Hungerford Town’s club captain Rhys Tyler has signed on for the 2024/25 season, which will be his eighth with the club.
Now 32, the right-back has played over 250 games for the Crusaders, making 30 appearances last season before injury ended his campaign early.
Chairman Cris Bowden was delighted, saying, “Rhys has been here for years. He’s a good person, full-stop.”
“He’s got good morals. He’s a leader by example. Everybody looks up to him.
“He’s as fit as you can get, going up and down that touchline, so it’s a really important signing.”
Tyler plays a big part in fostering a positive club culture, which Bowden describes as “a really united, energised, passionate dressing room where everyone feels comfortable.”
The full-back, who celebrated his birthday on Tuesday, is in his second spell at Bulpit Lane, having played for the club between 2015 and 2018, before re-joining in 2020.
The former Reading academy player took the bold decision to move to Germany at the age of just eighteen, joining Rot-Weiss Erfurt before moving on to Rot-Weiss Oberhausen in the German third tier.
His five year stay on the continent ended in 2015, when Bobby Wilkinson first recruited him for the Crusaders.
Tyler joins fourteen other players currently signed at Hungerford Town, as Danny Robinson’s side begins to come together ahead of a busy pre-season.
Last week saw the return of highly rated midfielder Louis McGrory, following a spell away at Gloucester City in the National League North.
Now 27, McGrory won the Manager’s Player of the Year in his last campaign with Hungerford, with his return a sign that things are surely moving in the right direction at Bulpit Lane.
Bowden said McGrory would be “massive” for the dressing room, whilst on the pitch he “could be the difference this year”.
The player told club media: “The gaffer has played a big part. His style of play, the way he goes about things.”
“We’re fully focussed on trying to get this club back where it belongs, back in the league above.”
Bowden echoed that sentiment, saying “that’s what we’d love to achieve. It’s not all or bust, but we want to challenge for promotion.”
A fortnight ago, Town also secured the return of striker James Harding, who last played for Hungerford in the National League South.
Robinson told club media how Harding “knows what it takes to score goals and win promotion out of this league. I am over the moon he has chosen to come to us.”
Harding, who was at promotion winners Chesham United last season, said how “the club’s ambition matches mine… It’s a great time to be involved”.
The club also announced it will hold its Annual General Meeting on Thursday 18th July at 7.30pm.
