Top of the R-Ainge: Ainge Becomes Blue

Gainsborough Trinity have beaten fierce competition to land the signature of Simon Ainge from Darlington FC, handing the combative centre back a contract, as Curtis Woodhouse completes the spine of his side. The defender, who had joined Boston United on loan, from the Quakers, was able to have his spell extended to include the duration of the National League North play-offs and following the cumulation of the Pilgrims play-off campaign, the Holy Blues took little time to capture the Bradford born stopper.

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A raft of clubs were in for the vastly experienced centre back, who has also appeared as an emergency centre forward for Harrogate Town in a season where he netted more than twenty goals, making him a colossus in both boxes. Ainge is an instantly recognisable figure within non-league football, at Guiseley he was constantly in and around the play-off positions, at the higher level, skippering the side to a second placed finish, the year after they had lost out in the play-off final to AFC Telford United.

Trinity boss, Curtis Woodhouse could not hide his delight as he revealed the reasonings behind this key signing that completes the spine of his new look squad,

"I’m delighted to get Simon Ainge signed on a contract at Gainsborough Trinity, a fantastic player with a wealth of experience and exceptional leadership skills. When you are thinking of leaders and the type of players you want in the dressing room Simon is the type that comes to mind, good on the ball and exceptional in the air and someone who will be a real threat from set pieces."

"With us building such a young dynamic squad it was important we had a spine that had seen it and done it and with Simon we have that and if you think of Simon at the back, Martyn Woolford in midfield and Gregg Smith up top in my humble opinion you have 3 players that walk into any team in our league."

The man mountain will join up with his teammates in a fortnight, following a short break after the delayed finish to the National League North play-offs. Ainge is under no illusion as to why Curtis has brought him in, "To be fair, I am coming in as an experienced player, having played a lot of games at a higher level. I am really looking forward to coming in and working with the gaffer and helping the young lads and compete. I come into the club having been competing at the top end in the league above and see no reason why we can’t be competing again this year."

Also having appeared for FC Halifax, Luton Town and Wrexham, 32-year-old Ainge has twice appeared for the England C side in a career that has seen him make nearly 400 first team appearances, Simon insists, "I have played at Gainsborough a lot over the years, and the club has a good reputation. Friends of mine that have played for the club have never had a bad word to say about Gainsborough, only positives, so I am looking forward to getting going."

Welcome to the club Simon, here is to a successful period in Gainsborough Trinity blue.