BEWDLEY Town have kept a number of players from last season and bolstered their squad with a host of younger ones.

Joint managers Craig Payton and Brian Lacey have managed to keep a slew of faces from last season’s squad to ensure they have plenty of experience in the West Midlands League Premier Division.

With Tom Harper joining Rushall, experienced keeper Darren Steadman has stepped up to be number one and will also groom younger keeper Grant Morris, 20.

The attacking trio of Steve Holt, Chris Hough and Richard Burgess will also remain club, although striker Grant Joshua has joined league rivals AFC Wulfrunians.

Craig Webb, Adam Hazeldine, Alex Taffe and Craig Forbes are also staying on for the 2010-11 season.

The club have also drafted in a host of young players from the area.

Forward Dan Mason, defender Josh Evans and midfielder Tom Wassell have joined from Kidderminster and District League Champions Wyre Forest.

Youngsters Dan Flower, Ollie Smith, Joshua Pountney, Jason Little, Simon Rudd, Dan Downes and Will Woodhouse have also came on board.

Bewdley are also hoping centreback Ben Drew recovers from the knee problem that has seen him out of action for some time.

Payton said: “We’ve got a very young squad where the average age is 20.

“But we’ve kept the spine of the team and added a lot of exciting young players.

“I’m really excited about this squad because we have injected a lot of enthusiasm into the club.

“This season will have to be about bedding players in and a top six finish would be brilliant.

“Everyone in our squad is from Wyre Forest, it’s a local team and I hope everybody backs them.”

Bewdley step up their friendly programme at home to Alvechurch on Saturday (3pm kick-off), while Stourbridge pay a visit to Walshes Meadow on Tuesday night (7.30pm kick-off). On Tuesday night, Town got the better of Wyre Forest 3-0.

Former Bromsgrove Rovers and Stourport Swifts striker Burgess bagged a brace, while trialist right-sided player Sam Watkins bagged a third for Town.