RUGBY Town boss Grant Joshua believes new striker signing Joe Palmer will fire the club back up to Step Four.
Joshua and Palmer reunite following a productive two-season spell at Lye Town.
The 22-year-old striker scored 48 goals during the stint which included promotion to the Northern Premier League Midlands.
The pair also worked together at Coleshill Town and Joshua believes Palmer’s arrival marks a pivotal moment in the club’s pre-season preparations.
Joshua said: “I’d like to start by welcoming Palms to the football club.
“There are pivotal moments in every manager’s pre-season when it comes to recruitment and targets — and this is one of them.
“We’ve landed our number one target, someone we believe can fire us back to Step Four and help take the club where we believe it belongs.
“He loved coming to the ground — he got that immediate sense of being part of a big football club.
“Joe was always going to hit a blip in his development at some point, and that came last season.
“I’ll hold my hands up and say the move he made last summer probably wasn’t right for him at the time. But this summer feels different — this move feels exactly right, both for Joe and for the club.
“This is a passionate, driven, fan-backed club. And this summer, Joe looks like he’s got a real edge about him.
“He’s come back hungry, and everybody loves a goalscorer with something to prove. I can’t wait to see him pull on the shirt.”
Rugby have also signed 30-year-old striker Curvin Sanderson-Ellis.
Sanderson-Ellis spent last season with Aylestone Park, Coventry United and Bedworth United and previously played for Sporting Khalsa.
The club have also signed two goalkeepers with 25-year-old Ben Newey and 19-year-old Marcus Bald signing on for next season.
Newey had a brief spell with Valley in 2021 before later featuring for Lye and Coleshill.
Teenage stopper Bald spent his first full season in senior football with Newport Pagnell Town last term.
Former Coventry youngster Adam Taylor has also joined Joshua’s side.
The 22-year-old spent the last few seasons with Midland Football League teams Central Ajax and Littleton.
However, key player Harrison Nee has decided to leave the club having originally agreed to stay on at Butlin Road.
Nee has been approached by another club.
And defender Dan Summerfield has decided to take some time away from football to concentrate on his career.
