BLOXWICH United AFC have made an impressive eve-of-season swoop to sign two former Walsall players.

Nick Smith and Alan Wilkes have both agreed to move to The Old Red Lion Ground as Michael Moseley’s side prepare for life in the West Midlands (Regional) League Premier Division.

24 year-old Smith came through the Walsall FC ranks but failed to make the breakthrough into the first-team despite being a regular for the reserves.

Spells at Tamworth, Telford United and Halesowen Town then followed for the attack-minded midfield man. “This is an important signing for the club,” said a delighted player-manager, Michael Moseley. “Nick is a player of undoubted quality and he has fitted in well with the rest of the lads.

“We’re a close-knit group here and he’s been made to feel welcome. He just wants to start enjoying his football again and we can give him that opportunity.

“His higher-level experience is going to be a big plus for us in the season ahead.”

Wilkes meanwhile returns to familiar surroundings having served the club in 2006.

The 18 year-old front-man’s prowess in front of goal alerted the attention of The Saddlers who took him on a two-year youth scholarship.

Having been allowed to leave the Banks’s Stadium at the end of last season despite scoring regularly for both the youth and reserve teams, he had a brief spell with Rushall Olympic before returning to United. “Alan is a natural goalscorer,” added Moseley. “We know what he is capable of and the opportunity to bring him back here was a dream come true.”

The Red Lions start the season with a home game against Tividale at The Old Red Lion Ground on Saturday (kick-off 3.00pm). “It’s nice to start at home,” said first-team coach, John Quilt. “We will be doing all that we can to make a winning start to life in the Premier Division, but we know that Tividale are one of the fancied sides.

“August is a busy month, with the matches coming thick and fast, but we have worked very hard during pre-season and are raring to go.

“We want to let make people sit up and take note that Bloxwich United AFC is back on the footballing map.”

For more information on the club, log-on to www.bloxwichunited.co.uk