Boreham Wood have added to their squad with the loan signing of winger Ben Whitfield from Barrow AFC. The short-term deal will see the experienced attacker at Meadow Park until the middle of December.
Whitfield arrives with a wealth of National League and EFL experience, having made over 300 appearances across the two divisions. The West Yorkshire-born player came through the academy at Bradford City before beginning his senior career with AFC Bournemouth in 2014. He has since played for clubs including Port Vale, Torquay United, Stockport County and Barrow, winning multiple Player of the Year awards during his time at Kidderminster Harriers and Torquay.
Manager Luke Garrard was clear about what the 30-year-old brings to a side currently sitting first in the National League with 17 points from seven games. "Really happy to get Ben signed," Garrard told the club's website. "He is someone that over the years of me being a manager he’s been a constant thorn in our side with his trickery and qualities in the final third of the pitch."
Garrard highlighted that Whitfield's recent form includes scoring 2 goals in his last 5 appearances for Barrow, and he is expected to contribute significantly to the team's goal minutes. The manager said Whitfield will add competition on the forward line and comes with valuable experience. The player trained with his new teammates immediately and has already settled in, something the manager called a great indicator for the group.
Whitfield himself expressed his enthusiasm for the move. "It’s great to be here," he said. "Speaking to the gaffer and having played against his teams, he’s someone I really want to work for."
The signing bolsters a Boreham Wood attack that has scored 17 goals so far this season, contributing to an unbeaten run of five matches. Fans can check the full upcoming schedule, which includes a key fixture against promotion rivals Harrogate Town, on the club's fixtures page. Whitfield will be hoping to make his debut soon as the Wood look to maintain their one-point lead at the top of the table. The club's official statement noted that Whitfield is eligible for selection immediately and could feature in the next match.
The original report is at Boreham Wood Football Club
