South Shields snap up exciting duo

South Shields have confirmed the capture of experienced defender Gary Liddle and exciting winger Dylan Mottley-Henry.

Liddle, 35, will officially join the club on July 1 after deciding not to renew his contract at League 2 side Hartlepool United.

He has more than 700 senior appearances to his name, having spent all but one-and-a-half years of his 16-year career in the Football League.

He represented Hartlepool for more than half of those games, while also enjoying spells with Notts County, Bradford City, Chesterfield, Carlisle United and Walsall.

Liddle has two promotions on his CV from his time at Hartlepool – the most recent of which came in 2020-21 as the club was promoted from the National League via the play-offs.

“I’m thrilled to be here,” he said. “I spoke to the chairman and the manager regarding the ambitions of the club and what it has got planned not just this season but going forward as well, and it’s a really exciting project that I want to get my teeth stuck into.

“It was always going to be a tough decision, because Hartlepool showed they wanted to keep me around next season by offering me a contract.

“I could have had it easy and just stayed at Hartlepool but I want to finish my career being successful and helping another club.

“South Shields is a good and ambitious club with an ambitious owner and ambitious manager, and I’m thrilled to be part of helping them drive to have that success.”

Meanwhile, Leeds-born Mottley-Henry, 24, has made the switch from Bradford Park Avenue.

A graduate of Bradford City’s academy, he was a regular for the Yorkshire-based club in National League North last season, catching the eye on the right flank and contributing a high number of assists.

He becomes the fifth player to arrive at the 1st Cloud Arena as Kevin Phillips’ Mariners look to assemble a squad capable of bettering last season’s run to the play-off semi-finals.

“It feels good to be here and I’m happy everything is over the line and sorted," he said. “After speaking to the manager and being shown around the training ground and stadium, it was clear that there’s nothing but positivity here, so joining was a no-brainer.

“The fanbase was definitely a big pulling factor as well because I love playing in front of a big crowd every single week and that really gets me going.

“I’m also really looking forward to working with the manager, who has already asked me which aspect of my game I’d mainly like to work on, which is finishing and scoring more goals. There could be no better manager to work on those things with.

“Our aim this season is promotion and on a personal level, I want to develop as a player and a person, and make the most of the fantastic opportunity I’ve received here. I can’t wait to get going.”

Photo credit: South Shields

Where next?

GNE make two new signings Glossop North End have signed goalkeeper Morgan Bacon and forward Matty Gillam.
Five players commit to Linnets for 2022/23 Runcorn Linnets have continued their preparations ahead of the 2022/23 Pitching In Northern Premier League West Division season.

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