Late swoop for Brewers defender

Evo-Stik Northern Premier League Grantham Town swooped late in the day to sign former Scunthorpe, Rochdale and Burton Albion defender Nathan Stanton.

With early summer signing Paul Lister still struggling with injury and Grantham kicking off away to Ashton United on Saturday, joint manager Gary Sucharewycz’s contacts secured Stanton on the eve of the new Premier Division campaign.

Sucharewycz said: "Nathan is a really big signing for us, and his experience will prove invaluable to the club. Paul is still two to three weeks away from full fitness, so we need cover and Nathan needed a club."

The defender, now 32, has over 450 football league games under his belt after a fourteen year career. Selected for the PFA's Third Division 2003-04 Team of the Year, Stanton also played at Wembley in 2007-08 Play-off Final for The Dale.

Grantham say the centre-half, who was released by Burton at the end of last season, still hopes to re-launch his Football League career and Sucharewycz is more than happy to help.

He added: "I have known Nathan since I was young. He can still play at Football League level but has not found a new club since leaving Burton. We can help him to get games and if he does get interest, all well and good.

"If not, we have got a great signing for the season! He will give us a great boost with his experience, as well as the strength in depth we need while Paul Lister is injured."