The club can now confirm the remainder of it's retained players ahead of the 2024/25 season.
Academy graduate Ollie Fraser has put pen to paper for the new season, after the former England U18 Schoolboys winger broke into the first team last season.
Assistant Manager Tom Rothery told the club website, "really pleased that Ollie has agreed to stay, I think last season he showed some glimpses and the loan at Ipswich Wanderers exposed him to more senior football and that is what he needs now to develop and both Kev and I really believe in Ollie and it’s down to us to manage him correctly and make sure he fulfils his potential."
Adam Mills, another former Academy graduate, is also staying at the club, having been one of few players to have been at the club from their step 4 league title win in 2015. Winger, 'Milzy,' scored two goals in as many games towards the business end of last season in his fourth spell at the club.
Rothery said, "Milzy staying is important for us as he is one of the few players within the squad that has experience at the level, we are going into so will adapt quickly. We know what he brings with his pace and intensity which is always important to how we want to play and hopefully plenty more celebration back flips to come. "
Winger Jacob Lay, who can also play in midfield, is staying for his third season at the club - notably scoring the goal to seal our 3-0 victory over Peterborough Sports in the 3rd Qualifying Round of the FA Cup last season, as well as netting twice in the same competition the previous season in our run to the First Round Proper.
Rothery added, "what a character, since we signed Jacob, he has really settled at Needham and is a massive personality in our changing room and has had two good seasons with us. I still think there is more to come, and we will be demanding more goals and assists from him as he has unbelievable quality and talent, but I think he will enjoy the challenge that faces us."
Attacking midfielder Tevan Allen is the final, but not least, retained player for the Marketmen, having netted ten goals in all competitions during his first season with the club, notably scoring a free-kick against Leamington in December, as well as netting twice in both the Emirates FA Cup - including a rocket of a strike against now league opponents Peterborough Sports - and the Suffolk Premier Cup.
Commenting on Tevan Allen putting pen to paper for the new season Rothery said, "Like all the boys we are so pleased that Tev has agreed to stay, and it was an easy deal to do again like all the players. Tev has enjoyed his time with us and for me he has been huge to the improvement we made last season. His quality and timing of runs really added to our forward play and he contributed hugely to the increased goals we scored over the season. I also really love that his personality is slightly different to much of the squad and his confidence added something on and off the pitch."
Striker Seth Chambers, who was top scorer last season with 20 goals in all competitions, will remain at the club - having progressed through the club's Academy, notably hitting five past Stowmarket Town enroute to retaining the Suffolk Premier Cup for the fourth successive season, scoring 10 in the competition.
On keeping Seth, Rothery said, "last season was a breakout season for Seth. 20 goals in the season contributed hugely to our success and watching him grow on the pitch was excellent to see and for me there is more to come. I think the step up again in levels will be interesting to see how Seth deals with that, but I have no doubt that he will thrive again, and I am excited to see where he develops to and so Kev and I are chuffed that we have been able to keep him."
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