Image: St Albans
St Albans Saints have made Chris May a first-up signing for their 2017 NPL Victoria campaign.
May joins Joseph Monek, Nicholas Sarbin, Nana Yaw, Rodrigo Covarrubias, Ben Shaper and Michael Grgic as confirmed squad members for 2017 at Churchill Reserve as the team takes shape for its first campaign in the top flight in the NPL era under head coach Kruni Razov and assistant coach Josip Loncaric, who have also re-signed for next season.
The Englishman started his senior career at Brighton & Hove Albion, making one appearance in the English Championship.
He arrived in Australia in 2012 from non-league club Redhill, signing for Heidelberg United in the VPL. Despite relegation to State One, May caught the eye of other clubs and was signed by Melbourne Knights in 2013.
May was the first choice keeper as the Knights entered the NPL era, but missed out on silverware when the club won the Dockerty Cup after serving a six-month suspension received in an FFA Cup tie against Olympic FC.
He hit peak form in 2015, helping the Somers Street outfit to fourth place with a number of standout performances, earning the FFV goalkeeper of the year in the process. He departed for Avondale after 70 appearances for the Knights over three years.
At Avondale the custodian played a full season between the sticks as the club consolidated a mid-table finish in the league.
However, the Avengers oped to sign reigning FFV goalkeeper of the year Chris Oldfield for 2017, with May departing the club.
He signs for St Albans following the departure of Alex Baird who was a mainstay in the club’s NPL2 West championship season – Baird joins Josh Knight to depart St Albans over the offseason.
May will now attempt to guide St Albans through their first season back in the top flight, with the club hoping to achieve survival and making a statement of intent with the experienced campaigner’s signature.