Introducing the 2024/25 St Ives Town First Team Squad
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Dan Wilks, Goalkeeper
Experienced keeper Dan started his career at Watford before moving up to Scotland to join St Mirren then returning South of the border to Colchester United from where he made his first venture into non-league at Maldon and Tiptree. He has made over 150 appearances at National League level with Welling United and Dartford and has joined the Ives from Billericay Town where he kept 18 clean sheets in 52 appearances last season.
Sponsored By: ADVANCE SECURITY
Paddy Casey, Defender
23 year old defender Paddy is another who joined the Ives in during 2022/23 season from Northern Premier League Midland Harborough Town. He started his career at Northampton Town Academy and since leaving the Cobblers has also appeared for AFC Rushden & Diamonds, Bugbrooke St Michaels and Cogenhoe United. Since his arrival the ever reliable Paddy has made the right sided defensive spot his own with a series of solid performances..
Sponsored By: JANET CARTER
Benji Mensah, Defender
A familiar face returns to quattro tech Westwood Road with the return of Benji. The 21 year old pacy wing back/winger enjoyed a very successful spell with Ives in 2023/24 season before leaving to join National League South St Albans City since then he has also appeared this season in National League North for Rushall Olympic and re-joins Ives on dual registration from the Pics. Italian born Benji spent his early development years in Northampton Town Academy before getting snapped up by Aston Villa. Signed by Peterborough United in 2019 the youngster made a handful of senior appearances before serious injury set him back and lead to the Posh releasing him at the end of his 2 ½ year contact.
Sponsored By: NIGEL HOWLETT
Jordan Williams, Defender
A virtual ever present last season Jordan is a 26 year old commanding centre back who joined the Ives in summer 2022 from Stratford Town. He started his career at Cambridge United before crossing the river Cam to enjoy two spells at Cambridge City. He then switched to Stratford for his first spell with the Bards. A move to Stourbridge followed before moving back to Stratford. Jordan was part of the Stratford team that played against league one side, Shrewsbury Town in a televised FA Cup first round tie in 2021/22 season.
Sponsored By: A & M INTERIOR PROJECTS LTD
Alex Collard, Defender
Alex brings a wealth of experience to Ives back line. He joins the club from Bedford Town where he skippered the Eagles to promotion back into step 3 having previously led Tamworth to the Southern League Premier Division Central title in 2022/23 season. He will be looking to make it a hat trick by leading Ives into the promotion places this season. Alex started his career at Aylesbury FC and Mursley, spending three season across the two clubs before making the short move to Aylesbury United. A year at Kempston Rovers was then followed by a four year spell at AFC Rushden & Diamonds before leaving to follow Andy Peaks on to success with the Lambs at Tamworth.
Sponsored by: CAMBRIDGESHIRE NON-LEAGUE NEWS @cambsnonleague
Johnny Herd, Defender
Johnny, 34, is a left back who joins the Ives from Peterborough Sports in summer 2022. He started his career at Southend United before being released in 2011. After a brief spell with Ebbsfleet United he then went onto make nearly 150 appearances for Bishop’s Stortford over a 5-year period. A move to St Neots followed before he made the move to Peterborough Sports.
Sponsored by: DC WILKS GLAZING & MAINTENANCE
Ethan Crearey, Defender
Promising young defender Ethan started his career in the Luton Town Academy where he spent his development years. On leaving Kenilworth Road he joined Dunstable Town where he has been an almost ever present since 2021/22 season. The 21 year old’s record with Dunstable suggests that he is also capable of scoring the odd goal as he has already proved in pre-season when coming up with the winner at Aveley.
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Aaron Smith, Defender
Aaron is another local lad who started his footballing journey with Mildenhall Town where his performances earned him a chance at Peterborough United. After a season with the Posh he was released and went on to join Ives local rivals St Neots Town where he was a regular for two seasons. He made a successful step back up the football ladder at quattro tech Westwood Road last season where he was an almost ever present. A very solid defender that can play on both right and left sides and also has a very impressive long throw in his armoury.
Sponsored By: JIM FREEMAN
David Adegbola, Defender
Right sided wing back David has been on manager Ricky Marheineke’s radar for a while having starred in Carlton Town’s run to the play offs in Northern Premier Division One East last season where as well as putting in some solid defensive performances he also chipped in with a few important goals. Prior to his success with the Millers the youngster had appeared with Radford FC in United Counties League. He comes to quattro tech Westwood Road eager to sieze the opportunity for another step up the football ladder.
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Jernade Meade, Defender/Midfield
Flying wing back Jernade has a fantastic pedigree. Picked up by Arsenal as an eleven year old. After eight years at the club he made his first team debut for the Gunners as an extra time substitute in a League Cup tie against Reading, his only other appearance for the North London giants being in a Champions League tie against Olympiacos. Released by the club at the end of 2012/13 season he left to join Swansea City where he was a regular in U21 side without ever breaking into the first team. After a loan spell with Luton Town he joined Spartan South Midlands Hadley before moving to Scandinavia for three years where he appeared in Swedish Superettan and Norwegian Division 1. On his return to the UK he had spells with Dartford and Hemel Hempstead Town. During his spell at Dartford he was called up to the Montserat nation team for 2022 World Cup qualifiers and has since made ten appearances for his national side. He comes to Ives after a successful spell in National League South with Tonbridge Angels.
Sponsored by: JANET CARTER
Ed Hottor, Midfield
Hugely experienced Ed is a Ghanaian midfielder who made three senior appearances for Italian side Triestina before joining AC Milan in January 2010. Whilst never making a senior appearance for the Italian giants in his six years at the club he had loan spells with lower level Italian sides Lanciano, Nocerina and Venezia. In January 2016 he signed for Inter Milan and whilst, as at AC Milan, not making a senior appearance for his parent club he had loan spells with Portuguese sides Athletico CP and AD Fafe before playing 2017/18 season for Maltese club Sliema Wanderers. Had a brief spell with Kettering Town in 2018/19 before joining Banbury United in November 2018 and moving to Ives a year later. He has quickly made himself a favourite with the Ives fans for his never say die attitude.
Sponsored by BROADGATE LEGAL
Michael Richens, Midfield
29 year old midfielder Michael started his career in the youth system at Peterborough United. During his period with the Posh he spent time on loan at Histon, Nuneaton, Whitehawk and Bishop’s Stortford before making two appearances in the football league for the Stevenage both during another loan spell in September 2014. He returned to the Boro as a permanent signing early the following year but soon moved on and spent time at Farnborough, Hemel Hempstead Town and Biggleswade Town before arriving at Kettering Town in 2017 where he became club captain and lead the Poppies to promotion into National League North making 84 appearances and scoring eight goals along the way. He also spent a brief spell in 2019/20 season on loan at Ives Southern League Premier Division Central rivals Nuneaton Borough. A natural leader he brings strength and stability to the middle of the park for the Ives.
Sponsored by: MAUREEN CLARKE
Greg Kaziboni, Midfield
Greg is an experienced midfielder, who joined the Ives from Nuneaton Borough during 2021/22 season. He started his career at Northampton Town making his football league debut against Gillingham in January 2011. After being released by the Cobblers, he joined Corby Town and then had two spells with National North league side, Brackley Town. He has enjoyed further spells at the likes of Banbury United, Tamworth, AFC Rushden & Diamonds and Stratford Town before signing for the Ives.
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Peter Abimbola, Midfield
20 year old midfielder Peter has joined Ives after being released by Northampton Town. Peter is no stranger to the Quattro-Tech Westwood Road as he had a loan spell for the Ives last season before being recalled by the Cobblers. He was then subsequently loaned out to Ives’ league rivals Bromsgrove Sporting. The Northampton born youngster is a product of the academy at Sixfields, and made his first team debut in a Papa John’s Trophy tie against Brighton in November 2021 and went on to sign his first professional contract six months later. During his time at Northampton, he has also enjoyed successful loan spells at AFC Rushden & Diamonds and National League Aldershot Town.
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Byron Lawrence, Midfield
Influential midfielder Byron has joined the Ives from last seasons title winners Needham Market. The Cambridge born midfielder started his career with Histon before being spotted by Ipswich Town where he spent the next four seasons but making just one brief first team appearance. He was signed from the Tractor Boys in September 2014 by Colchester United but similarly only made one first team appearance for the U’s before being released in January 2016. He moved into non-league with National League South Bishop’s Stortford and spells with Leiston, Dulwich Hamlet and Braintree Town followed before he joined the Marketmen’s promotion push last season.
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Evan Watkins, Midfield
Highly promising attacking midfielder Evan has joined Ives academy this season where he has made an immediate impact. Now training with the first team he has already earned himself run outs in a number of pre-season games and will be looking to force his way into the regular match day squad.
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Kobe Chong, Midfield/Striker
Exciting box to box midfielder Kobe has joined the Ives from Southern League Premier Central Division rivals Stamford. Birmingham born he spent his youth career in the academies at West Bromwich Albion, Kidderminster Harriers and in Italy with Seria A side Cagliari. On his return to England he joined Banbury United’s very successful side under Mike Ford. Moves to Redditch United and Sutton Coldfield Town followed before he was picked up by Peterborough United in August 2021. Since his release from Posh he has appeared for AFC Telford United, Alvechurch, Peterborough Sports, Barwell, Kings Lynn Town and Kettering Town.
Sponsored By: PAUL CLARK
Albie O’Keefe, Midfield
Highly promising, powerful midfielder Albie has joined Ives on an initial one month work experience loan from League One Stevenage where he is currently a second year scholar. He has already got plenty of under 18s experience with the Boro and will hope to become the latest youngster to successfully cut his teeth in adult football with Ives.
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Johnson Gyamfi, Winger
Italian born Speedy winger Johnson joined Leicester City as an eleven year old and spent all his development years with the Foxes before moving on to join Peterborough United in summer 2021. He spent two years with the Posh appearing and scoring regularly for the under 23’s. During his spell at London Road he also enjoyed successful loans spells at Boston United and Peterborough Sports. Since his departure from Peterborough Johnson has appeared for Corby Town and now joins Ives from fellow Southern League Premier Central Barwell.
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Johnny Edwards, Striker
Aged 27, Jonny is a striker who started his career at Peterborough United, and was in the same Posh squad as former Ives player, Conor Washington. After several loan spells in non-league, he joined Hull City after a successful trial with their under 21 squad. A move to Accrington Stanley followed before returning to non-league playing for FC Halifax, Maidstone United, Royston Town and most recently, FC Romania. Always a man with an eye for goal and a real handful for any defender Jonny ended last season as leading goal scorer in Southern League Premier Division Central with 31 goals.
Sponsored by: WATERWORX OF ST IVES
Silvano Obeng, Striker
Powerful striker Silvano has joined the Ives from Rugby Town but is well known to manager Ricky Marheineke from his time with ex Ives assistant manager Mitch Austin at Harborough Town. Silvano started his career in Kettering Town Academy before his college studies took him South and saw him scoring goals for Team Solent, AFC Totton, Brockenhurst and Winchester City. His return to the Midlands in summer 2023 saw him sign for Harborough where he scored three goals in eight appearances before moving on to Rugby in October. Very good at holding up the ball and a handful for any defender Silvano brings another option to Ives front line.
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Amaru Kaunda, Striker
Mobile striker Amaru enjoyed a highly successful spell with Ives last season and has since moved up the pecking order at League One Cambridge United where he has appeared in a number of first team pre-season fixtures and has also got into the squad for a couple of competitive fixtures. He returns to quattro tech Westwood Road on an initial one month loan spell to further develop his career.
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Jacob Dickson, Striker
Prolific youngster Jacob joined Ives reserves late last season and made an immediate impact scoring five times in his first five outings. He is now looking to convert that form into scoring goals for the first team on a regular basis.
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Sam Parker, Defender
Another youngster who has forced his way into first team reconning by virtue of his performances with the clubs reserve side. A promising young defender who can read a game very well and should his chance come along he will be very keen to grasp the opportunity.
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