Goalkeeper Punter signs for Chenery’s Bury Town

Bury Town have signed former Ipswich Town academy goalkeeper Nick Punter.

The ex-Kesgrave High School student, who was released from Ipswich as a 14-year-old, has been playing American colleges football in the USA for the past five years.

Manager Ben Chenery is still keen to bring in another goalkeeper to fight for the number one jersey, following loannee Alex Archer signing for lower-league Haverhill Rovers, but has been impressed with Punter.

“He’s had a few training sessions with us and played on Tuesday against Mildenhall and did well,” he said.

“He has been playing a good standard of American college football and is a good presence who is vocal and is a good signing for us.”

Punter, who played for Tyler Junior College in Texas and most recently, Clayton State University in Georgia in the Peach Belt Conference, the second tier of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, is set to make his Ram Meadow debut tomorrow (3pm) in Bury’s first home friendly, against Walsham-le-Willows.

The game against the Thurlow Nunn League Premier Division side will be a testimonial for Trevor Newman and James Tatham, who both recently hung their boots up after representing both clubs.

Chenery is set to name a strong side with a few triallists, including former Needham Market centre-back Darcy De’ath.

Bury, who lost their first friendly 2-1 at Mildenhall on Tuesday, travel to Haverhill Rovers on Tuesday (7.45pm) before hosting Braintree Town on Friday (7.45pm).

Meanwhile, the Ryman League fixtures were released yesterday with Bury beginning their Division One North campaign at home to Aveley on August 8.