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Harleston Town manager Matt Halliday delighted to bring in Max Willett from Framlingham Town and Sheringham defender Shane Cox




A busy summer of incomings at Harleston Town has continued with additions at both ends of the pitch.

Young striker Max Willett has agreed to link up with Matt Halliday’s side following a goal-laden period with Framlingham Town, while the experienced Shane Cox has come in from Sheringham, where he previously worked alongside the Harleston boss.

Willett will arrive at Wilderness Lane having won the Thurlow Nunn League First Division North’s Golden Boot in each of the last two seasons, while his goal tally across the previous three campaigns with the Castlemen stands at 107.

Max Willett has joined Harleston Town after scoring more than 100 goals for Framlingham Town Picture: Mark Bullimore
Max Willett has joined Harleston Town after scoring more than 100 goals for Framlingham Town Picture: Mark Bullimore

“Max has scored plenty of goals and so there was a lot of interest in him this summer,” said Halliday.

“He feels ready to make the step up now and we’re absolutely delighted that he’s decided to do it with us.

“He’s a player that the club and myself have admired for some time.

“We needed some support for our frontline to help Nathan Stone and Spencer Cawcutt, who have been brilliant for us. Max gives us some really good depth and competition in forward areas.”

Halliday also harbours no concerns over Willett’s ability to produce the goods in the Premier Division.

He added: “Maybe it will take him a little bit of time, but we’ll support him and he’s certainly got the confidence to hit the ground running.

“We don’t want him to do anything differently to what he’s been doing so well at Framlingham.

“We’ve got some tough friendlies this summer and that will help him to acclimatise to how we play as a team and how I manage.

“He’s rightly got plenty of confidence, he’s full of energy and he’ll get plenty of support from us as a group.”

Cox, meanwhile, is well known to Halliday. The centre-back captained Halliday’s Sheringham to the North Division title in 2021/22 when they finished two points better off than runners-up Harleston.

But after a decade and more than 350 appearances with the Shannocks, Cox has been reunited with Halliday.

“He’s a winner, he’s someone I’ve known for a long time and someone that I trust,” said Halliday.

“In the nicest way possible, he’s a defender first and foremost. He’s a no-nonsense defender but he’s also excellent with the ball and can play intricate passes. We lacked a bit of leadership at the back last season and Shane will give us some stability.

“He’s been the stand-out player at Sheringham and has now decided to try something a bit different.

“He’s been fantastic so far in training and we’re very pleased to have him on board.”

The signings of Willett and Cox have taken the number of incomings at Harleston this summer to six, with Halliday hopeful of adding one more player before the new season starts later this month. Meanwhile, Harleston’s pre-season friendly schedule will get under way on July 2 against Gorleston.



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