YORK City Knights have completed a double swoop ahead of Sunday's National League Two clash against Swinton with the signings of Craig Forsyth and Lee Moreton.
Powerful prop Forsyth has returned to his hometown club for his third spell after completing a move from National League One outfit Doncaster Rovers, while full BARLA international full-back/centre Moreton has joined from the highly successful West Hull amateur outfit.
The pair put pen to paper last night, with big 32-year-old forward Forsyth coming straight into the reckoning to play in Sunday's crucial Division Two home encounter with Swinton, while other commitments will force Moreton to delay his debut.
Forsyth bulldozed his way through 78 games for York Wasps in two stints before leaving the then financially-stricken club in 2001 for Doncaster, becoming a regular in the fearsome Dragons pack. Forsyth first came to prominence at local amateurs Heworth before signing for York as a second-row in 1995 after a successful trial spell.
He played 12 games for the Wasps in 1995-96, 21 times in the 1996 summer season and 16 times in 1997, scoring four tries in all - and earning a £20,000 price tag - before leaving in early 1998 after failing to agree new terms.
He briefly returned to Heworth before embarking on an around-the-world trip, returning once more to the Villagers in 1999 and taking on player-coaching roles at the National Conference League outfit before rejoining the Wasps midway through the 2000 season.
He played 16 more times that year, scoring one try, and 13 times in 2001, before finances then took their toll at the by now struggling club, with Forsyth leaving for Doncaster.
His return to Huntington Stadium is well-timed as player-coach Broadbent is a doubt for Sunday's match after twisting his knee in the historic win at Barrow last week.
Knights chief executive Steve Ferres - who ironically played with Forsyth's father, Colin, at Bradford - was delighted at the capture. He said: "Craig Forsyth will give us more fire power to our front row.
"He's another go-forward player and it gives us options with Paul Broadbent, Rich Hayes, David Bolus and Andy Burland also in there. With his experience he will add to that greatly.
"We've got good competition for places at prop, more so in that position now than perhaps anywhere else on the field, and we are looking to get more of the same for the back row, half-back, wing and centres positions."
The competition for the centres and full-back position will come from Moreton, a former team-mate of Scott Fletcher in the amateur game and a player the Knights have been watching for some time.
Ferres added: "We've been tracking him for a few months now and I'm delighted that we have finally completed the deal. We are now looking forward to him proving he has what it takes to make it at this level."
Updated: 11:39 Friday, May 30, 2003
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article