Newmarket Town complete signing of King’s Lynn Town playmaker Finley Whiteley

It was back in January 2024 that Finley Whiteley first came on to the radar of Newmarket Town boss Michael Shinn.

Newmarket ran out 3-1 winners that day at the Tristel Global Stadium, but it was the performance of the then Fakenham Town playmaker that made a particularly big impression on Shinn.

Whiteley went on to join National League North outfit King’s Lynn Town later in the year, but he was a player that Shinn had made a mental note to keep tabs on. And so, when it became known that the 19-year-old was leaving Lynn this summer, the Jockeys manager reached out.

Other clubs were also in the running, but much to Shinn’s delight, Whiteley has opted to link up with Newmarket.

“One of the main things I noticed straight away about him was that he wanted to take the ball in tight areas and he drove away from players,” said Shinn.

“I think he was only 17 at the time and you don’t get many players at our level or above that are capable doing that, but he did and he made it look easy.

“Having a really good creative midfielder – someone that can create something out of nothing – is probably something that we’ve lacked a little bit.

“We’re delighted he’s come in because I know there was plenty of clubs keen to take him.”

The arrival of Whiteley has come hot on the heels of Newmarket swooping to sign Louis Jenkins from Ely City.

And the club has also confirmed that youngsters Marco Dama and Kieran Jones will make the step up from the reserves to the first-team squad next term.

Newmarket are set to place their first pre-season friendly of the summer on Friday night at home against Brimsdown.