Glenn Pennyfather has bolstered his Chelmsford City squad.
Livewire left-winger Marlon Patterson, most latterly of Blue Square South rivals Bishop`s Stortford, has put pen-to-paper for the Clarets in time for Saturday’s away game at St Albans City.
Patterson, 26, is a pacey wide midfielder who has operated at left-back on occasions, and the City head coach was excited to welcome the former Millwall and Chelsea youth talent who will add to an otherwise depleted squad at Clarence Park. “He’s a player with a lot of energy and he’s another piece in the jigsaw which will offer our team more balance,” Pennyfather claimed. “We’ve been interested in him for a while and he was actually with us in pre-season but the necessary amount of budget wasn’t available at that time. Now we have him with us he’ll be an excellent addition to the squad.”
Beginning his non-League career with Crawley Town in 2002, Patterson moved on to Fisher Athletic, Carshalton Athletic and Billericay Town before settling down at Dulwich Hamlet.
He signed for the now merged Yeading in 2006/07 and competed in the FA Cup against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground whilst with the Ding.
His love affair with the competition would later continue as one of a handful of games for Histon in January 2009 included a debut in the FA Cup Third Round against Swansea City.
Six games in the Football League followed with Dagenham & Redbridge at the start of 2007/08 but that season was a nomadic time for Patterson, who went on loan with Welling United, Grays Athletic and Bishop`s Stortford (twice), with the Histon stay sandwiched between his spells at Woodside Park.
Upon re-joining Stortford in February 2009 he then remained for the rest of last campaign and most of 2009/10, despite trialling for Staines Town during pre-season.
Patterson also managed to fit in a period playing football on the continent and he will be welcomed by some familiar faces at Melbourne Stadium, having played alongside skipper Dave Rainford at Dagenham & Redbridge and Antonio Murray at Histon.
He will now fight for a regular place in the Chelmsford line-up as another previous winger, Ricky Holmes, seems to be building a reputation as a prolific striker.
