Squad Starts to Take Shape as Kabeya Signs Deal

Grant Joshua's new-look Rugby Town squad has started to take shape as Nathan Kabeya joins the Club.

The 20-year-old right back has penned a one-year contract to keep him at Butlin Road until May 2026.

Kabeya, a former Lincoln City youngster, was a stand-out performer for Lye Town under Grant Joshua in the 2023/24 and moved to Coleshill Town with him at the start of last season.

Joshua said of Kabeya's signing: "I’m delighted Nathan has committed to a minimum of 12 months with the club.

"It’s a big deal for the club to conclude because Nathan is an unplayable individual when he feels comfortable and is in the right environment, I know this first hand.

"Lye’s first season at Step Four I would argue with anybody that he was the best right-sided player in the NPL Midlands that season.

"He’s really settled down and has a focus and a drive that the old Nathan had when I first signed him for Lye.

"He’s 20 years old and he’s at a club now who shares his ambition to move through the leagues.

"He’s excited by this move and that makes him happy and when he’s happy, the kid is levels above anything I’ve seen at Step Four never mind Step Five."

Other new faces who have agreed to join are versatile midfielders Harry Cunningham, Sam Tye and Paul Ibhadon, defenders Ethan Hanson and Bleu McNeil, and forward Sam Ellis.

Joshua is pleased with the deals concluded so far: "The recruitment drive shows no sign of letting up anytime soon and the level of player coming into the club is something that doesn’t surprise me.

"The club itself attracts a certain level of player and if you add a proven group of staff to that, it’s something that we won’t get wrong.

"We’re still three or four weeks away from pre-season so there’s no panic and we won’t be rushed into deals.

"The players who have already come in like Nathan, Bleu, Ethan, Harry, Sam & Paul are exactly the type of player we wanted at the football club.

"Whoever we bring in will be a top fit for the club, not only on the pitch but off it - we’re raising the standards of what it means to play for this football club.”

Tye has spent the last five seasons playing under Joshua for Lye Town and most recently Coleshill Town where he scored 11 goals in 47 appearances last season, including goals both home and away against Valley.

28-year-old Cunningham can play in centre midfield or down the left hand side and lists Sporting Khalsa, Chasetown and Shifnal Town among his previous clubs.

Left back McNeil did briefly sign for Valley back in 2020 but his spell was cut short by Covid. The 29-year-old played last season for AFC Rushden and Diamonds and has also featured for Newport Pagnell Town and Daventry Town in recent years.

23-year-old centre back Hanson joins from Stourport Swifts where he collected a Player of the Season award last season while Ibhadon, 20, previously played for Joshua at Lye Town

Forward Ellis, 22, played last season for Coventry Copsewood and has also had spells with Sutton Coldfield Town and Coventry Sphinx.

Meanwhile the Club have exercised options on defender Dan Summerfield and midfielder Ryan Sahota with winger Harrison Nee and stalwart centre half Liam Francis also agreeing to stay with Valley while negotiations are still ongoing with midfielder Chris Clements and forward Trey Charles.

Goalkeeper Paul Hathaway has retired and become the manager of Bolehall Swifts while the Hilton Arthur, Ethan O'Toole and MJ Semahimbo have left following the expiration of their contracts.

The Club made renewed terms to retain Caine Elliott and Josh Thomas but both players have opted to leave to play higher in the pyramid.

Young trio Bodi Thistleton (Burton Albion), Will Ronald (Northampton Town) and Finn Flanagan (Mansfield Town) all returned to their parent clubs after their loans ended.

Tyreace Brown, Jahvan Davidson-Miller, Kartell Dawkins, Micah Edwards, Ayo Lekuti, Jiah Medrano, Silvano Obeng, Robbie Paratore, Daniele Reka, Austin Sparkes and Lucas Stanley have also all left the club.