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.”