Workington have brought in 43-year-old David Norris ahead of tonight’s trip to Blyth Spartans.
The experienced Norris announced his retirement last season after over 60 games for Lancaster City but he has been tempted back into action by his old boss Mark Fell.
Norris will certainly add experience to what is essentially a young squad, although Efe Ambrose will also raise the average age if he makes his debut alongside the former Lancaster man.
Ambrose, 35, played at Old Trafford on Saturday for Celtic Legends against Man Utd Legends while there’s also been a delay over his clearance to play for Reds after the switch from Bury.
To balance the age gap Reds are also hoping to bring in two teenagers on work experience and secretary Alec Graham has been completing the necessary paperwork to have them registered for tonight.
Reds will certainly be without two midfielders tonight in Cieran Casson and impressive Preston loanee Kaedyn Kamara. Casson left the ground on crutches on Saturday after suffering an ankle injury while Kamara is playing for Preston reserves.
Casson has had an initial scan which revealed no major fractures but is to have a second scan when the swelling has gone down.
In addition a third midfielder Brad Hubbold had to go off early on Saturday, as did Jordan Little but both are expected to be able to join the squad for the trip to Blyth. Also back will be full-back Tom Stephenson who was attending a family wedding at the week-end.
Meanwhile manager Fell is delighted that he has persuaded veteran Norris to join the Reds cause as he has frequently spoke enthusiastically about the player’s contribution at Lancaster City.
Despite over two decades in the game he is convinced he can still be effective in Step 3 football.
Fell said: “We are crying out for a little bit of guile and experience in certain areas and situations at the moment. Someone with David’s pedigree is an asset to any dressing room.
“His age is irrelevant as last season he was in the top two in terms of his data of physical outputs in every game and often the hardest working. Less than six months ago he was scoring a hat-trick against FC United.
“He has absolutely nothing to prove but wants to be back in the football environment and enjoying the buzz of the game again.
“He’s got so much to add to us in so many different ways and I’m delighted he’s back out of semi-retirement with us.”
Norris began his career with Stamford United before coming to prominence with Boston United. He was transferred from the Pilgrims to Bolton Wanderers in a £50,000 transaction but his first team opportunities were somewhat limited there.
A loan spell at Hull City followed before he moved to Devon, spending over five years with Plymouth Argyle and making more than 240 appearances for the Home Park club, once winning their Player of the Year.
Next stop was Suffolk and over a hundred games for Ipswich Town where he became club captain.
Spells with Portsmouth and Leeds United followed but, when many of his former colleagues had long since retired, the evergreen Norris continued to play into his forties with clubs like Peterborough United, Yeovil Town and Blackpool added to his CV.
More recently, he played over sixty games for Lancaster City appearing for the latter at Borough Park three years ago. The midfielder has been training with the squad recently.
