Gloucester City’s manager Daf Williams is determined to leverage the loan market to bolster his team, with promising young striker Sopuruchukwu Obieri set to join the Tigers on loan from League Two neighbours Cheltenham Town.
Obieri, a 17-year-old local talent from Gloucester, boasts an impressive youth record, having scored a record 86 goals for the city’s primary schools FA team. In November 2023, he became Cheltenham’s youngest ever player, making his debut in the EFL Trophy against West Ham United Under-21s at just 15 years and 303 days old—surpassing the previous record held by centre-back and former Gloucester loanee Cameron Walters.
Last season, Obieri gained valuable experience on loan with Hungerford Town and Worcester City, concluding the campaign at Worcester where he helped the club secure promotion from the Northern Premier League Midland Division. He has featured in all three of Cheltenham’s pre-season friendlies this summer, scoring in a 4-1 victory over Bishop’s Cleeve on July 4, and will continue to develop his senior experience competing in the Southern League Premier South with Gloucester City.
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Williams expressed enthusiasm about the potential signing: “He is an excellent player. I’d love to have him if he’s available. I have a good relationship with Flynny [manager Michael Flynn] and many others at Cheltenham. If he’s available, I’d take him in a heartbeat. He’s a very talented young player.”
At 32, Williams returned to Gloucester City as manager this summer after serving as assistant manager under former boss Nelson Jardim. He is focused on building strong collaborations with neighbouring professional clubs to benefit from loan opportunities.
“I have strong relationships with several clubs in the South West and the Midlands, as well as Newport,” Williams said. “For clubs like ours, it’s vital to explore the loan market to get talented young players in. We want players who bring high energy and can run hard, which suits younger talent well.”
Williams has retained a core group of players from last season’s squad, which came within a single match of returning to the National League North under former boss Mike Cook. Several new signings have joined, including returning forwards Keiran Thomas, Ben Morgan, and Sion Spence, player-coach Aaron Wildig, winger Dylan Jones, and centre-back Michael O’Regan.
“I had a clear understanding of the squad’s strengths and areas to improve, and I believe our recruitment has addressed those well,” Williams said. “I’m pleased with the players we’ve kept and those we’ve brought in. We’re still looking to add depth in a couple of areas, so hopefully more signings will arrive soon to benefit everyone.”
Gloucester City began pre-season with a 2-0 win over Tuffley Rovers and a victory against Fairford Town in the Severn Sport Shield semi-final. However, they narrowly lost 4-2 to Bishop’s Cleeve in the final. The team missed several key players, including new signings Dylan Jones, Aaron Wildig, Sion Spence, as well as last season’s top scorer Joe Hanks and winger Elis Watts.
Williams commented on the squad’s condition: “It’s a mixed bag. Elis has a minor injury, and we are managing the minutes for Dylan, Sion, and Joe, but there’s nothing serious. Although I dislike losing any match, I’m pleased with our physical and tactical progress, particularly as we look ahead to the league season.”
During the match against Bishop’s Cleeve, Williams rotated players to ensure everyone got substantial game time amid weather-related interruptions. He is optimistic about continued improvement, particularly focusing on defensive work without the ball, which he sees as an area needing attention.
“The setback from last season motivates us all,” Williams said. “We want a winning mentality. Footballers thrive in the right environment, so we are focused on fostering a positive club culture that translates into strong performances both in training and on match days. With this approach, I believe we can push for another successful season.”