Needham Market have revealed former AFC Sudbury fans’ favourite Ben Hunter and released Ipswich Town Academy goalkeeper Danny Cullum as the club’s first signings since their historic promotion to the Vanarama National League North.
Central midfielder Hunter, 24, left Sudbury early last month with the Yellows’ academy graduate having been a regular in their first team since the 2017/18 season, aside from one campaign testing himself at then higher-league Leiston in 2021/22, which included a loan spell with Stowmarket Town.
The grandson of Ipswich Town great Allan Hunter helped Rick Andrews’ side to promotion as play-off champions in the Pitching In Isthmian League North Division in 2022/23, having finished as runners-up. He then helped a Marc Abbott-led side defy the odds following budget cuts that saw all but four of the squad leave to secure a second consecutive season at Step 3 for the first time in the club’s history in the Pitching In Southern League Premier Central last term.
Hunter accumulated 100 senior appearances by the age of 20 in his first spell at Sudbury, before passng 200 appearances in January.
Needham Market’s assistant manager Tom Rothery told the club’s website: “Ben was our first target when the season finished. I watched him a few times last season and obviously we played against him twice also.
“We really like what he does, his work-rate and enthusiasm around the pitch is a great quality that we wanted to add and alongside this he has ability too.
