Northwich Victoria will start the Blue Square North season with three goalkeepers after signing Curtis Aspden.
The former Farsley Celtic shot-stopper, who has started each of the past three friendlies, is likely to be Andy Preece’s first pick for the trip to Eastwood Town on Saturday.
Aspden, 21, finished last term at the Throstle Nest after switching to the Yorkshire outfit from Hull City in January 2008.
The Blackburn-born custodian has also spent loan stays at Harrogate Town and Scarborough after turning out for Bolton Wanderers and Burnley as a junior.
Meanwhile, Vics have moved to cover the absence of full back Ryan Brown.
A second Brown – former Crewe Alexandra professional Junior – has agreed a non-contract deal with the Blue Square North newcomers.
He could make his debut on Saturday.
The 20-year-old left-sided defender or midfielder spent last term at UniBond League Division One North outfit FC Halifax Town following his release by the Railwaymen – his home-town club.
He scored nine times in thirty-one starts for the Shaymen, who missed out on a play-offs place in their first season playing at that level.
And Brown, who trained with UniBond Premier Division promotion hopefuls Nantwich Town earlier this summer, is no stranger to football fans in Northwich after spending a month-long loan at Witton Albion from Crewe in March last year.
He made six appearances at Wincham Park, scoring once, to help secure Albion a play-offs place.
