Marlow sign manager's son Rio as confidence and competition for places grows

Marlow were beaten 2-1 in a pre-season friendly by Burnham on Saturday. Photo: Burnham FC

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Marlow are assembling a squad they believe will be capable of challenging for promotion from the Southern League Central Division next season, and one of their latest summer recruits is the manager Mark Bartley’s son Rio.

Aged 17, Bartley feels his son is now ready to come into the fold at Oak Tree Road, having performed well for Aldermaston last season.

The manager said the midfielder is still learning the game but hopes he will continue to progress under his stewardship.

Rio was one of three more signings the club announced over the weekend, with former player Toby Raggett and Lewis White also signing up for what promises to be an exciting 2025/26 campaign.

On Rio’s arrival, Bartley said: “He’s still learning the game and will get experience at a lower step when the season kicks off to support that.

“Judging by his rate of progress over the last year, I know he will play his part for us when called upon.”

Raggett has also shown he can perform for Marlow, having played a key role in their promotion season. He knows the club and the level at step 4 and Bartley will be confident he can score and assist plenty of goals next season.

Bartley posted: “Great news to have Toby back on board for the season.

“What I know we're getting this season is a fully fit and focused Toby and in a system that will get the best out of him. I honestly can't wait to watch him go this year.”

Lewis White is a 24-year-old defender who has been playing for Tiverton Town but has had a lengthy spell on the sideline through injury.

He said: “It’s been a tough period out with injury and one I wasn’t sure I’d be back from but buzzing to be back playing and to sign for Marlow FC this year.

“Appreciate everyone who has stuck by me.”

Bartley added: “Lewis has been fantastic since the first day of preseason training and has shown his quality in the games so far.

“He's one that I know will get stronger as pre-season progresses, so I am delighted to have him on board.”

The Blues are piecing together a squad of players which looks like it may be strong across all areas of the field at step 4, having retained several of their key performers from last season and added plenty of quality to it.

The Blues will first have to shake off the losing mentality they developed at step 3 last season, with Bartley’s side never really threatening to lift themselves out of the relegation zone as they finished bottom with only five victories to their name all season.

The squad that had won promotion the previous season was plundered of its best talent by local rivals while injuries also played their part as the squad struggled to settle and adapt to life in the Southern League Premier South.

However, Bartley will be hoping those players that experienced it will be better off for their struggles last season, and he’ll be expecting them to be much more competitive having dropped down a division over the summer.

So far, they’ve signed former Holyport front man Kickie Dzimba, goalkeeper Ryan North - who joins from Slough’s development team having played at Leverstock Green last season - 21-year-old defender Pelumi Maxwell, midfielder Ezekiel Williams, and the 25-year-old winger Cheyce Grant who played for Beaconsfield Town in the Southern League Central Division last season.

Those retained from last season’s squad include top scorer Naheer Nawaf, club captain Chris Ovenden, midfielder Josh Masters and striker Mitch Parker.

The Blues played their latest pre-season friendly in hot conditions at Burnham on Saturday with the hosts claiming a 2-1 win thanks to goals from Shyon Dennis and Deluxe Mwengula.