HEYBRIDGE Swifts fans will welcome the return of popular striker Matt Price on Saturday and he will be cheered all the way to the centre circle for his second debut, writes JON LONGMAN.

The Swifts have had a roller coaster start to 2023 and the resignation of chairman Gary White last week was followed by the surprise departure of striker Ross Wall to Brentwood Town on Monday.

Wall’s exit coincided with more gloomy news for Swifts fans that manager Steve Tilson was having his budget cut as part of the club’s moves to cope with the financial crisis rooted in the revamping of the Aspen Waite Arena and the bold move to install a 3G pitch.

But Price was the catalyst for a Swifts revival when he joined the club for the first time with manager Julian Dicks’ underdogs leaving Maldon and Tiptree howling after the winning the play-off final at Park Drive. Swifts were denied promotion by the FA’s restructuring

Club treasurer and historian Chris Daines said: “Matt originally signed in January 2018 and he made his debut away at Canvey Island on 16th.

“Matt scored 18 goals in 20 games for us in the 2017/18 season. The following season, he scored 23 goals in 45 games.”

The Swifts stood by Price when he was hospitalised with a mystery virus but he trudged off in his final game with his shirt in his hands on a journey that has taken the much travelled forward back to Canvey with brief spells at Billericay, Brentwood, Coggeshall Town and more.

Fact is stranger than fiction as another Price, 17-year-old Colchester United work experience recruit Freddie, excited Swifts fans with priceless headlines that suggested Matt was back at Scraley Road. Two weeks on, their gloom have been overtaken by the two-for-one deal that gives the Swifts a brace of exciting strikers.

Now Matt, the club’s prodigal son is back home at Heybridge just when the Swifts needed him most to counter the loss of leading scorer Wall whose 12 goals have been the cornerstone of the club’s rise to a play-off position and runs in the FA Cup and Trophy.

The club’s media team issued a heartfelt statement on Monday saying: “It is with huge regret that we announce striker Ross Wall has left Heybridge Swifts.

“We would like to thank Ross for his contribution this season in a Swifts shirt.

“Our management team are already in discussions with identified replacements.”

Price’s return boosts the squad to 15 for Saturday’s home game against Wroxham but Tilson is still likely to have spare seats on the bench.

Tilson needed a Price to lift his spirits after an earlier club statement that said: “Further to our recent statement regarding our committee restructure, we have had to ask Steve Tilson to work with a different budget than originally planned.

“This is far from a perfect state of affairs and has in turn meant he has had a smaller squad at his disposal than he had hoped for.

“We as a committee are working tirelessly behind the scenes to free up funds to enable Steve to bring in much needed reinforcements.”

Tilson’s backroom team have been scouring Essex clubs for possible signings but the manager added: “We approached four or five players but for whatever reason, they have decided not to come. I don’t know why, it is possibly the location of the club.”

Turning to the off-field problems, the statement added: “In light of the recent resignation of the chairman, we have had to revamp the committee with immediate effect, to ensure the running of the club is in safe hands. These are all interim positions and will need to be ratified at the annual meeting [in June].

“If anyone needs additional clarification, they can speak to acting chairman Steve Spreadbury, acting vice-chairman Kevin Cooper, head of sponsorship Tim Bruce or the finance team Paul Oglesby [head of finance], Chris Daines [treasurer] and Sally Clarke [executive].

“We would like to take this opportunity to thank Steve [Tilson] and the players for what they have achieved so far this season and ask you, our fans, to continue with your support of the players and staff for the remainder of the season.”