A FORMER Swindon Town starlet who left the County Ground to sign for Manchester City as a 16-year-old has returned to Wiltshire.
Melksham Town have announced the signing of ex-Robins winger Alex Henshall after the 28-year-old left Wantage Town in the summer.
In a statement from the Southern League Division One South club, Melksham said: “Following negotiations and discussions we are happy to announce the signing of Alex Henshall from Wantage Town subject to league confirmation.”
Melksham manager, Mark Collier said: “Alex will bring quality, pace and undoubted ability to the side, and his addition adds competition for places and strengthens the squad as we enter the busy festive period.
Henshall’s first game for the Black and Yellows could come on Boxing Day when Melksham host Frome Town in a local derby at Oakfields.
Born in Swindon and having joined his home town’s youth academy at the age of eight, Henshall enjoyed a blossoming youth career at Town which saw him play 19 times for England Under 16s and U17s.
After being included in a handful of Swindon’s first-team squads, he was named on the bench by then manager Danny Wilson in 2010 when Swindon lost 1-0 to Premier League Fulham in the FA Cup third round.
With interest over Henshall afoot from several clubs later that year, the forward eventually joined Roberto Mancini’s Citizens in a deal thought to be worth around £250,000, first agreeing scholarship forms before penning a professional contract 12 months later
During his time with Man City, 17-year-old Henshall returned to the County Ground and helped his U18 peers dispatch the young Robins 4-1 in an FA Youth Cup fixture by assisting two goals.
But unfortunately for Henshall, his career never took off as many had hoped. And following loan spells away from the Etihad with Chesterfield – with whom he gained his first Football League appearance – Bristol Rovers, and Ipswich Town, he signed for the latter upon the termination of his City contract in 2014.
