We are pleased to make another addition to the squad for the 2026/27 season with the signing of Joao Silva from Guiseley

The 22 Year Old, who has won five caps for Sao Tome and Principe joins after making 40 appearances at Nethermoor last season, having previously been with Farsley Celtic.

Joao said ”I’m looking forward to meeting all my team mates and playing on this pitch”

Cleggy said on his new recruit, ”He impressed for Guiseley against us last year and it was one of the most impressive wing performances I’ve seen in a while. We didn’t think he’d become available because we knew he was under contract at Guiseley. But then we got wind he was coming over to Manchester  this summer, and travel was a problem for him, so we were straight in on it and we got the deal done very early, He’s going to be very exciting, and we’re delighted to have him in.”

We are delighted to announce the signing of centre forward James Kirby.

James came through the academy here at Hyde and made his senior debut for the Tigers in 2013, at the age of just 17 in a Cheshire Senior Cup tie at home to Cheadle Town.

He was part of the squad for our second season the National League and made his league debut early in 2014 away at Southport.  He made a total of 18 appearances for the Tigers, mainly off the bench.

Since then he has plyed his trade all over including at Colwyn Bay, in Sweden at Sandvikens and Ostersund, most recently he had a spell in the Premier League in Malta at Marsaxlokk and is now back in the UK where manager Michael Clegg has won the race for his signature.

Kirby said ”It’s good to be back after 13 years, after five years abroad I am ready for a new challenge in the UK and i’m raring to go.”

Clegg said on his new striker ”We kept in touch while he’s been over in Scandinavia. In terms of his profile, he’s an old-fashioned number nine. He runs the channels, he’s big and strong, he scores goals, he’s brave, he’s good with his back to goal, he presses well, and he’s good at running in behind.

Above all else, he’s a top, top guy and a good teammate, so we’re absolutely delighted to have him.

He’s coming at a great age. He’s coming here to score goals, and he still wants to make a name for himself in England.”

Michael Clegg has added to his midfield options by securing the signing of Mo Wassa.

Wassa signs from Darwen FC, where he was nicknamed “Magic Mo,” was a key player for the Salmoners, having featured in nearly every match for the club since he signed in January 2025 from Route One Rovers.

Mo said ”It’s a new challenge for me, a new club I am looking forward to the challenge of stepping up a few levels.”

On his own style he said ”I’m a box to box midfielder, can also play the six and like to link up with the front players

Cleggy said ” I was made aware of him last summer. I went watching Darwen in a friendly, he was by far the best player on pitch

So we ended up getting around to watching him five, six times. I just think he can make the step up, I like everything about him as a player, I like his personality on the pitch, I like how he receives the ball, I like how he’s positive and plays forward.

So it’s going to be interesting to see how he finds the step up in intensity and with better players around him, but I’m hoping he can be another one of kind of a little gem we find. It’s something I’ve done over the years, and I’m hoping Mo can be one of the next ones, but he’s going to have to come in and graft because we’ve got a decent squad. So first and foremost, he’s going to have to nail that, but I think we could have a decent player on our hands.

Our Pre-Season fixture calendar has now been confirmed.

Starting on Saturday 4th July with a fixture away at Macclesfield FC and finishes with a home fixture to Coleshill Town on Saturday 1st August

Our full pre-season fixture list is as follows:-

Saturday 4th July – Macclesfield FC (A) 3pm

Tuesday 7th July – Prestwich Heys (A) 7:45pm

Saturday 11th July – Abbey Hey (A) 3pm

Tuesday 14th July – AFC Fylde (H) 7pm

Saturday 18th July – Stalybridge Celtic 3pm

Friday 24th July – Chester FC 7:45pm

Saturday 1st August – Coleshill Town 3pm

Our first game of our Pre-Season calendar sees us travel to Macclesfield FC on Saturday 4th July at 3pm.

We can announce that once again we will be playing Stalybridge Celtic in pre-season.

This game will take place on Saturday 18th July at Bower Fold with a 3pm kick off with both teams competing for the Keith Trudgeon Trophy.

We are able to announce that winger Dontai Gabidon has agreed terms to stay permanently at the Tigers, following his release from Macclesfield FC today,

Dontai joined on loan from The Silkmen in February, he scored six goals an a couple of assists in just 14 appearances and manager Michael Clegg is now delighted that he has agreed to stay.

Welcome back Dontai!

Following on from the announcement that Michael Clegg and his backroom staff have committed for the 2026/27 season we can provide supporters with further updates regarding the playing squad.

We are delighted to announce that Will Hall, Shakeel Jones-Griffiths and Edy Maieco have all agreed terms for the new season.

They join Jack Redshaw, Harry Ditchfield and Tom Pratt who were already signed on for next season.

Sadly, Matt Fearnley will be leaving this summer to pursue a new challenge with another club. Matt was offered terms for next season but leaves with our best wishes and the upmost respect and we thank him for his valuable contributions with us.

Fearns recently passed 150 appearances for the Tigers, scoring 29 goals, and made the most appearances of any player of last season’s squad in all competitions.

The gaffer Michael Clegg commented ”I am delighted to retain Will, Shak and Edy who all contributed a lot since I walked through the door. It’s great to get that business done and dusted quickly”.

On the departure of Matt Fearnley – ”I am really sad to lose Fearns, he’s left on really good terms. He just wanted a new challenge which I respect him for. He’s a great guy and his effort and commitment for this football club in the time he has been
here has been top class which I thank him for.”

Further squad updates will be communicated once available.