We are delighted to announce the signing of Brad Wade who has returned to Nethermoor after featuring as a trialist in pre-season.
It is obvious that a player feels at home with a club when he returns to it for a fourth spell as goalkeeper Brad Wade has done with Guiseley AFC, writes Rachel O’Connor.
A product of Rochdale’s Academy Brad, 23, has joined The Lions for the coming season in the Pitching In Premier Division with the knowledge that the fans will be behind him and that he has the backing of Guiseley’s Sporting Director Russ O’Neill. Wade has had three previous spells at the club as a loanee from Rochdale playing under O’Neill as his manager but as a full contract player he is now looking at it with a different view.
The player, who was released by Rochdale at the end of the 2021-22 season after seven years with the club, is now at a crossroads in his career after a torrid time over the past season or two.
On leaving Rochdale he played for Hereford and Southport but ruptured the UCL in his elbow. A proposed move to Irish League Premier Division club St Patrick’s also failed to gain international clearance due to his Non Contract status.
Wade is now looking for a fresh start with a club he loves and is happy to be rid of the Trialist A tag he has carried in a number of Guiseley’s pre-season games.
Wade said of his move: “I am happy to be back with Guiseley, the fans there have always treat me well and Russ O’Neill is a massive part of my wanting to return. He has always been there to support me and Guiseley is the club where I most enjoyed my football. I want to get that enjoyment back in my game.”
He added: “I had trials at a few clubs but this is where I want to be. You look round the dressing room and there are some great players here now. I think we are in for a good season and hopefully the club will return to National League North.”
Personally Wade said that he hopes to play 40 to 50 games for the club and start to enjoy his football again.
He commented: “Everyone here was great to me last time I was here so I hope to put in good performances for them. I have been keeping fit over the summer as I waited for the right opportunity to come up. I think that is right here at Guiseley where there is a good squad, some of whom like Prince (Ekpolo), Reece Kendall and Liam Tongue I already know. I have been really impressed with the squad that has been assembled.”
Wade first joined Guiseley on loan from Rochdale for the two Covid hit seasons. He had featured on the first team bench for Rochdale but came to Guiseley to get regular playing time.
Speaking of his first two loans with the club the goalkeeper said: “I really enjoyed both spells with Guiseley for different reasons. The first loan was my first real taste of playing men’s football in front of a crowd. The seven or eight games I played before the first lockdown did so much for me in terms of my development as a player. It also gave me a real feeling of what it meant to have a winning mentality and how important each game was.
“The second spell was different as it was all behind closed doors with restrictions in place at training and on match days so it was strange circumstances for everyone involved. I was really disappointed the season ended up being voided but looking at it from a personal perspective it was another 20-25 games in the locker.”
Born in Gloucester Wade was raised in Chorley, Lancashire, and was associated with Manchester United from the age of 10. After a spell with Blackburn Rovers he joined Rochdale.
There he became a product of the club’s youth system and signed his first professional contract with the club in 2018. This was later extended and he was contracted until the summer of 2022.
The young ‘keeper had been with Rochdale from the age of 15 and played in three FA Youth Cup campaigns. He was a key member of Dale’s youth team which won the EFL Youth Alliance League North West title in 2017-18. As well as extending his experience at Guiseley he also had a loan spell at Barrow.
Young goalkeeper Hagie Damba, a product of Guiseley’s successful Academy, has signed a dual registration with Guiseley and Thackley for the coming season.
He figured as a substitute in a number of Guiseley’s pre-season games and impressed in a couple of first team games at the back end of last season.
Brad’s home, away and training kits are all available to sponsor.
