We are delighted to announce the signing of 21 year-old forward Matty Gillam.
Forward Matty Gillam joins Guiseley AFC following a recommendation by his former Rochdale club mate Brad Wade writes Rachel O’Connor.
The young goalkeeper, who was on loan at Guiseley last season, recommended the club to Gillam when he was released by Rochdale this summer.
After meeting Guiseley Joint Manager Russ O’Neill the 21 year-old decided that Guiseley was the place for him to continue his football.
Born in Kent the player moved when just a few months old with his family to Congleton in Cheshire, which remains his home base. He started playing football with a local junior club aged seven and was quickly scouted by Port Vale and signed up to their Academy system.
Gillam remembers being offered a deal aged seven saying: “It was turned down as I just wanted to carry on playing with my mates.”
At the age of 12 scouts came calling from Manchester City and he went there for three months before joining the Stoke City Academy. Stoke did not offer him a scholarship at 16 so Gillam moved on to join Rochdale on a scholarship.
That is where he met Brad Wade with Gillam adding:”Brad trained a year up in my group and we became mates. When I was told that I was being released Brad told me how much he had enjoyed his time at Guiseley and said it would be good for me to go there. He put Russ O’Neill on to me and I really liked what Russ was saying about the club and the way the team worked. He sold it to me and now I cannot wait to get started.”
Whilst at Rochdale Gillam had loan spells at Stalybridge and at Irish club Cork City, the latter seeing him get injured in the warm up to what should have been his first game. When he returned to Cork a new manager came in and all the loan signings were sent back to their clubs.
Having kept himself fit during lockdown by running, gym work and walking his dogs Gillam is now looking forward to pulling on a Guiseley shirt and kick starting his career.
Welcome to Guiseley Matty!
Matty is on board for the 20/21 season and is available to sponsor! Home, Away and Training kit sponsorships are available, please contact admin@guiseleyafc.co.uk for more details.
Home Sponsor – £100+VAT
Included in this package is a players shirt at the end of the season, a signed photo of the player, an announcement on our social media platforms thanking you for the sponsorship and a listing in the programme and on the website.
Away Sponsor – £70+VAT
Included in this package is a signed photo of the player and a listing in the programme and on the website
Training Sponsor – £50+VAT
With this package you will receive a listing in the programme and on our website
Sponsor a player today and you will receive the following benefits:
- A match worn shirt from your sponsored player, when taking up our Home Sponsorship package
- Sponsor your favourite player
- Be a part of the club
- Have your name and/or company appear in the programme for every home match
- Have your name/company appear on the website throughout the season
To sponsor a first team or academy player, contact us on admin@guiseleyafc.co.uk
