Stratford Town wing wizard Will Dawes signs for National League side Yeovil Town
SCORING the goal that fired Stratford Town into the FA Cup first round for the first time will live long in the memory of Will Dawes, as the wing wizard moves on to pastures new with National League side Yeovil Town.
The Glovers have snapped up the former Cheltenham Town scholar for a five-figure undisclosed fee and the 21-year-old, who turns 22 on Monday and was subject to interest from two other National League clubs, becomes the latest Bards player to have made the breakthrough into full-time football.
Dawes knows it’s going to be a challenge making the step-up to the top tier of the non-league pyramid but is confident he can rise to the task at hand.
“I have loved my time at Stratford and I’m sad to be leaving but I cannot wait to see what the future holds,” he told the Herald.
“The jump between part-time and full-time is going to be massive and I’m hoping I’m up to that challenge. I feel like I’m up for that challenge and I cannot wait to get going.”
With Dawes living in Somerset, just 20 miles away from Yeovil Town’s Huish Park stadium in fact, the move to the Glovers was a ‘no-brainer’.
He joked: “My mother is happy to have me back home as well.”
Dawes arrived at the Arden Garages Stadium as a 19-year-old during the curtailed 2020-21 campaign and struggled for appearances, making just three league outings.
Persuaded by chairman Jed McCrory to stay for the 2021-22 season, Dawes enjoyed a new lease of life and became one of the stand-out players, making 45 appearances in all competitions and scoring seven goals.
So far this season Dawes has helped the Bards pick up nine points from their opening six Southern Premier Central games and signed off with a man-of-the-match display in the 4-2 victory over Bromsgrove Sporting on Monday.
So what moment sticks out the most for the former Tuffley Rovers and Coalville Town wideman?
Well, that’s obvious. “The Boston United replay in the FA Cup,” he beamed.
“They are memories that I will have forever. The moment that goal went in and being able to give the fans that big day out against Shrewsbury is something I will never forget.”
He added: “When I scored that goal it took me a while to realise what had happened and for everything to sink in.
“It was completely overwhelming and I could not have been happier to give that moment to the fans on that night, and they were brilliant on the day against Shrewsbury Town too.”
So what will Dawes miss the most? “I’m going to miss all the people,” he said. “I don’t think there are too many people like Ian Weaver in the game, he’s been really good to me. To be fair, everyone has been good to me as Stratford is a family club.
“Whenever I came here I felt at home and that was the case from the very first time I walked through the doors. That family feel is something I will miss.”
McCrory said Dawes’ move to Yeovil shows how the Bards take players in and help them ‘achieve their dreams’ of progressing up the pyramid.
He added: “When we signed Will everyone said he was too small but I could see he was tenacious and had a huge heart. Paul Davis released him but I brought him back because I believed he would become a league player.
“I am so happy for Will having had the pleasure of supporting him, encouraging him and yelling at him to believe in himself and keep running at defenders and shoot more.
"Thankfully, he did that against Boston and it was a wonderful feeling he gave the whole town with that winner that night.
"He will be missed by everyone at the club but I’m sure we will see him around.
"This is an undisclosed five-figure transfer that we received which we could not turn down, alongside not wanting to stand in Will’s way of progressing into full-time football.”
The Bards visit Cleethorpes Town in the FA Cup first qualifying round on Saturday (3pm kick-off).
