Boreham Wood FC are delighted to announce central midfielder Josh Rees as our third summer signing ahead of the 2021/22 season, arriving at Meadow Park following the expiration of his contract with National League rivals Aldershot Town.
Rees began his career with our friends at Arsenal, spending 11 years within the Gunner’s youth set up between 2001 and 2012. Following the conclusion of his time at Arsenal, Rees joined Nottingham Forest on a three-year contract. However, regular first team football didn’t materialise for Josh during his time at the City Ground and he left Forest in 2016 with just a single senior appearance to his name, despite enjoying loan spells with Nuneaton Town and Torquay United.
In search of regular first team football, Essex-native Rees joined National League South side Chelmsford City in 2016. In a single season with the Essex outfit, Rees made 49 total appearances for the Clarets scoring 7 goals.
His form at the Melbourne Stadium caught the attention of teams in the League’s above, however Rees opted to sign for National League side Bromley ahead of the 2017/18 season. In a season that saw Bromley narrowly miss out on the play-off positions, whilst also reaching the FA Trophy final at Wembley Stadium against Brackley Town, Rees built upon his exceptional form from the previous season at Chelmsford City, producing his career best stats, making 55 appearances for the Ravens and scoring 20 goals.
Josh’s statistics and displays with both Chelmsford City and Bromley could no longer be ignored by the Football League and he rightfully earned his return to the professional game, joining League One’s Gillingham in June 2018. However, despite making 23 appearances for the Kent outfit, Rees left the Priestfield Stadium by mutual consent in August 2019, imminently returning to Hayes Lane to re-join Bromley.
Josh’s second spell with the Raven’s wasn’t quite as fruitful for the goalscoring midfielder, scoring 4 goals in 33 appearances during the curtailed 2019/20 season. In the summer of 2020, Josh joined National League side Aldershot Town and his midfield goalscoring exploits returned during the 2020/21 season, scoring 12 league goals in 39 appearances for the Shot’s, including two-goals against the Wood in our 6-goal draw at the Recreation Ground in March this year.
However, after a single season with the Hampshire outfit, Rees opted to join the Wood on a two-year contract.
Upon securing the services of Josh Rees, Wood Manager Luke Garrard commented, “Josh has shown that at National League he is an accomplished goal scoring midfielder with stats of one goal every four matches.
“In truth, we looked at our goal returns from key areas in our team and Josh is the perfect fit, as he brings good legs, leadership, great game understanding and an eye for goal from midfield. Scoring double figures for Aldershot last season from the centre of midfield tells you we have a very good asset within our building.
“Josh is hungry and driven and that’s perfect for me, as I know he will demand as much from me as I will demand from him.” Garrard concluded.
Rees will wear the number 7 shirt at Meadow Park.
Welcome to Meadow Park, Josh!
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