A FORMER Vauxhall Motors striker will spearhead Chester FC’s charge for a second successive promotion.
Mark Reed, 29, from Ellesmere Port, has become one of nine new arrivals at the Exacta Stadium over a summer in which Neil Young has totally overhauled his title-winning squad.
Reed knows Chester’s manager well and snapped Young’s hands off when he offered him the chance to sign for the Blues from Derbyshire-based league rivals Buxton.
He said: “I’m absolutely delighted to join Chester and the move has really come at a good time for me.
“My wife is due to give birth in the summer and, living in Ellesmere Port, the travelling to Buxton just wouldn’t have been feasible.
“I’d heard through the grapevine that Chester were interested and I’m familiar with Neil due to our time together at Cammell Laird.
“I was looking to move and to get the chance to join Chester was something that I just couldn’t turn down. They are an amazing club.”
Reed will face fierce competition for a starting berth as Young also has forwards of the calibre of Michael Wilde, Chris Simm and Jamie Rainford at his disposal.
But Reed has every reason to feel confident about forcing his way into Chester’s starting line-up because of his proven record in the Evo-Stik League Premier Division.
The hitman scored 27 times in 52 appearances last season and a formidable return of 191 goals in 317 games makes him Buxton’s all-time leading scorer.
Reed said: “We have some real quality in terms of striking options at the club and it will be tough to get the starting nod.
“My focus for this term is to make sure that I work as hard as I can during the season and take my chance when it comes.
“If I can continue to score goals then I’ll leave the manager with a real selection headache.”
Reed is likely to be involved when Chester welcome Tranmere Rovers’ first team to the Exacta Stadium this Tuesday for their opening pre-season friendly.
The PE teacher, who works at The Mosslands School in Wallasey, cannot wait for the season to kick-off.
Reed said: “It has been really exciting watching the manager assemble such a quality squad over the past month or so and we’ll have the quality to be battling at the top of the table.”
