Meet the Blues – 3

OLLY MILES – Striker/Midfielder
17 year-old Olly is in his second year in the club’s Academy scheme and was quickly signed on Bostik League forms last season. He was an unused substitute in the Blues match at home to Burgess Hill Town earlier in October and then made his first team debut against Tilbury in the Velocity Trophy when he scored a penalty when the Blues advanced in the league cup 8-7 on penalties after a 1-1 draw. Son of former Stortford striker Damon, Olly also played for neighbours Takeley in the Essex Senior League last season. He netted his first senior goal for the Blues in late November when scoring the first goal in a 2-1 win over Baldock Town in the Herts Senior Cup. Olly had made 27 appearances for Stortford and scored 4 goals by the end of last season.

LUKE CALLANDER – Striker
A very experienced striker, Luke joined Stortford for a second spell in early November 2018. He had previously played for the Blues in the 2016/17 season, making his debut in a 2-0 defeat at Bath City in January 2017 and going on to make 18 appearances and netting four goals by the end of that season with his first goal being scored in a 7-3 win at Ware in a Herts Senior Cup semi-final.
Luke’s football career started with Ipswich Town where he spent seven years. He joined Stanway Rovers in 2006 and was with the Colchester club until linking up with Heybridge Swifts in January 2010. Whilst with the Swifts he was top goalscorer in the Ryman Football League in the 2012/13 season notching up 33 goals. Luke transferred to Chelmsford City in November 2013 and had a short loan spell whilst with the Clarets with Witham Town. He then joined AFC Sudbury in March 2015 and in the following season, 2015/16, won a Ryman North league Championship medal with the Suffolk side. He eventually returned to Heybridge Swifts in May 2017 and by the time he left there to join Stortford he had become Swifts’ record goalscorer in senior football with 117 goals from just over 200 matches. Luke had, by the start of the current season, made 45 appearances in total for Stortford and netted 11 goals.

RYAN CHARLES – Midfielder
24 year-old Ryan arrived at the Prokit (UK) Stadium from Canvey Island in the summer of 2018. He is a skilful wide-man capable of scoring spectacular goals from distance. Nicknamed ‘Spider’ – Ryan bagged 10 goals for the Gulls in the 2017/18 campaign season including the winner in the Play Off Semi-Final against Bowers & Pitsea. Ryan’s previous clubs include Ipswich Town, Needham Market, Witham Town and Stanway Rovers. His Blues debut was as a substitute against Hitchin Town in a Herts County Charity Cup tie last August and he netted his first Blues goal in the 3-1 home victory over Carshalton Athletic last September. Ryan had made 40 appearances for Stortford and netted 11 goals by the conclusion of last season.

ALFIE MASON – Striker/Midfielder
Alfie was a member of the successful under 18s side that fought their way through to play Colchester United in the 2nd round proper of the FA Youth in the 2017/18 campaign. He scored twice in extra time when Stortford beat Boreham Wood in the 1st round. Alfie made his Blues senior debut when coming on as a substitute against Kings Langley in November 2017. He had a short spell at Thurlow Nunn Eastern Leaguers Coggeshall Town in the early part of 2018. He netted his first senior goal for Stortford when scoring against Slough Town in March 2018. Alfie had now made 65 senior appearances for Stortford and scored nine goals.