Wisbech Town FC find themselves a Friend

Wisbech Town FC boss Dick Creasey hopes the return of teenage striker Jack Friend will provide the goals that the Fenmen lacked last season.

Friend, 19, was announced as Creasey’s first acquisition of the summer after the youngster agreed a move back to his the club where he first put himself in the shop window.

Creasey said: “It was clearly evident that scoring goals was a problem for us last season, so hopefully Jack will help solve that.

“He is young, energetic and is a Wisbech boy. He ticks all of the right boxes for us and all being well he will come back a better player than he was when he left us as he has had some good coaching.

“We hope he can get back in the goals. He’s been here before and knows the club, so we hope the lad can push on again and get firing.

“It won’t be easy for him and he will need to work hard, but it would be great if the lad could get his career back on track.

“I’ve got Jack and I’ve lost out on another target in the last week, but that’s football.”

Last season, Friend made 27 appearances for King’s Lynn Town (12 starts), scoring three goals, during a loan spell at The Walks from Peterborough United.

Although King’s Lynn born, he is on the record books of Wisbech Town as their youngest first team player and their youngest player to score a first team goal.

Aged 16 years and seven days, Friend made his debut for the Fenmen from the substitute’s bench in November 2012.

Playing against Thetford Town, the youngster scored an 89th minute goal in a 4-1 win.

He made his debut for Posh Under-18s in October 2013 and started to appear for their reserve side the following season.

The former College of West Anglia student signed a professional deal with Peterborough in March 2015 before signing for Boston United on a season-long youth loan at the beginning of the 2015-16 campaign.

Friend was one of six players released by Posh earlier this month.

A return to semi-professional football also means the former College of West Anglia student is on the look-out for a full-time job.

“That’s the problem when a young lad comes out of the professional game,” said Creasey.

“Anyone who might be able to help provide Jack with a job should get in touch.”