Striker Styche extends his Gladiators stay

Martin Carruthers wasted little time in offering striker Reece Styche terms for next season.

Styche joined the Gladiators from Southern Premier Central Stourbridge a week before last season’s NPL transfer deadline in March, leading the line aggressively and netting three goals in seven appearances, his inclusion in the side coinciding with a great finish to the league season which saw the Gladiators win five of their last six matches and qualify for the play-offs.

The 33 years old Gibraltar international started out at Hednesford Town and between 2006 and 2009 was at a number of Midlands based clubs. In 2010 he moved to National League Forest Green Rovers scoring 35 goals in 107 games. Styche moved to Kidderminster Harriers in 2014 finding the target six times in 36 appearances and after some loan moves he joined Macclesfield Town. Then he was at Gateshead, Tamworth and Darlington before his move to Alfreton Town proved to be a successful one where he averaged a goal in every two matches. After leaving Alfreton he has been with Hednesford Town and Buxton before his switch to Stourbridge and scoring nineteen goals this season.

Carruthers wants Styche to replicate that scoring record from Stourbridge with Matlock.

“Reece came at a difficult time when we were struggling for form but he proved to be pivotal in our qualification for the play-offs. He’s got better and better and has scored goals. I feel we’ve got the nucleus of our side with the spine of our side being sorted with experience down that middle. He’s a key player for us and if Reece does what we know he can do, we’ll be looking at twenty plus goals from him next season.”

Ian Richardson