WORCESTER City joint managers John Snape and Lee Hughes have completed the first signing of the summer in local lad Brad Birch.

The 25-year-old central midfielder made 26 appearances for Stourbridge last season and featured in their FA Cup run and in the Northern Premier League Premier Division play-offs.

Birch began his career in the youth ranks at City and then played for Westfields, Bromyard Town and Littleton before signing for Stourbridge last summer.

He has also played in the McDonald's Worcester and District Sunday League for the likes of Hallow and Bedwardine.

Birch said: "I am over the moon with the opportunity to play and win games for my home-town club."

Snape and Hughes spoke of their "happiness in securing the signature of a local, talented footballer and a player they feel would run through a brick wall to play for his home-town club".

More signings will follow in the coming days for the Midland League Premier Division new boys, they added.