RUGBY Town have bolstered their squad ahead of the 2026/27 after confirming the arrival of six new players.
Ryan Boothe, Jamie Ashmore, Jake Wormleighton, Devonn O’Sullivan, Ben Richards and Jake Duffy have all made the move to Butlin Road.
Experienced striker Boothe joins Valley following spells with Shifnal Town, Bedworth United and Coleshill Town last season.
The 30-year-old has plenty of experience at Step Three and Step Four and scored nine goals in 14 games for Redditch United at the end of the 2024/25 campaign.
Rugby boss Grant Joshua said: “I think this signing has been on the cards for over five years.
“Ryan and I have had conversations every pre-season and I believe timing is everything in football and it’s the time to work together now.
“He’s shown an appetite to regain his best form and I will help him do that.
“Proven experience coming in the door with a point to prove that will only benefit us and he’ll handle the size of the club and the expectations no problem.”
Experienced defender Ashmore won promotion from Step Five under Valley manager Joshua at Lye Town in 2023.
The 30-year-old also won promotion from the United Counties League Premier Division South with Racing Club Warwick in 2024.
Ashmore has featured for the likes of Halesowen Town, Redditch United, Alvechurch, Barwell, Bedworth United and Highgate United during his career playing as high as Step Three.
He helped Northfield Town win the Midland Football League Division Two title last season.
Joshua added: “He’s a true leader with multiple promotions on his CV and I’m expecting Jamie to come in and be demanding of himself and the squad.
“Another one who can operate in two or three positions which will be vital for us.
“I know without even talking to him that he will do what’’s necessary on any given day and do the dirty side as well as the pretty side of it.
“We both know how each other work, both have huge respect for one another and it’s another natural winner added to the squad.”
Centre-back Wormleighton moves to Butlin Road following a long spell with Aylestone Park where he progressed from the club’s youth team to the senior side.
He enjoyed a spell at Hinckley Leicester Road in 2024/25 but returned to Aylestone as the club reached the UCL Premier South play-offs last season.
Joshua said: “He was an essential target of mine as he has attributes in him that we either lack or don’t have.
“Brilliant in both boxes, aggressive with and without the ball and he’ll be one that goes under the radar but will be paramount to how our season pans out, I believe.”
Young midfielder O’Sullivan will return to Butlin Road next season following a previous stint with Valley on dual registration from Stratford Town in 2023/24.
The 19-year-old went on trial at Coventry City following his loan spell at Valley and returned to Stratford before spending time on loan at Pershore Town, Highgate and Quorn.
He spent most of last season at Coventry Sphinx and ended the campaign at Hinckley.
Joshua added: “I think we can polish him up to be a very good signing for us in the immediate short term and over the next few years at the football club.
“”He’s a young local lad who made it very clear he wanted to come here.
“He’ll be given his head and then it’s up to him to really showcase his abilities.”
Towering defender Richards spent time at Bedworth, Redditch, Heanor Town and Shepshed Dynamo last term before ending the season at Nuneaton Town.
The 27-year-old previously played for Kidlington at Step Four and finished as the club’s top scorer in 2023/24 with 10 goals from defence.
Joshua said: “He’s experienced, offers us balance, physicality and chips in with goals from centre-back, which we didn’t have last season.
“It’s vitally important we improve how serious we are about defending and keeping clean sheets and I’m confident with the players coming in we’ll do that.”
Veteran midfielder Duffy completes Rugby’s spree of signings with the 37-year-old the latest arrival through the door at Butlin Road.
Duffy was named in the Step Four team of the season for three years in a row from 2021/22 to 2023/24.
He helped Stamford win the Northern Premier League Midlands in 2022/23 and then helped Harborough Town secure promotion the following season.
Duffy briefly played for Valley’s rivals Rugby Borough last term before returning to Stamford as he helped the latter side secure their Step Three status.
Joshua added: “We’re nearing the conclusion of our business for the summer and getting someone for the role that Jake excels in has been hard work, but we’ve remained patient until we found the right fit for our club.
“Jake possesses everything I want in a player who plays that role, he has huge character and personality.
“We never replaced Greg Tempest last season and I am honest enough to say that fell on me – I couldn’t get the player I wanted in and it killed us.
“It’s a role of paramount importance in the way we want to play.
“Jake is coming in as a serial winner, a leader, he has outstanding technical ability and the club will fit him like a glove.”
