'Grab the opportunity with both hands' - Crawley Town's new signing can't wait to get back into League football

Reds signed Antony Papadopoulos on an initial two year deal following the conclusion of his contract at Welling United and the 21-year-old has already sat down and spoken in front of the cameras.

Papadopoulos played 41 times during the 2023/24 season for the Wings and described himself as ‘quite technical on the ball’.

Speaking about the move, Papadopoulos said: “I’m really happy to get it done, it's been something over the last week. I’m just really delighted and happy to get started and yeah I can’t wait.”

Since his departure from Leyton Orient back in 2022, the midfielder has been playing his football in the National League but he has insisted he has been aiming for a return into England’s top four divisions.

He said: “I feel like last season I really got into my own, I played well throughout the season and I got a lot of appearances so yeah I’m really happy to be here and it was also a goal of mine to get back into league football so really happy to be here and I can’t wait to start.”

Crawley Town were promoted after beating Crewe 2-0 in the League Two play-off final – the Reds first ever appearance at Wembley – and they are back in League One after a nine-year absence and Papadopoulos watched the games from home.

He said: “I was watching the play-off final, playoff semi final as well so it’s quite ironic that I’m sitting here right but like I said I'm delighted to be here.

“I’m going to grab the opportunity with both hands and I just can't wait to be honest to get started.”

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Crawley Town kick off their pre-season games on July 16 when they face Lewes FC at the Dripping Pan and Papadopoulos is aiming to be in the best form of his life for the upcoming season.

He said: “To be honest I didn't really take much time off, I’m one of them when I want to train as hard as I can during the off season and make the most out of the time I've got off.

“I want to train as hard as possible whether that’s in the gym or on the pitch and I want to improve as much as I can so hopefully that shows in pre season and hopefully that shows more importantly when the season starts.

“You have got to make sure your ready and I will be ready for the start of pre season and for the start of the season and I’m looking forward to it.”

Papadopoulos is not the only player to have played his trade at Welling United with Sonny Fish finishing the season at the Wings scoring six goals in ten appearances.

The former Os man spoke about the connection he has with Fish and said: “Like you said Sonny Fish, I was playing with him only a few months ago to be honest and when I see him we have a good chat.”