Bates back in Amber, and Curran signs on

Cheshunt have announced the signing of defender Billy Bates from West Ham United, after a successful loan spell in the second half of last season.

Billy played youth football with both Leyton Orient and Norwich City before moving to West Ham in the autumn of 2020. Despite some serious injuries, including an ACL injury that saw him miss the whole of the 21-22 season, Billy became a mainstay of the Hammers Under 18 and Under 21 sides, and signed his first professional deal with the club in May last year.

Prior to his Orient days he spent time playing for the Ambers at youth level, and he played an important role in their survival fight after returning to the club in January, playing eighteen times.

Joining Billy is another defender, Taylor Curran. Taylor came through the ranks at Southend United, spending loan time at Braintree Town, before moving on to sign for Swindon Town. After a year and a half trying to navigate the Magic Roundabout he moved to Maidstone United, from where he came our way for the first time, via a loan spell at Haringey Borough. He played four times in yellow and blue, two wins and two defeats.

A loan spell with Welling United followed, and he moved to United permanently after leaving the Stones, before a spell in the Middle East.