[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Bristol Manor Farm Football Club is delighted to announce that club captain Aron Robbins, and central defender Josh Ford have signed on ahead of the 2021/22 Southern League Division One South season.
Ford arrives at the Creek from Melksham Town as First-team Manager Lee Lashenko’s third new signing – alongside striker Owen Howe and Theo Llewellyn.
Ford began his career at Queens Park Rangers and has played for a number of clubs – including captaining the Yate Town side who won promotion to the Southern League Premier Division in 2019. Ford has also featured for Paulton Rovers, Frome Town, and Larkhall Athletic.
First-team Manager Lee Lashenko believes that new-signing Ford is a “proven player at this level and will help Manor Farm achieve their goal of promotion”.
“Josh comes to the club with great pedigree,” Lashenko began. “He was an apprentice at Queens Park Rangers and has played for a number of good sides including Frome Town, Yate Town and of course, Melksham Town.
“Josh is a player that I’ve tried to bring to the club for the past few seasons, and I’m delighted that we are able to have him commit to Manor Farm for next season.
“He was the captain at Yate for their promotion, and he helped steer Melksham away from relegation – and turn them into promotion contenders up until the season was curtailed due to COVID-19.
“I think that over the past couple of seasons, his work life has affected his football which hasn’t allowed him to reach his full potential. His work/football balance has sorted itself out now, and hopefully we can give him a platform here at Manor Farm to really push-on.
“He is a welcome addition, and just what we need as we look to achieve our goal of promotion,” Lashenko said.
As for the ever-present Robbins, the dynamic full-back has pledged his allegiance to the Farm for the fourth season since signing back from Mangotsfield Town.
“Aron has been excellent for us, and he is a player that I respect as a player and individual,” Lashenko added. “The performances that he has put in as captain towards the back-end of last has shown me that the players have taken well to him being captain and respect his leadership skills.
“As Aron is still working on building his fitness after a lengthy-injury, we are letting him play for Hallen AFC in the Les Phillips Cup,” Lashenko said. “We see this as a mutually beneficial decision, as Aron can gain more match fitness ahead of pre-season, and Hallen have themselves a good player for the tournament.
“As for next season, I know that Aron is totally committed to helping Manor Farm Football Club push on and try and win promotion to the division above,” Lashenko said.
New signing Ford commented: “I’ve known Laz for almost ten years now, and he’s made a few attempts to sign me,” said Ford. “The timing has never really been right, but hopefully now is and we can look forward to a good season. It looks like Laz is putting a strong team together and hopefully we can achieve our aim of promotion.”
Club captain Robbins also commented: “I want to win promotion,” Robbins began. “I have been at Manor Farm for a few years now, and I think that the club is in a great place to try and push on to the next level.
“We know that next season is going to be competitive. I think that Plymouth deserved to be crowned champions after their strong couple of seasons – and we know that they will be challenging us in the Southern League next season.
“Saying that, from the signings that we have made I can’t see many other clubs having as much depth as we have – and I’m really looking forward to being back with the lads for pre-season.
Bristol Manor Farm Football Club would like to welcome new signing Josh Ford and returning club captain Aron Robbins to Bristol Manor Farm Football Club.
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