GUISELEY responded to the disappointment of their West Yorkshire derby against Farsley Celtic being postponed this weekend in great style by bringing in a couple of signings.
With heavy snowfall causing a frozen Citadel pitch, the Lions were keen to keep busy and have added a striker and a left back.
The former, Bailey Thompson, was signed from Tadcaster Albion for an undisclosed fee.
Thompson had got off to a great start to the season, netting eight goals in 12 games for the Northern Premier League (NPL) Division One North West outfit after joining from Tranmere Rovers in the summer.
The forward, from Rossendale, Lancashire, has a good youth pedigree having been involved with the academy set ups at Manchester United, Accrington Stanley, Bury and Blackburn Rovers before getting a chance at Everton.
Although that was short-lived as Tranmere came in for him with a scholarship and then gave him his first pro contract.
The 19-year-old spent four years at Prenton Park but found opportunities scarce in a squad full of experience, meaning the majority of his appearances came off the bench.
The 6ft 4ins frontman is now looking forward to progressing under the tutelage of Marcus Bignot and Russ O’Neill.
He said: “I know Guiseley like to push young players through and progress them and I am looking forward to that.
"Tranmere were a very good club but chances were limited for me and due to Covid they had to offload players.
"I am just eager to be back playing as the last time I had a game for Tadcaster was a friendly before Christmas.”
O’Neill added: “Bailey fits our profile perfectly, he is young and hungry with bags of potential.
"He has adapted really well so far to non-league football with lots of goals in a short space of time at Tadcaster.
"He has got all the attributes to become a real asset to our club and we look forward to watching him develop.”
Defender Reece Kendall is the other acquisition at Nethermoor coming on a month-long loan from NPL Premier Division side Matlock Town.
The 21-year-old joined Matlock, whose season looks like it will be null and voided again after lockdown suspended play, in June 2019 from Brighouse Town.
In his final campaign with Brig, he played 26 times, netting on five occasions. As a result, the Gladiators stepped in and made an undisclosed compensation payment to Brighouse for the transfer.
Their manager Paul Phillips said at the time: "I had been after him for 18 months, I wanted to sign him when I was at Buxton.
"He’s a left back with loads of energy, tons of potential and he’s still learning the game.
"I’ve had lads that have played for England C but he is head and shoulders above them.
“His enthusiasm and energy around the place is a different class. He is a massive signing for us and I expect him to go far in the game.
"He has the ability to push on to the next level and beyond.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here