Special Focus On The Football League Movers & Shakers!

By Sam Elliott

It’s been a record breaking summer - and we’re not talking about the World Cup or the weather!

We’ve seen a never-seen-before number of players swap the National League for the Football League over the past two-and-a-half months.

We’re proud to play a part in their progression, so to celebrate here’s a closer look at who has moved where and why they’ve rated so highly.

Our team have been through the summer signings and hope one haven’t slipped through the net!

Are there more yet to come? Well it wouldn’t surprise us. Let’s hope those who have made dream moves do us all proud in the EFL!


Morgan Ferrier - Boreham Wood to Walsall
One of the most talked-about players in the transfer window, the saga was finally over last Friday. Ferrier moved to League One where he could link up with ex-Tranmere forward Andy Cook in a powerful Saddlers attack.

Sam Finley - AFC Fylde to Accrington
The midfielder was captain of the Coasters last season and was a key player to their play-off finish. Finley signed a two-year deal at Accrington and is getting the taste for League football for the first time in his career.

Jake Caprice – Leyton Orient to Tranmere Rovers
Caprice played against the Rovers last campaign and returns to the EFL after over five years in Non-League football.

Theo Vassell – Gateshead to Port Vale
Another signing for Neil Aspin at Vale Park is Theo Vassell from Gateshead, who joins his old manager after leaving the Tyneside club.

Jordan Archer – Chester to Bury
Archer has been dreaming of playing in the Football League for a long time and now finally gets his chance to prove why, under Ryan Lowe at Bury.

Jonny Smith – AFC Fylde to Tranmere
After playing on loan at AFC Fylde last season, Smith has made the move to go on loan to newly promoted side, Tranmere Rovers from Bristol City to continue his development.

Emmanuel Oyeleke – Aldershot to Port Vale
After spending last season at Aldershot, the midfielder moves to Port Vale and hopes to lead the Valliants to League One football during his stay at the club.

Bruno Andrade – Boreham Wood to Lincoln
After a lot of speculation of Andrade moving to the Football League it was the Imps who won the race to sign the creative midfielder.

Grant Smith - Boreham Wood to Lincoln
It was always going to be a challenge for the National League club to keep hold of its best players, and that proved with goalkeeper Grant Smith also moving to Lincoln City.

Louis Dennis - Bromley to Portsmouth
After making over 100 appearances for Bromley, Dennis now looks to impress as his move to Fratton Park will be his first Football League involvement since 2014.

Mason Bloomfield – Dagenham and Redbridge to Norwich
The forward is highly rated by the Canaries and they have signed the former Dagenham man as one for the future, as he has immediately gone out on loan to Hamilton Academical of the SPL.

James Montgomery - Gateshead to Forest Green
The goalkeeper moves to the League Two club on a free transfer after his contract expiring at Gateshead.

Rhys Oates - Hartlepool to Morecambe
The 23-year old makes the step to the Football League for the first time since 2015 when he made nine appearances for Barnsley.

Harry Pritchard – Maidenhead to Blackpool
The winger was part of the team which won promotion to the National League and now moves on to the football league with the League One club.

Louis John – Sutton United to Cambridge
The England C international made 117 appearances for the National League side and now moves to League Two after signing a two-year deal at the U’s.

Mitch Pinnock - Dover to AFC Wimbledon
The England C international has moved to the League One side on a free transfer, but a tribunal fee is to be agreed in the future. The Dons are thought to have beaten other clubs to the signature of the former Arsenal trainee.

Josh Rees - Bromley to Gillingham
The Kent club have captured the signing of the 24-year old midfielder who made 43 appearances last campaign and netted 16 goals. Can he carry his scoring record over?

Jason Oswell - Stockport County to Morecambe
Netting 29 times for the National League North side last season, Oswell moves to the Shrimps and has signed a two-year deal with the League Two club.

Fejiri Okenabirhie - Dagenham to Shrewsbury
New Shrewsbury Town manager John Aksey has made striker Fejiri Okenabirhie one of his first signings after the 22-year old joins from Dagenham and Redbridge.

Michael Nottingham - Salford City to Blackpool
The 29-year old moves to the League One club after helping the Lions to winning the National League North last season.

Sam Barratt - Maidenhead to Southend
The 22-year old believes that he has got his “dream” to move into the Football League, after signing for an undisclosed fee.

Miles Welch-Hayes - Bath City to Macclesfield
Not many have stepped up from the National League South but the Silkmen have scouted Welch-Hayes properly.

Tom Crawford - Chester to Notts County
On the pitch things haven’t been going well for Chester but they continue to produce. Crawford is the latest to get a good move

WORDS FROM SAM ELLIOTT & AIDAN JONES

Where next?

Ricketts Ready For His First Wrexham BT Sport Screen Test If Sam Ricketts had a single doubt about how much the Wrexham public want promotion, it evaporated as he took his seat in the dug-out on Tuesday night.
The First Manager Is Gone Two Games Into New Season Lee Hodges has become the first managerial casualty of the new National League season - and there is already “considerable interest” in the job he leaves behind.

Match centre

Vanarama National League North
Vanarama National League South

Latest photos

Banbury United 0 South Shields 3
46 photos
Curzon Ashton 4 Banbury United 1
82 photos
Curzon Ashton 4 Banbury United 1
44 photos