Bury Town manager Ben Chenery has swooped to sign young Needham Market goalkeeper James Bradbrook, on a year’s deal from the Bloomfields club.

The former Ipswich Wanderers stopper is moving to Ram Meadow and will challenge current No.1 Neil O’Sullivan for the position between the sticks.

The Blues are starting their third successive season at Isthmian North – the league has been renamed Bostik North – and Chenery is keen to build competition for places in all areas.

“We have agreed for James Bradbrook to sign for the season,” revealed Chenery.

“It represents good progress for him, as he is looking to play, and I want two goalkeepers.

“He is a good young goalkeeper with good hands, who commands his penalty area well. The move is a good one for both parties.”

Chenery, who has already brought in Leiston winger Leon Ottley-Gooch and Bradbrook’s Needham team-mate, Ollie Fenn, added: “I want to strengthen in some more areas of the squad but I don’t want to make wholesale changes.

“I am looking at a few targets, but it is quite competitive around the area with Stowmarket, in the league below us spending money, Felixstowe, and then you have the likes of Leiston and Needham Market in the league above.

“We know we are not sitting at the top table from a financial point-of-view, but as a football club we are, in the way we can help players strengthen and further their careers.”

Meanwhile, the Blues have announced their pre-season friendly schedule ahead of the new season, which starts on August 12.

Bury will play five games at Ram Meadow, including against Ipswich Town’s under-23s squad on Wednesday, August 4.

The Blues’ other home games will be against Braintree Town, Leiston, Brightlingsea Regent and Needham Market.

Chenery’s side will also travel to three local Thurlow Nunn League opponents with trips to Hadleigh United, Ipswich Wanderers and Ely City.

All midweek games will kick off at 7:45pm apart from the game with Ipswich which will kick off at the slightly earlier time of 7:30pm. Admission prices will be confirmed nearer the time for all matches.