Treble transfer success gives Crawley Town boss so many options

Crawley Town are celebrating a treble swoop that strengthens their hand for the new League Two season.
Tony Craig in Bristol Rovers action - he will add valuable experience to the Crawley squad / Picture: GettyTony Craig in Bristol Rovers action - he will add valuable experience to the Crawley squad / Picture: Getty
Tony Craig in Bristol Rovers action - he will add valuable experience to the Crawley squad / Picture: Getty

Defenders Tony Craig and Archie Davies and midfielder Tyler Frost have all been recruited to add to John Yems’ options for the 20-21 campaign.

First to be announced was Frost, who has joined from Reading on a two-year deal.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He had caught the eye of Crawley’s management with 14 goals and nine assists for the Royals’ under-23s in 58 appearances in the Premier League 2.

The 21 year-old believes he is prepared for the transition to senior football, saying: “I had a brief spell on loan in men’s football so I’ve got used to it but this is the step I’ve needed, I’ve been waiting for an opportunity like this for a couple of years and I think it’s time to take that step.”

Yems’ assistant Lee Bradbury knows Frost well, having managed Havant & Waterlooville when Frost was on loan.

Frost said: “I think I’ll bring a lot of energy, I can get up and down the pitch, I like to think I can take people on and score goals, hopefully I can show that on the pitch this season”.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Crawley’s second signing announced last Saturday in a frantic day of news from the club, and their fifth of this summer, was Brighton defender Davies, who penned a two-year deal with an option of a third year. Davies was a product of Brighton’s youth academy and had a loan spell at Whitehawk before making his debut for the Seagulls in the Carabao Cup against Aston Villa last season.

A full-back who can also play in midfield, Davies describes himself as someone who ‘likes to get forward, but likes to get stuck in as well’.

This season will be Davies’ first in men’s professional football and he is keen to make the step up: “I’ve got some sort of experience playing against first teams, whether in the Checkatrade (Trophy), or the League Cup. I’m ready to test myself in the Football League.”

The third new face to be announced on Saturday was Tony Craig, who has joined from Bristol Rovers on a two-year deal. The veteran centre-back has plenty of Championship and League One experience, having played more than 500 league games, as well as making 300-plus appearances for Millwall across four different spells with the Lions.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

In a young Crawley side, Craig’s experience could prove vital for the Reds and he said: “I want to play week-in week-out when I come here but I like to give guidance and speak to the youngsters and if I can give them pointers and help them in any way then brilliant.”

Having spent most of his career in the second and third tiers of English football, this will be Craig’s first season in League Two since 2004-05, when he made 14 appearances for Wycombe.