FORMER York Knights star Andy Ellis has put pen to paper with Goole Vikings for 2025.

The 39-year-old last played professionally for the Knights in 2019, having answered the call of then-head coach James Ford to come out of retirement due to an injury crisis at hooker.

Since, he has turned out regularly in the amateur game, most recently with Goole, who have retained his services as make the step up from the Yorkshire League to Betfred League One next year.

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He is not the only ex-York player among the Vikings' ranks, with brothers Jack and Harry Aldous, and utility Ben Dent also signed up for 2025.

Ellis offers a wealth of experience to Scott Taylor’s side, boasting more than 350 professional games under his belt across rugby league’s top three tiers.

He began his career with Hull KR, for whom he scored 18 tries in 50 appearances and lifted the Northern Rail Cup in 2005, before spending three seasons with Barrow Raiders, during which time he was named the Championship Man of Steel after leading them to the 2009 title and another Northern Rail Cup final.

After featuring for both Harlequins and Wakefield, the hooker then moved to Featherstone in 2012, making over a century of appearances for the West Yorkshire side before initially hanging up his boots at the end of 2016 – only to come out of retirement the following season with York.

There, he turned out 35 times before retiring for a second time at the end of the 2018 campaign, later adding a further three appearances to his tally, his last coming in a 30-4 defeat to Featherstone in September 2019.

Ellis has played a large part behind the scenes at Goole, and his head coach expects him to be "invaluable" on the field as the club prepare for life in League One.

“I think Andy will prove to be a very astute bit of business by the club, to have someone of his calibre, experience and knowledge around our group is going to be invaluable,” Taylor enthused.

“He is someone James [Clark, strategic advisor] and myself know well, both him and his family are rugby league through and through, and he has been a tremendous asset at every club he has been with throughout a noteworthy career.

“For our players and staff to be able to call upon that depth of experience, especially our younger players, it will be invaluable, whilst it also bolsters the strong links within our club between the amateur and professional set-up.

“Andy is still extremely fit and still very driven; he will be pushing our dummy halves all the way this year and don’t be surprised to see him play a big role for the team this season.”

Ellis is excited to be back playing professional rugby league, adding: “After playing with the Vikings last year, I got a taste of what Goole Vikings is about: the vision, the team camaraderie and the ambition of building something special in Goole. It got me excited and eager to push myself and play rugby league again.

“After the season ended, I knew I wasn’t ready to throw in my boots and so, after speaking with Scott and James and hearing about the ambition and vision of Goole Vikings, I decided to put pen to paper and sign on for next season.

“To be part of a group that is bringing professional rugby league to Goole is extremely thrilling and a moment to be proud of.”