Hot-shot striker Jack Watts has returned to Bishop’s Cleeve and he’s looking to hit the ground running.

The 31-year-old, who lives in Prestbury, left the club for Stourport Swifts two-and-a-half years ago.

He played for Malvern Town last season in Division One South of the Southern League – he scored as Malvern defeated Cleeve in the end-of-season semi-final play-off – but he is delighted to be back with his hometown club.

This is his fourth spell with the club – he started out with Cleeve Colts – and he said: “Colly [Paul Collicutt] has been on my case for the past couple of seasons.”

And it’s easy to see why because Watts, a 6ft 2in pacey forward, has been scoring a stack of goals over the past decade. 

“I’ve scored 20-plus goals a season every time I’ve played in this league,” he said.

“I don’t want that to stop. I always target 20 goals a season, my job is to put the ball in the back of the net.”

Ross Langworthy has been doing that regularly for Cleeve over the past couple of seasons and Watts is looking forward to playing alongside him.

“I prefer playing in a two,” he said. “I can play up front on my own, I did that last season at Malvern, but it would be good to get a partnership with Ross.”

And Watts is very hopeful that they will dovetail.

“Ross is good with the ball at his feet, he’s a very clever striker. I like to play on the shoulder, make runs in behind. I think it could work.”

Cleeve’s ever-increasing number of supporters will certainly hope so and they will be heading to Kayte Lane in 2025/26 in optimistic mood after last season.

Their third-placed finish was the best in their 120-year history – Malvern finished fourth – and Watts said: “Cleeve came so close to promotion last season, the target this season has to be promotion.”

Watts will be joined at Cleeve by a couple of his former Malvern team-mates – Lewis Spurrier and Luke Payne – while attacking midfielder Toby Holland and central defender Jake Lee have rejoined the club from Swindon Supermarine.

Collicutt has also signed youngster Joe Keeping from Cinderford Town.

“He can play anywhere down the left side,” said Collicutt of Keeping. “They’re all good signings, they’re all first-teamers.

“You need a squad of 18/19/20 players, we’re trying to improve on what we had last season.”  

Bishop’s Cleeve play their first pre-season friendly at home to Hereford Pegasus on Tuesday before hosting Cheltenham Town three days later.