Experienced forward brought in by John Gregory
John Gregory has today completed his third signing of the week and ninth of the summer with the arrival of experienced striker Matt Harrold.
The 29-year-old joins the club from Bristol Rovers and played against Reds last season in the FA Cup first round for Rovers.
Matt has started more than 250 games in a League career which began 11 years ago at Brentford.
Since then he has represented Dagenham & Redbridge, Grimsby, Yeovil, Southend United, Wycombe Wanderers – where he scored 22 goals in 77 appearances – Shrewsbury Town and Bristol Rovers. He arrived there in 2011 and made 71 starts and 16 substitute appearances, scoring 17 goals.
JG said: “Matt is 6ft-plus and will give our attack a real physical presence. But he’s also very good on the floor and links the play well. In the last four years, Matt has averaged a goal every 2.9 games which is a very impressive statistic.
“Izale McLeod is averaging a goal every 2.3 games so between them statistically we have two very good strikers.
“When we played Bristol Rovers last season I was very impressed with him. He’s come here for a fresh challenge and has scored goals at this level in the past and I think he can do so again."
Matt said: “When I heard a club like Crawley were interested I wanted to speak to the Gaffer and he sold the club really well.
"There are going to be a lot of new faces in the dressing room but that’s not a bad thing.
“We will all get stuck in during pre-season and it’s up to me and everyone else to convince the manager that we should be in his line-up for the first league game at Barnsley on August 9.”
