Whitby Town impresses fans with ‘quality signing’ of experienced former EFL defender

Whitby Town impresses their fans with the ‘quality signing’ of experienced former EFL defender Gary Liddle, they confirm this week.

The 37 year old has officially joined the Northern Premier League Premier Division club on a two-year contract.

Throughout his career, Liddle has accumulated around 600 appearances in the Football League, representing clubs such as Hartlepool United, Notts County, Bradford City, Carlisle United, and Chesterfield, and altogether nearly 800 appearances after dropping into non league.

In recent times, Liddle played for South Shields before making a move to Spennymoor Town in March.

Alongside his on-field responsibilities, Liddle will also take on the role of assistant manager to Seasiders’ head coach Nathan Haslam for the upcoming 2024/25 season.

Whitby finished the 2023/24 season sitting 12th with 56 points from 40 games played, but had 3 points deducted for fielding an ineligible player.

✍️ We are delighted to announce the signing of experienced defender Gary Liddle.

Welcome to the Seasiders, Lids 👊

— Whitby Town FC (@WhitbyTownFC) May 25, 2024

CLUB STATEMENT:

Gary Liddle has completed a move to Whitby Town after a deal to bring the experienced defender to Towbar Express Stadium was agreed.

The Seasiders fought off competition from a host of North East sides to secure the signature of the 37-year-old, who has penned a two-year contract with the club having made over 500 EFL appearances during his career.

Liddle graduated from the well regarded Academy set-up at Middlesbrough before he joined Hartlepool United.

He has also featured for Notts County, Bradford City, Chesterfield, Carlisle United and Chesterfield, as well as winning the Northern Premier League title with South Shields two seasons ago. Most recently, he had a short stint at Spennymoor Town.

The 6ft 1ins centre-back becomes Nathan Haslam’s second signing of the summer following the arrival of Mitch Parkinson last week.

Liddle will also support Town boss Haslam as Assistant Manager during the 2024/25 season.

On the arrival of Liddle, Haslam said: “I’m delighted to get Lids on board as both a player and by my side as Assistant Manager.

“He knows what it takes to be successful in the Northern Premier League and his leadership, experience and professionalism will be a huge asset for the team.”

GARY LIDDLE’S CAREER:

Youth career
–2003 – Middlesbrough
Senior career
2003–2006 – Middlesbrough
2006–2012 – Hartlepool United – 284 games (21 goals)
2012–2014 – Notts County – 88 games (4 goals)
2014–2016 – Bradford City – 76 games (4 goals)
2016–2017 – Chesterfield – 46 games (1 goal)
2017–2019 – Carlisle United – 117 games (2 goals)
2019–2020 – Walsall – 16 games (0 goals)
2019–2022 → Hartlepool United – 80 games (0 goals)
2022–2024 – South Shields – 75 games (2 goals)
2024 – Spennymoor Town
2024– Whitby Town

Honours

Middlesbrough
FA Youth Cup: 2003–04

Hartlepool United
Football League Two second-place promotion: 2006–07
National League play-offs: 2021

South Shields
Northern Premier League: 2022–23

Individual
Hartlepool United Players’ Player of the Year (joint): 2006–07
Notts County Player of the Year: 2012–13
Notts County Manager’s Player of the Year: 2012–13
Notts County Players’ Player of the Year: 2012–13
Northern Premier League Team of the Year: 2022–23
South Shields Player of the Year: 2022–23

This is how fans reacted as Whitby Town impresses fans with the ‘quality signing’ of experienced former EFL defender Gary Liddle…

@RocketJonnie: What a quality signing, always puts 100% effort in every game

@IsaacHUFC: Pools Legend, hope he does well for you guys

@mendi14: Some signing that 🙌🏻

@UTM_Mariners: 👏🏽👏🏽

@MikeyHobson3: Good signing

@AlwaysReadySSFC: Great signing for Town that!

@DezyByers33: All the best for the future

@nick_dunwell: Great signing

@GasManTim: Class act.

@GregCottey4: Love that! 👊🏼

@BlythsGreenArmy: Would have thought he was stopping at Spenny. Great signing for Whitby that. Most of the local(ish)NPL teams are putting together some strong squads ahead of this coming season 😐

@12BBYTHESEASIDE: Best of luck he is class

Jeff Winter: Excellent signing still a quality player with experience to shine at this level 👍👍

Andrew Snaith: Great addition, tons of experience

Paul Golland: Brilliant signing. As whitby have had a young side now for a few years, someone of Gary’s experience will help immensely. The fact that he is comfortable as central defender or midfielder gives added flexibility. On the face of it a good replacement for the loss of Dan. Hopefully a couple of experienced players to follow to back up a young squad. It would also be interesting whether there are some bright prospects in the U19’s squad.

Iain Vitty: Great signing 👏👏 Was a good player when he played for Bradford, Puts a shift in

Scott Loynes: Fantastic signing. Great person, player and leader!

Ian Ballard: Welcome to whitby ❤️

Alan Smith: Great to see experience being brought into the club. Really looking forward to following the club again from further down the east coast nr Great Yarmouth. Hopefully catch a game when i am up there in September on holiday 👍🤍💙⚽

Adrian Cole: Loads of experience and knows the league very well too. A very good signing. Gonna need a bigger dugout with all the staff though 🤣

Great signing and a brilliant person too. Always a pleasure to deal with when it came to work. https://t.co/VCTrelcp0l

— Mark Carruthers (@MarkCarruthers_) May 25, 2024