Diss Town make five new signings as new boss Micheal King begins to build his squad up for the upcoming Thurlow Nunn League campaign
There may have been a host of recent exits but Michael King’s revolution at Diss Town is now firmly under way with five new players signing for The Tangerines with more set to follow.
And the recently-appointed manager, who joined from lower-league Waveney, believes their recruitment strategy can ensure Diss are ‘highly competitive’ in the upcoming Thurlow Nunn League First Division North campaign.
“The aim was to bring in three or four with experience of the level and the one above and them to add them to the profile of player we are looking at that is young and hungry and up-and-coming,” he said.
Former Kirkley & Pakefield central midfielder Matt Taunton, most recently with King at Waveney is one of the former, along with attacker Kyle Baker, who includes Gorleston, Wroxham, Norwich CBS, Harleston and Kirkley among his former clubs.
King said of Taunton: “He is 30 or 31 so has that experience and is a classy midfielder with a range of passing and I am confident he will be a big hit.”
On Baker, who joins from Caister and can play a variety of attacking roles, he said: “His goalscoring record speaks for itself at Thurlow Nunn League level and we are hoping he brings some to us.”
With last season’s shot-stopper George MacRae yet to commit pen to paper at Brewers Green Lane, King has moved to bring in former Kirkley & Pakefield keeper Adam Rix from a short spell at Fakenham.
“He has played for an established side in the Thurlow Nunn League Premier Division for three years,” he said.
Wide attacking player Bryn Mullin, 19, has also joined from Wymondham Town.
“He caught my eye last season,” he said. “He scored 22 goals for them in 29 appearances in Division One. He is only 19 but is very much someone for now as well as the future.”
Meanwhile, centre-back or right-back Curtis Barwick has joined him from playing under King at Waveney.
“He had two seasons with me at Waveney but just before lockdown he moved to Gorleston, which effectively didn’t happen,” he said.
“He is desperate to prove himself at this level and he is young and mobile and willing to learn. If he puts together everything we know he is capable of he will be a fantastic addition at this level.”
Meanwhile, Diss have announced seven pre-season friendlies, currently behind closed doors except at Long Stratton, kicking off at home to higher-league Gorleston on August 8.
That is followed by games against Anglian Combination sides, at home to Norwich CEYMS on August 15 before visiting Long Stratton on August 22.
Two games against Thurlow Nunn League Premier Division opposition will follow with Walsham-le-Willows visiting on Tuesday, August 25 before a trip to Kirkley & Pakefield on August 29. Diss then visit Beccles on September 1 and host Caister on September 5.