A FORMER Aveley player has returned to the Millers fold after 15 years – and is described by manager Brett Munyard as the 'final piece' in his jigsaw.

Matty Johnson has signed from Isthmian  Billericay Town, reuniting with a club he last played for in 2008/09 when Millers won the Isthmian North.

Since departing The Millers Johnson has gone on to play at a higher level with the likes of Braintree Town, Bishop's Stortford, Chelmsford City and Billericay Town all in the National South. He would then go on to play for Enfield Town and Hornchurch before re-joining Stortford.

In that season with Stortford the defender, who can equally play in midfield too, was a part of that team that stormed to the title with Ryan Henshaw, Ollie Peters, Anthony Church and Chris Harris, securing 26 clean sheets in 46 games. They are now all reunited at Parkside.

After a brilliant season as captain at Billericay Town where they missed out on promotion by goal difference, Johnson continued to perform this season and in total has made 118 appearances for Town.

He said: "I'm really happy to be back with Aveley again, a club I have won leagues with and have many fond memories! Loads of the boys I've played with before and been successful with which made it an easy decision to come! Hopefully I can add some more experience to a group of players that's already flying and help push for those play off positions!"

Munyard added: "Matty is a player I've admired for a very long time. Having watched him numerous times over the years for Billericay and Stortford. He is a player who has incredible leadership skills and brings experience and quality in abundance.

"I feel Matty is the final piece of the puzzle and delighted he has agreed to join Aveley."

Louie Kudiabor

Also joining Millers this week is striker Louie Kudiabor, who arrives on loan from Chelmsford City.

Kudiabor, 21, joins after playing nearly 1,000 minutes of National South football for City.  He started his career at Boreham Wood playing youth football, he moved to Needham Market and FC Clacton before joining Brightlingsea Regent in the Isthmian North in March 2023. He would go on to make nine appearances at the back end of that season and re-joined The R's for the following 2023/24 season.

Kudiabor went on to make 48 appearances in all competitions, scoring an impressive 22 goals, and assisting a further nine times throughout the 2023/24 season, with Regent missing out on promotion after a late defeat in the play-off final at Bury Town.

He has also played alongside current Millers Fletcher Hubbard, Jayden Robinson, Harry Critchley and Adam Bailey-Dennis, who were all part of the team who knocked Avelely out of the Essex Senior Cup last season.

His performances last season got him a move to full-time Chelmsford City where he has made 21 appearances in all competitions.