James Russell has become the latest player to join St Albans City this summer.

The former Chelsea and Stevenage goalkeeper, known as Rusty, has moved to Clarence Park from Vanarama National side Boreham Wood.

It means he once more links up Ian Allinson.

The decision to move from Boreham Wood came about after a promotion at Chelsea’s acadmey, where he works as a coach, meant he could no longer stay with City’s Hertfordshire neighbours.

Allinson said: “Obviously I’ve known James from my time at Boreham Wood and I have to say the we’re getting arguably one of the very best all-round keepers in non-league football.

“There’s been a lot of work behind the scenes to make this happen and I have to thank Danny Hunter and Luke Garrard for their help in our aquisition.

“As you would expect, there was a great deal of interest in James so to have him commit his immediate future with St Albans City is a massive statement of intent.”

Russell is the third player to join the Saints, following the acquisitions of Ian Rees and Shaun Lucien.

St Albans also announced that Boreham Wood would be their pre-season opponents on Saturday, July 23, at Clarence Park.