be trying to pull off a potential new signing in the coming days."