Bunting happy to be joined by a familiar face as he prepares for new start at King’s Lynn Town
Arriving in a new dressing room can be a daunting task, but Richard Bunting admits it will be an easier proposition now he has a friend in tow.
The classy 30-year-old central midfielder, who captained Long Buckby to the United Counties Premier Division title last season, decided to walk away from Station Road when King's Lynn Town came calling.
But he won't be making the regular 160-mile round trip from Northampton for home games alone because team-mate Russell Dunkley has also signed for Gary Setchell's side – a decision Bunting is evidently pleased with.
The former Buckby skipper said: 'The travelling isn't really a problem when you think about who – and where – you're going to be playing.
'Having Russell about definitely makes it all that bit easier. I've played against Lynn, but I don't really know any of the other lads. If he would have said no to joining, and I'd have had to travel on my own, it would have made it a tougher decision.
'It's going to be so much better having someone to travel with too. I've known Russ for years and him being here is a big pull. We were all friends at Buckby and it's something I'd like to try and get at Lynn. A close dressing room is something that wins you a lot of points.'
The experienced midfielder, who made more than 200 appearances for Buckby after signing from Cogenhoe United in 2007, is just one of many expected departures from Station Road this summer.
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Despite winning the title, the club's ground was deemed unsuitable for Step Four football and the former Raunds and Brackley linchpin says the chance to play at a higher level was simply too good to turn down.
He said: 'I want to play at Step Four again as I'm not getting any younger. As soon as he (Setchell) rung me my mind was made up quite quickly.
'Everyone who plays non-league football has heard of King's Lynn. They play in front of big and passionate crowds and that was a major pull for me too.
'I've played in the Southern League but the Northern League's going to be much more physical so I know it's going to be tough. I'm fairly loud and I'm quite a confident person so I can't wait.
'I was Buckby captain and I'd consider myself to be a leader, with or without the armband. You need five or six leaders in a team to be successful and I'd consider myself to be one of those.
'I'm really looking forward to getting going, meeting the lads, and starting the hard work.'
