Forest Green Bring in Hickford

Turning 20-years-old yesterday, Hickford can play as a defender or midfielder, had loan spells at Chelmsford City, Torquay United, Dagenham & Redbridge and Hemel Hempstead Town last season.

Milton Keynes-born, Hickford joined the Dons youth academy at the age of 10 and signed a new deal at Stadium MK last summer, but leaves having been unable to break into the first-team who we’re promoted to the Championship in 2014/15 and relegated back to League One last season.

Manager Mark Cooper said: “Harry is a big, mobile lad who can play anywhere at across the back or midfield.

“He's a very good player and just because he didn’t break into MK Don’s first-team as a 19-year-old, while they were in the Championship, doesn’t mean he’s not a very good player.”

Cooper said he had made the strategic decision to develop a group of young players – both via recruitment and through the academy – who will gain experience throughout the season and have every chance of becoming first-team regulars.

“Rather than go out and sign loan players to make up the squad through the season, we decided we should develop our own players, who will get their chance within the first team squad.”

Hickford spent a month on loan at Torquay United last September during their difficult start to the 2015/16 National League season and earned plaudits during the two full games he played against Lincoln City and Woking FC.

While he wasn’t utilised during his month loan spell at Dagenham in League Two in January, Hickford was an important recruit for Hemel Hempstead from mid-February onwards as he helped the National League South side make a late charge into the play-off positions as they rose from eleventh to fifth in the table, before a final day loss to Whitehawk FC scuppered their top five ambitions.