Skipper returns for survival fight

Former captain Phil Watt returned to Belper Town on Thursday to help revive the EVO-STIK Northern Premier League club's fortunes.

Along with midfelder Michael Towey, Watt, pictured, left Premier Division rivals Grantham Town to return to the bottom of the table Nailers and aid their survival battle. In a statement announcing the duo's arrival, officials at Christchurch Meadow said both players would be in the Nailers squad to face Histon in the FA Trophy on Saturday.

Watt was the club's talisman in last season's promotion winning team, captaining the side and leading by example at the heart of the Belper defence. His presence was felt especially in the promotion play-off games against Leek Town and Mickleover Sports when he scored the decisive goal against the latter to send the Nailers up into the EVO-STIK NPL's top flight.

The former Rotherham, Lincoln City and Corby defender originally arrived at Christchurch Meadow in October 2013 after a brief spell with then First Division South rivals Coalville Town. Disappointingly for Belper supporters, he opted to move back to another of his former clubs, Grantham Town, at the start of the current campaign.

Towey, 30, is a highly regarded and experienced goal-scoring central midfield player who has spent the last two seasons at Grantham Town, scoring seven goals in 49 games for the Gingerbreads last term. He spent eight seasons at Buxton from November 2005, developing through the leagues as the club progressed and scoring 60 goals from just over 350 appearances for the Derbyshire side.

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