Scarborough Athletic manager Rudy Funk ups the stakes in the Evo Stik Division One South

By James Grayson (Twitter: @jamesAgrayson)

Photo courtesy of Ryan Clark from ClarkHirstPhotography

Scarborough Athletic manager Rudy Funk has upped the stakes in the Evo Stik Division One South with five masterstroke signings.

And the influence of new assistant John Reed is starting to show.

Funk has captured four key players from North Ferriby United’s Evo Stik Premier Division title-winning squad.

Paul Foot, Steve Ridley, Chris Bolder and Ferriby’s all-time top scorer Gary Bradshaw make the move to Queensgate. The signings of Bradshaw is the standout one.

Bradshaw might be aging, but he is still a class act and his incredible goal in the recent Doodson Sport Cup final in April, shows the quality is still there. He will be an integral part of Funk’s side for next season.

He’s going to get 20 to 30 goals for Scarborough next season.

Foot was the captain of Ferriby’s championship-winning side and is an out and out defender who will make Funk’s defence solid – a key factor if Scarborough want more success.

Reed’s influence is in the signing of Ridley. Reed is the man who knows Ridley inside out from their days together at Stalybridge Celtic

Bolder is a solid midfielder with bags of higher league experience so another great signing for Scarborough.

Gainsborough goalkeeper Jason White is the fifth to commit to Scarborough, while Ferriby stopper Antoni Pecora, Ben Chapman and Danny Frost (Retford United) will have trials in pre-season.

Funk has now fired the official starting pistol. And it’s going to take something special from other clubs to match the calibre of players Funk has brought to Scarborough.