HAVERHILL Rovers have received a major boost this week with the news that top scorer Martin Westcott has turned down a big money move to local rivals Newmarket Town.
Westcott bagged 11 goals in 26 Ridgeons League Premier Division matches after returning to the club last season following a brief spell at Ely City.
The 31-year-old is in his second spell at Hamlet Croft and has said previously that he hopes to en
d his career at Haverhill.
“I enjoy playing at Haverhill so it was quite a simple decision,” said the popular forward, who has brought a physical presence to Rovers’ frontline.
“Things look a lot brighter at Haverhill playing-wise this year and some good new players are training with us.
“There’s no money here but that’s not the main issue for me.
“They are offering a lot at Newmarket but it would be a step into the unknown and they’re going to be no better than we will next season.”
Two injury-hit players could line up alongside Westcott during pre-season with Marc and Paul Abbott recovering well from injuries that made them miss most of last season.
Marc, Echo player of the season in 2007/2008, had a successful operation on Tuesday and expects to be running again in two weeks.
Older brother Paul, who has made just a handful of fleeting appearances since breaking his leg in the FA Cup third qualifying round against Kidsgrove in 2006, has been training well since pre-season began and could be in the squad to face AFC Sudbury in Rovers’ opening friendly on July 14.
Manager Peter Betts also expects three or four players to sign their Ridgeons registration forms this week to pledge themselves to Haverhill next season.
However, they will not be Luke or Andy Hughes who have left to join Heybridge Swifts and Braintree Town respectively.
Rovers will see Luke again soon when the two sides meet in a friendly at Hamlet Croft on July 30.
The first competitive fixtures of the 2009/2010 season were released at the weekend when the opening rounds of the Ridgeons League Cup were drawn.
Rovers will have to survive two testing trips to Essex if they are to progress to the second round.
They travel to Wivenhoe Town, now minus Julian Dicks, in the preliminary round (week beginning September 28) with the winning side having to travel to holders Stanway Rovers in the first round (w/c October 19).
n HAVERHILL Rovers Reserves will take on Felixstowe & Walton United Reserves in the opening round of the Chell Trophy.
The Reserves have also released their pre-season programme with some good local derbies to look forward to in it.
Thu Jul 23, Newmarket Res (a); Sat Aug 1, Haughley (a); Tue Aug 4, Sudbury Wanderers (h); Thu Aug 6, Hedingham Utd (h); Tue Aug 11, Whittlesford Utd (a); Tue Aug 18, Rovers Academy (sports centre).
