Wanderers’ new coach Martin Stratford today confirmed that Vowden ‘is coming home.”Brad has played for Wanderers before and now he’s coming back,’ he said.
‘I’ve known him 20 years and, knowing that he hadn’t re-signed for First Tower, I gave him a call and asked if he’d consider coming to Wanderers.
I met and spoke with him a couple of times and he decided to join.’Stratford said that Vowden would bring a lot to the club.’It’s not every day you sign the Island captain.
He didn’t come because of me.
We spoke at length about the club and the set-up for the juniors.
He was really interested and asked all about the set-up and the juniors.
A lot of players wouldn’t even think of that.
‘He’s coming for the whole club, not just the first team.
Centre midfield is an important role and with the players we already have – and I think there may be a couple more signings coming too – things are looking pretty good.
‘We’ll have a partly new, and I hope very much improved, team but it won’t happen overnight.
It’ll take hard work and dedication from everyone but I’m confident that I’ll get that from this team.
‘I don’t want the prima donnas here, I want the players who are dedicated and willing to put in the work like I’m going to do – and I’m confident I’ve got the lads for that.’Vowden, who had keyhole surgery on his knee only yesterday, said that he had started his footballing career at Wanderers and had thought about seeing his career out with the same club.’Since Martin took over they started doing so well, and I am keen to help out in other capacities, not just playing.
I really enjoyed the Island Games – there were some Wanderers lads there and it was great to play with them.
‘The club has a really good junior and youth policy.
I hope that one or two others plaeyrs will sign this season.
It would be nice to end my career with Wanderers – and go out at the top and help the younger lads coming through.’Now 31, Vowden has quit First Tower after five years.
‘It’s a shame to leave.
It was nothing against the club that made me decide to move, they’ve got a good team.” But I’m looking to the later years of my football career and wanted to go back to the Wanderers and put something back into the club.
I’m looking forward to getting started again, and now the op has been done it means I won’t miss any of the season.
And I am very hungry to keep the Island team captain’s job and to lead the lads out for the island Games in Shetland.’
