Prestatyn Town FC is delighted to announce that Chris Bennett, Connor Shackleton and James Hay are the latest players to extend their stay at the Motion Finance Stadium for the upcoming season.
Bennett and Hay were two of the breakout stars from last season – joining from lower league sides St Asaph City and Kinmel Bay FC respectively, and going on to prove that they belong at this level. Shackleton, however, is a former league winner with the Seasiders – featuring 18 times in the league under Gibbo in 2016/17.
Fireman ‘Jimbo’ Hay has been putting out fires on and off the pitch for years, and immediately looked at home after making the step up from Kinmel Bay last season. He was the engine room in midfield up until the festive period, before the returning Gibbo began to deploy Hay in a variety of positions across the back line. He performed expertly, and proved his value as a dominant utility player who gives everything for the team – something that has endeared him to the Town faithful.
Chris Bennett was voted Player of the Year for St Asaph City at the end of 2017/18, but few predicted that he would make the transition into the Cymru Alliance with such ease. Leon Field and Ryan Turner clearly saw the potential of Bennett, and when injuries elsewhere afforded him his chance – he never looked back. Producing MOTM performances bombing up and down the right side from a fullback position, the agile speedster proved he’s equally as adept in a forward position on either wing.
Shackleton, meanwhile, is a player who’s more than willing to do the often thankless tasks in midfield which maintain the pace at which Gibbo likes his sides to play. A league winner with top-tier experience, ‘Shacks’ proved in the second half of last season that he is often a key figure in and out of possession – intercepting and always being available to receive a pass from teammates under pressure.