Robbie Williams and James Reid join AFC Telford

Defender Robbie Williams and winger James Reid today checked in as AFC Telford United's first summer signings.

Williams, 24, is a 6ft 5ins centre-back and joins from relegated Altrincham as the Bucks count down to their first season in the top tier of non-League football.

Left winger Reid, 21, arrives from Hinckley, where he scored 13 goals in 38 Blue Square Bet North games.

He started his career at Nottingham Forest and also had spells with Rushden & Diamonds and Lincoln City. Both players have signed one-year deals.

"James Reid is an exciting player and he's an excellent prospect," said assistant manager Darren Read.

"He's proved himself at this level with a short-term loan spell at Rushden and he's a really big talent. He got 13 goals last season and nine or 10 of those were from open play so he's not just a set-piece specialist."

On former TNS man Williams, he added: "Robbie comes with great pedigree.

"He's played over 100 games in the Conference Premier so he's established at this level and he's played for Wales under-23s.

"We've had to replace Liam Murray (who is emigrating to Australia) and Robbie is a big boy lad who's a threat in either box.

"He adds pace that we maybe lacked last year. He's somebody the gaffer (Andy Sinton) identified in the early part of last season but we couldn't get him because he was under contract at Altrincham at the time."

Chairman Lee Carter is delighted to have completed the first two signings of the summer. "These are a sign of things to come," he said.

"We are very busy and there are a lot of contacts we are pursuing.

"We've made a lot of calls and Andy feels it is important we see these players face-to-face before we sign them to make sure they are right for us."

By CHRIS HUDSON