FC United boosted by double signing ahead of Frickley trip

Manager Karl Marginson has bolstered his squad by bringing in a winger/forward and a defender from Northwich Victoria ahead of Tuesday night’s tricky trip to Frickley Athletic as the Reds look to record our seven successive victory.

Promotion-hunting FC United are now unbeaten in two months and have surged up to fourth place in the Evo-Stik Premier Division. But, never one to rest on his laurels, Margy is keen for the rich vein of form to continue by keeping his players on their toes. As a result, Margy has brought in extra competition for places by signing winger and forward Matthew Walwyn, a 22-year-old former Blackburn Rovers trainee, and Travis Gray, a 19-year-old former Stoke City youth team defender.

Although both relatively young, Margy believes their youth academy experience will stand them in good stead and Walwyn in particularly has already demonstrated he can deal with the pressure of playing in big non-league games. In May 2008, a 17-year-old Walwyn came off the bench to score two late goals for Kirkham & Wesham (now AFC Fylde) as they overturned a 1-0 deficit to clinch the FA Vase against Lowerstoft at Wembley Stadium.

Margy said: “Matt is a pacey winger who can score goals and Travis is a good defender who actually spent pre-season with us before pursuing football elsewhere but now he’s back. I’ve brought them both in because we’ve seen over the last few weeks what some real competition for places can do for our results. The players know that they have to be at their best every week or someone else will come into the first team. It’s a healthy situation to have and it’s good for the club.???

Walwyn isn’t available for the trip to Frickley and neither is Astley Mulholland, due to work, but Margy expects to have the rest of his squad to choose from. FC United have a good record against their hosts; with six wins, three draws and just one defeat since the two clubs first met in 2008. Whilst the Reds have been flying up the table, the West Yorkshire side have been struggling with just one win in their last six games. However, the Blues often provide a tough test on their own patch at the somewhat uncompromising Westfield Lane ground. They have only been beaten twice in their last 15 home games, both times by league leaders North Ferriby.

As always, Margy will warn his players of taking things for granted, especially against teams lower down the table. He said: “We have to be careful of the dreaded complacency. As good as the result was against Fylde on Saturday, it won’t mean anything if we make silly mistakes and throw points away. We’ve got two tough games coming up against Frickley and Marine and we have to make sure we keep producing our best every game.???

Frickley Athletic versus FC United of Manchester is this Tuesday at Westfield Lane. It’s pay-on-the-gate as usual. Get yourself to that football ground.