YORK City’s new signing Femi Ilesanmi was the best left-back in Sky Bet League Two last season according to Bootham Crescent winger Josh Carson.

The Minstermen’s Northern Ireland international played against Ilesanmi during January’s 3-1 victory against the Southwark-born defender’s old club Dagenham & Redbridge.

Carson was replaced by Sander Puri 77 minutes into the game and City chairman Jason McGill has revealed that the ex-Ipswich midfielder regarded Ilesanmi as his toughest adversary in the division last term.

On hearing the identity of his club’s first summer signing, meanwhile, another City flank man Michael Coulson tweeted: “Great signing that. I know me and Josh Carson will be delighted we don’t have to play against him next season! #beast.”

Ilesanmi is believed to have been on the Minstermen’s radar for 12 months and, having witnessed the former QPR trainee sign a two-year contract, McGill said: “When Josh played against Femi, he said he was the best left-back he had come up against.

“He had a tough game against him and he is a player we have admired at York City for a while. Whenever we have seen him, he has done well against us.

“He is very combative and a good, solid defender, who fits into the Nigel Worthington mould. From a physical point of view, he will be very hard to beat in a one-on-one situation.

“I feel very positive about his signing and and I looking forward to seeing him in a York City shirt for the next two seasons.”

Ilesanmi, 23, was released by Dagenham last week, with manager Wayne Burnett putting his faith in highly-rated teenager Jack Connors as the Essex club’s first-choice.

Serving his apprenticeship with AFC Wimbledon and QPR, Ilesanmi joined Ashford Town before signing for the Daggers in 2010.

He initially spent three months on loan with Histon in the Conference but went on to make 133 appearances, including 25 League One outings, for the Victoria Road outfit and scored one goal.

 

• PLACES are still available to play in next month’s official York City Golf Day.

The competition will be staged on Monday, June 23 at Stockton-on-the-Forest and costs £160 for a team of four people.

Past and present City players can also be assigned to teams and the price includes an evening prize presentation dinner, 18 holes of golf and a bacon roll with hot beverage on arrival.

There are also still opportunities to sponsor a hole at £150 plus VAT.

Anybody interested in playing or sponsorship, should contact commercial executive Dave Hendry at commercial@yorkcityfootballclub.co.uk or on 01904 559501.

 

• PORTSMOUTH have signed released Charlton midfielder Danny Hollands.

A double swoop by Newport boss Justin Edinburgh, meanwhile, has seen defender Darren Jones and midfielder Yan Klukowski sign for the Exiles from AFC Wimbledon and Forest Green respectively.

Newly-relegated Sky Bet League Two outfit Shrewsbury have also made Cheltenham winger Ashley Vincent their first summer acquisition.