Tom Champion signs

Former Barnet midfielder Tom Champion has today signed a one year deal, with Boreham Wood. Apologies for the headline, I thought it might get you reading!

The maligned midfielder had a ill-fated spell on loan at City last season, but a lack of fitness led to a lack of form, and unfortunately he received quite a barracking. Previously he helped the Barnet to the Conference title before helping Dartford to reach the Conference for the first time in their history. He was part of the Cambridge team that won promotion too, but a second move to Barnet eventually led to a loan spell at Sincil Bank.

After his spell at City he returned to Barnet and played most of the season for them as they pulled away from the relegation spots. Despite this he was released a few weeks ago, but he has now joined the Boreham Wood ‘project’, which I’m sure involves decent wages.

He told the Boreham Wood official site:

“The project that is going on at Boreham Wood at the moment is something that I really want to be a part of. I’m naturally I am delighted to get things sorted, it has been a long summer of deliberating things and I am just delighted to get it over the line and excited for the pre-season to begin. I think that the vision of Luke Garrard was a big part in me coming to the club, I have known Luke for a long time and kept up-to-date with how he was doing at Boreham Wood and how he’s worked through the ranks there and how well he has done.”

He went on to claim:

“I am 31, but I feel as fit as I have ever felt, I feel that I can bring some energy to the team and obviously a bit of discipline and experience as well.”

Now, I always thought he was a decent player but I sincerely hope he is far fitter than the player we saw at Sincil Bank, misplacing passes and looking slightly off method with the rest of the team. My opinion is he is still Football League quality, and perhaps had he not come in as we suffered a loss of form, he might even have been one of our transfer targets. Unfortunately sometimes things just don’t go your way, and once you lose the fans it is very hard to pull them back around. Boreham Wood manager Luke Garrard was is pretty pleased with himself though:

 “He is a big signing, a big, big signing for us. Conversations started in early May and we have been flirting with him and his agent throughout the off-season. He brings with him a wealth of experience, a leadership and an understanding of this level. He was promoted with Cambridge and he can occupy two positions, and very well at that, I think that he will bring quality to both.”

I know I might not be joined by many here, but I wish Tom the best of luck at Boreham Wood.