By Alan Parry
Wanderers have snapped up one of the hottest properties in non-league football by signing striker Stuart Beavon on loan from Blue Square Premier club Weymouth.

The Blues also have a deal in place whereby the 24-year-old will sign for Peter Taylor's side on a permanent basis once his loan deal expires in the summer.

Beavon has been chased by a host of Football League clubs with Peterborough, Yeovil, Crewe and Bournemouth all reported to have made inquiries about him.

Blues boss Peter Taylor told wwfc.com: 'Stuart will be a great addition to our squad. He can play in a number of positions, but I'd say he's like an old-fashioned inside forward. He's an excellent footballer, hard working and a very good finisher.'

Beavon comes from a real football family. His grandfather Cyril was a pro' with Wolves and Oxford United and his father Stuart senior began at Tottenham and then joined Reading, playing nearly 400 games for our Berkshire neighbours.

Stuart junior was a prolific scorer as a youngster with Oxfordshire clubs Wallingford and Didcot before moving to Weymouth two years ago. He scored 26 goals in 77 starts for the Dorset outfit,15 of them coming this season including eight goals in his last six appearances.

Last season he was named Player of the Round in the First Round of the F.A.Cup after scoring a hat trick in the space of just seven minutes for Weymouth against Eastbourne Borough.

Said Taylor: 'I know a lot of clubs were chasing Stuart so I'm delighted to get him. I've seen him play a few times in the Conference (Blue Square Premier) and I'm confident that he can handle the step up to League Two.

'He can play as a striker or 'in the hole', behind a front two. We could also use him in a wide position coming in off the touchline so we've signed a really versatile player. I'm sure he'll get goals at this level.'

Beavon could make his Blues debut in Monday night's televised clash with Rotherham at Adams Park, k.o. 7.45pm. He joins another new striker Jon-Paul Pittman, who scored the winner in only his second game for the Blues away at Dagenham on Tuesday evening.


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