GUISELEY have announced the signing of Brad Wade who has returned to Nethermoor after featuring as a trialist in pre-season.

A product of Rochdale’s Academy Brad, 23, has joined The Lions for the coming season in the Pitching In Premier Division with the knowledge that the fans will be behind him and that he has the backing of Guiseley’s Sporting Director Russ O’Neill. Wade has had three previous spells at the club as a loanee from Rochdale playing under O’Neill as his manager but as a full contract player he is now looking at it with a different view.

The player, who was released by Rochdale at the end of the 2021-22 season after seven years with the club, is now at a crossroads in his career after a torrid time over the past season or two.

On leaving Rochdale he played for Hereford and Southport but ruptured the UCL in his elbow. A proposed move to Irish League Premier Division club St Patrick’s also failed to gain international clearance due to his Non-Contract status.

Wade is now looking for a fresh start with a club he loves and is happy to be rid of the Trialist A tag he has carried in a number of Guiseley’s pre-season games.

Wade said of his move: “I am happy to be back with Guiseley, the fans there have always treat me well and Russ O’Neill is a massive part of my wanting to return. He has always been there to support me and Guiseley is the club where I most enjoyed my football. I want to get that enjoyment back in my game.”

He added: “I had trials at a few clubs but this is where I want to be. You look round the dressing room and there are some great players here now. I think we are in for a good season and hopefully the club will return to National League North.”

Personally Wade said that he hopes to play 40 to 50 games for the club and start to enjoy his football again.

He commented: “Everyone here was great to me last time I was here so I hope to put in good performances for them. I have been keeping fit over the summer as I waited for the right opportunity to come up. I think that is right here at Guiseley where there is a good squad, some of whom like Prince (Ekpolo), Reece Kendall and Liam Tongue I already know. I have been really impressed with the squad that has been assembled.”

Wade first joined Guiseley on loan from Rochdale for the two Covid hit seasons. He had featured on the first team bench for Rochdale but came to Guiseley to get regular playing time.

Speaking of his first two loans with the club the goalkeeper said: “I really enjoyed both spells with Guiseley for different reasons. The first loan was my first real taste of playing men’s football in front of a crowd. The seven or eight games I played before the first lockdown did so much for me in terms of my development as a player. It also gave me a real feeling of what it meant to have a winning mentality and how important each game was.

“The second spell was different as it was all behind closed doors with restrictions in place at training and on match days so it was strange circumstances for everyone involved. I was really disappointed the season ended up being voided but looking at it from a personal perspective it was another 20-25 games in the locker.”

Young goalkeeper Hagie Damba, a product of Guiseley’s successful Academy, has signed a dual registration with Guiseley and Thackley for the coming season.

He figured as a substitute in a number of Guiseley’s pre-season games and impressed in a couple of first team games at the back end of last season.

Guiseley have also announced the signing of Gabriel Johnson who returns to Nethermoor for his second spell with the club.

The forward spent two Covid-19 disrupted seasons with the Lions, after he signed from Brighouse Town in 2019 and went on to score some memorable goals including one direct from a corner against Gloucester City.

The 26-year-old has impressed the management team over the last couple of weeks of pre-season training with Paul Phillips moving quickly to sign the forward.

In other news, Laurence Sorhaindo has joined Liversedge on a one-month loan deal on the eve of the new season.

The striker arrived from Brighouse Town in the summer but has missed a chunk of pre-season with a knock.

Talking about the move, manager Paul Phillips, said: “With Laurence missing a couple of weeks of pre-season with a slight knock and us having strength in numbers, all parties agreed it would be advantageous for Laurence to go out and get regular game time and build up his sharpness in the best long-term interests for the team and player. We will be keeping a close eye on his performances and look forward to welcoming him back in four weeks’ time.”