Newby is the new boy
17 Oct 2023 04:05
Published by:
Scott Callan
ALTRINCHAM pulled off a second exciting loan signing in quick succession after completing a move for versatile Colchester United midfielder Alex Newby.
Newby is the twin brother of one-time Robins favourite Elliot and he will be at the J.Davidson Stadium until the new year.
His signing followed hot on the heels of Gerald Sithole’s arrival from Bolton Wanderers on a one-month loan.
Manager Phil Parkinson moved quickly after injury blows to his National League squad.
Regan Linney won’t be back for a few weeks and Ollie Crankshaw is out for the rest of the season.
Newby has arrived with an impressive pedigree at Football League level after taking the eye for Rochdale and Colchester as a free-scoring winger who can also play in central midfield.
After starting out in Bolton’s youth set-up, he had spells with Barrow, Kendal Town and Clitheroe before signing for Chorley in February 2018 and enhancing his reputation as a crowd-pleasing winger with a penchant for scoring spectacular goals.
He won goal of the year in each of his three seasons at Victory Park, where he scored 24 times in 94 appearances and helped the Magpies to promotion to the Vanarama National League in 2019.
His prolific form earned him a move to Rochdale, in League One at the time, and he fully justified his two-year deal with a return of 13 goals in 82 outings before joining Colchester in July last year.
He was a regular for Colchester last season, scoring three goals in 34 appearances, and has played in two of the 18th-placed side’s games in League Two so far this season.
Phil Parkinson also added pace and versatility to his injury-depleted frontline by signing speedy 20-year old forward Sithole on loan from Wanderers.
Born in Ashford in Kent, the 5ft 11in attacker can operate on either flank or through the middle as the main striker and earned his move to Bolton last year after clocking up 16 League One appearances for Gillingham.
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