Ben Seymour-Shove says he has nothing but good words to say about Huntingdon Town after leaving the club to link up with former manager Ricky Marheineke at St Ives Town.

The 19-year-old forward scored 35 goals for Huntingdon in the Premier Division of the United Counties League last season with the team finishing second behind Spalding United and completing a trophy double under Marheineke’s successor Seb Hayes.

But now the player has linked up with Marheineke again after he was appointed the manager of Southern League Division One Central side St Ives following a spell as assistant manager at Histon.

“I want to thank everyone at Huntingdon Town,” said Seymour-Shove. “I have nothing but good words to say about the club and they way they treated me.

“All the lads there are top class and make it easy to play with them. Seb was great to me and helped me develop my game.

“I’m now excited about playing for St Ives and the opportunities that may bring. I can’t wait to get started. Working under Ricky will be good for me.”

Marheineke has now signed four players from his previous club. Having already signed defender Ollie Medwynter, the manager has also added Stuart Eason and Daniel Moyes. Those new players will link up with the majority of the squad left behind by former bosses Jez Hall and Warren Everdell when pre-season training begins on Tuesday, July 1.

“I am absolutely delighted to have Ben on board off the back of such an unbelievable season,” said Marheineke. “I believe it is the right decision for Ben to come to St Ives and it will help him develop.”

Two of St Ives’ players have made the switch to Godmanchester Rovers in recent weeks with Tom Meecham moving to Bearscroft Lane and Jason King returning to his former club. But Marheineke believes he has now strengthened the squad he was left with.

“One of the best pieces of advice the Histon manager Brian Page gave me when I was his assistant – about when times get difficult – was: ‘It’s not the players you lose, it the players you replace them with’,” he said.

Meanwhile, the draw for the preliminary rounds of the UCL Cup has been made and holders Huntingdon Town will host Newport Pagnell Town at Jubilee Park. The winner of that match will face the winner of the tie between Yaxley and Eynesbury Rovers. St Neots Town Youth & Saints will host big-spenders Holbeach United.