NON-LEAGUE FOOTBALL: Lithuanian star signs for Huntingdon Town and more continental captures could follow
New Huntingdon Town signing Donatas Petrauskas with manager Bob Warby (left) and chairman Doug McIlwain (right). Picture: LIAM FURNELL - Credit: Archant
Huntingdon Town have signed a former international footballer to boost their bid to climb the United Counties League Premier Division table.
The club have finally been granted international clearance to field Lithuanian midfield ace Donatas Petrauskas - and the 32-year-old could make his debut tonight (Wednesday) when Town entertain Eynesbury Rovers in a Hunts Senior Cup quarter-final, 7.45pm.
Petrauskas, capped once by his country at youth level and a former top-flight title winner in his homeland, moved to the Huntingdon area in the summer and has been training with the club since August.
“This signing has been a long time coming,” said delighted Town boss Bob Warby. “Donny actually put pen to paper at the end of August, but because of the crazy timescale for gaining international clearance and the relentless UCL fixture schedule, he has missed 11 games while waiting to be able to play for us.
“But he will provide a real injection of quality and he has already proved he has a rare trait in footballers - loyalty - by turning down an approach from St Ives Town a few weeks ago.
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“Donny also brings professionalism, commitment and energy to my squad and they can only be good things.
“The other lads already love him and he has shown plenty of flashes in training of why he made it in the professional game.
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“Finally getting him on the pitch should now give us a real lift and he will be in the squad tonight.
“I must thank our chairman, Doug McIlwain, and secretary, Russell Yezek, for making it happen.”
Huntingdon are also awaiting international clearance for two more overseas signings.
Full-back Rytis Pilotas is another Lithuanian star. He has won three league titles in his homeland where he is a former young player of the year.
John Junior Boateng is a 19-year-old striker from Italy who was recommended to Warby by a local coach.
Town certainly need a boost after dropping to the bottom of the UCL Premier Division in recent days.
They’ve also suffered seven successive league defeats, the last of which was a 7-1 reverse at Leicestershire side Oadby Town last Saturday.
