Helston Athletic's newly appointed manager Matt Cusack has made seven new signings as the Kellaway Park side step up their preparations for the 2022/23 season.

Rikki Shepherd and Tom Payne have joined the Blues from fellow Western League and Cornish outfit Millbrook. The duo both appeared for Cornwall in their match vs Devon FA at the end of last season which the Duchy won 2-1.

Shepherd also has experience playing at a higher level with his previous club Willand Rovers and he finished as Millbrook's top goal scorer in the league last season with 23 goals in 29 appearances.

Payne also reached double figures finding the back of the net on 11 occasions, with two of those goals coming from the penalty spot.

Former Plymouth Argyle midfielder Jordan Copp is the third name to sign the dotted line. The attacking midfielder took a break from football for family reasons over the last season but has played under Cusack's reign before at Plymouth Parkway. He has also played as high as step two at non-league level.

Another attacking midfielder who Cusack has worked with previously, this time at Saltash, Jamie Simmonds is signing number four.

The youngster will provide extra competition across a busy Blues midfield. Cusack said: "Jamie has all the attributes to play at a higher level, but now needs to focus to produce consistently in a Helston shirt."

The Blues have visited their local neighbours Wendron for their fifth signing with young full back Fred Walter also making the move to Kellaway Park. Walter, who is just 19-years-old, was part of a Dron side who finished third in the South West Peninsula League as well as finishing runners up in the Cornwall Senior Cup last season.

Isaac Burdon, another former Argyle versatile defender adds to the numbers at Helston. Speaking on the transfer Cusack said: "He was with me at Plymouth Parkway, then he went to St Blazey because at Parkway he was an understudy to Harrison Davis who was there. Harrison was a few years older and more experienced so Isaac's game time was limited.

"He opted to go to Blazey where he has plied his trade for the past couple of years, but he his a player of huge potential and he is the right character for the environment we are trying to create."

Lastly Helston have added forward Nathaniel West to their ranks as their seventh signing. The striker, who ended last season with South West Peninsula League outfit Bodmin Town, adds pace and a physical presence to Athletic's front line, already notching once this pre-season.

He was on the scoresheet in Bodmin's last game of the season, a 9-1 win over Sticker.

Cusack confirmed that Phil Cattran whose 2021/22 season was plagued by injury has left the club, meanwhile centre back Ryan Beattie will still be registered for the club but is looking for an opportunity closer to home. 

Helston's next home pre-season match is at home to Teignmouth on Saturday, July 23. The match will be Cusack's first home game in charge of the Blues, kick off at 3pm.