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Ashford Victoria have announced the signing of goalkeeper Richard Coombes from Bliby Football Club. The 21-year-old stopper has put pen to paper and signed for the Vics after requesting a transfer from the Premier Division side and could go straight into the squad for Victoria's home league fixture with Brabourne this weekend.

Coombes was Bliby's first choice goalkeeper last season and helped the side to a third place finish in the Premier Division, and was also named man of the match as Bliby lifted the Ashford Charity Cup beating Lydd Town 2-0 back in April in the final at Homelands.

The former Kennington youth team player already has a good idea of what to expect at the club having  lined up against Victoria two-weeks ago as the Vics defeated Bliby Reserves 4-2 on the opening weekend of the season, and Vics manager Ryan Mills is pleased to have him on board.

"Richard is a very talented goalkeeper, up there with the very best in the Ashford Sunday League" said Mills on his new capture.

"We saw two weeks ago what he is capable of, he has great reflexes and is very confident handling balls coming at him from a height. He also has a massive kick on him and you couldn't ask him to be any braver".

Coombes stunned his new team mates by hitting the crossbar from a goal kick earlier this month in the fixture between Victoria and Bliby, and pulled off an incredible save from a Shane Jupp strike from 20-yards. Now Coombes has to challenge current Victoria number one Mark Bennett for the right to be the clubs first choice goalkeeper, something according to Mills can only benefit the team.

"It's extremely had to find a decent 'keeper at this level of football, but to have two at the club is great" said Mills.

"It's important that we have good, friendly competition for places in every position, including goalkeeper, and with the arrival of Richard we've got that now. And with the plan of starting up a reserve team in the next couple of months, having two quality goalkeepers is a must".

Mark Bennett has started the two previous league fixtures, keeping a clean sheet in last weekends 5-0 victory over Ashford Eagles, and now Mills has the uneviable task of choosing who to play in goal over the next few weeks.