10th tier club praised after impressive signings of two former EFL players

10th tier club Clay Cross Town have been praised by fans after making several impressive signings of two former EFL players.

Nathan Tyson comes into the club, just weeks after Craig Westcarr signed for them among a number of other players boosting the squad’s potential.

They will be playing in the United Counties League Division One for 2024/25 after finishing the 2023/24 Northern Counties East League Division One 16th out of 23 teams.

🏰 Clay Cross Town Fc 🏰

The one and only Nathan Tyson 🕺

No more words needed ❤️🔥🔥🔥#Claycross #Derbyshire #ucl pic.twitter.com/8DswBU8wfJ

— Clay Cross Town FC (@claycrosstownfc) June 12, 2024

🏰 𝐂𝐋𝐀𝐘 𝐂𝐑𝐎𝐒𝐒 𝐓𝐎𝐖𝐍 𝐅𝐂 🏰

🙏🏼 – ᴛʜʀɪʟʟᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴀɴɴᴏᴜɴᴄᴇ ꜱᴛʀɪᴋᴇʀ 𝐂𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐠 𝐖𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐫 ᴀɴᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ɢʀᴇᴀᴛ ꜱɪɢɴɪɴɢ ꜰᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʀᴏꜱꜱ, ᴄᴀɴɴᴏᴛ ᴡᴀɪᴛ ᴛᴏ ꜱᴇᴇ 𝐂𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐠 ɪɴ ᴀ #𝐂𝐋𝐀𝐘𝐂𝐑𝐎𝐒𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐖𝐍𝐅𝐂 ᴋɪᴛ 👏✍️#claycrosstownfc pic.twitter.com/mIAZbDKgKc

— Clay Cross Town FC (@claycrosstownfc) June 2, 2024

Clay Cross Town’s secretary, Dave Clarke, described the club’s new recruits as “some nice new signings”, as per Derbyshire Times.

“We’re keeping the nucleus of the team from last year who did us really proud with stretched resources. But we’ve introduced these new players now, and some ex-professionals who are hopefully going to be mentors for the younger players who we’ve got coming through.

“Hopefully, Nathan and Craig will deliver for us.”

Nathan Tyson was impressed with the club having a “good project” which tempted him in.

“I hope to bring plenty of experience. I’ve played way over 600 professional games, and not only that some enjoyment to the team.

“I’ll hopefully bag a few goals and assists as well but at the end of the day I just want to go out and enjoy my football. As long as I can help the team to win games and put a smile on my face then I’m more than happy.

“I know one or two of the players already, and I know their calibre and I know what they bring. Hopefully that will bring out the best in me and I’ll get the best out of them as well.

“I’m looking forward to meeting the rest of the lads and getting started. I know pre-season is just around the corner so it’s time to dust off the running shoes.”

Tyson, 42, had recently felt sad at seeing Long Eaton United relegated, the team get had been playing part-time for. He wasn’t sure if he would continue playing as he was busy with other things. But it seems he loves the game so much that he can’t end his 22 year playing career.

Westcarr spoke in 2023 about his exit from Hucknall Town, see more HERE.

The club are undergoing plenty of changes around the ground, with thanks to investment and a grant from the FA, new changing rooms, a new clubhouse and bar, fencing around the pitch, signs, car park, an fun outdoor area having previously had a tough time. Now they hope they can bring more fans through the turnstiles with these new additions to the playing squad. See more HERE.

⏪ 𝗢𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟭𝟮 ⏪

📅 Sunday, March 25, 2012
🏟️ Wembley Stadium
🏆 Johnstone’s Paint Trophy Final
🆚 Chesterfield 2-0 Swindon Town
⚽️ Oliver Risser (OG) & Craig Westcarr#Spireites | #OnThisDay pic.twitter.com/CgyJTbXnyy

— (C)hesterfield FC (@ChesterfieldFC) March 25, 2023

WESTCARR’S CAREER:

Youth career
Nottingham Forest

Senior career
2001–2005 – Nottingham Forest – 26 games (1 goal)
2004–2005 → Lincoln City (loan) – 6 games (1 goal)
2005 → Milton Keynes Dons (loan) – 4 games (0 goals)
2005–2006 – Cambridge United – 34 games (8 goals)
2006–2009 – Kettering Town – 102 games (23 goals)
2009–2011 – Notts County – 104 games (25 goals)
2011–2013 – Chesterfield – 61 games (14 goals)
2012–2014 – Walsall – 72 games (22 goals)
2014–2015 – Portsmouth – 37 games (7 goals)
2015–2016 – Mansfield Town – 27 games (4 goals)
2016 → Southport (loan) – 11 games (2 goals)
2016–2018 – Alfreton Town – 75 games (24 goals)
2018 – Kettering Town
2018 – Boston United
2018–2019 – Matlock Town
2019–2020 – Grantham Town
2020–2021 – Newark
2021-2024 – Hucknall Town

International career
England U15
2000 – England U16
2001 – England U17
2002 – England U18

Lovely bit of FA Cup-Specific #OnThisDay from @NFFC.

They beat City 3-0, including an absolute cracker from Nathan Tyson! 🚀 pic.twitter.com/b7mDXylTy7

— Football Ramble (@FootballRamble) January 3, 2019

TYSON’S CAREER:

Youth career
Reading

Senior career
1999–2004 – Reading – 38 games (1 goal)
2001 → Maidenhead United (loan) – 8 games (3 goals)
2001 → Swansea City (loan) – 11 games (1 goal)
2002 → Cheltenham Town (loan) – 8 games (1 goal)
2004–2006 – Wycombe Wanderers – 87 games (44 goals)
2005–2011 – Nottingham Forest – 211 games (42 goals)
2011–2013 – Derby County – 41 games (5 goals)
2013 → Millwall (loan) – 4 games (0 goal)
2013–2014 – Blackpool – 10 games (3 goals)
2013–2014 → Fleetwood Town (loan) – 5 games (0 goals)
2014 → Notts County (loan) – 10 games (0 goals)
2014–2016 – Doncaster Rovers – 80 games (21 goals)
2016–2017 – Kilmarnock – 18 games (0 goals)
2017–2019 – Wycombe Wanderers – 54 games (9 goals)
2019–2020 – Notts County – 16 games (1 goal)
2020 → Chesterfield (loan) – 6 games (3 goals)
2020–2022 – Chesterfield – 26 games (3 goals)
2022 → Alfreton Town (loan)
2022–2023 – Grantham Town
2023 – Ilkeston Town
2023 – Long Eaton United
2023 – Basford United

International career
2003 – England U20 – 1 game (2 goals)

This is how fans reacted on Twitter with the 10th tier club praised after the impressive signings of two former EFL players…

@sambingham2708: Gone from not a pot to piss in, can’t get a home game on for 8 months. To having Craig Westcarr & Nathan Tyson upfront. If that isn’t a complete 360 I don’t know what is 😂😂😂 up the cross!!

@jackdakin8: Bet you his Wikipedia page is rammed with clubs now

@theWycombeWay: Where on earth is Clay Cross and when does their pre-season begin?

@cain_cfc: Up the cross

@mattlounds_: What

@jimmybarry1994: Money talks Babi

@RyanWhite1612: Welcome to the club

@Fatlad24: welcome craig from all the @claycrosstownfc family. ⚽️⚽️⚽️

@TonyBennet53462: Some rayt signings, cash injection??

@Liam849071: Lad who backed shirebrook last season now at cross.

@Steaky82: Have you boys won the euro millions. When you announcing shirebrooks old gaffer as manger?

@RussWWFC: Ex #Chairboys news, great signing for them.

@jordylemon92: Westy!! 😍🙌🏼

@MrWard_: Jesus I can’t believe he’s still playing, scored some bangers for Kettering back in the day. What a player!

@jamieyorkie96: All the best @craig20naps best player ever after JP 🤣🤣 good luck mate

@marshall89_alex: Box to box midfielder my arse. Not a chance

@dom2004: Nice one @craig20naps

Mike Collins: Good luck Nathan. Hope you guys get promoted at end of the season.

Desree Watson: Welcome to Clay Cross Town Football Club. The Millers/Official you’ll love it 🥰

TJ Smith: Huge signing

AJ Mace: Great signing

Wayne Clarke: Love it great signing

Aaron Parkin: 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

Nigel Wright: Fantastic signing

Your welcome anytime 👋

— Clay Cross Town FC (@claycrosstownfc) June 12, 2024

Some Boy 🙌🏻❤️ https://t.co/pYD73puCqs pic.twitter.com/ApJfw1wdcJ

— Cieron Keane (@CieronKeane) June 12, 2024