Guiseley bring goalkeeper, defender and striker to Nethermoor

The latest signing is goalkeeper Danny Taberner and he was confirmed as a Lions’ player this afternoon.

Taberner, 29, joins Guiseley from Runcorn Linnets where he picked up three awards last season as Manager’s Player-of-the-Year, Young Supporters’ Player-of-the-Year and Supporters’ Player-of-the-Year.

The Bolton raised player also won the award for keeping the most clean sheets in the Pitching In NPL Division One West and was instrumental in Runcorn getting to the Play-Off final.

Such was his form last season that many of the Linnets’ supporters had already accepted that the experienced and talented ‘keeper would be moving on to a higher level.

Taberner started his career with Rochdale and he became the club’s youngest ever first team ‘keeper when, at the age of 16, in November 2009 he made his debut in an FA Cup tie against Luton Town.

He played for Rochdale from 2009 to 2012 and then moved on to play for a number of clubs but mainly for Atherton Collieries, where he had three spells racking up a total of 133 appearances.

His other clubs include Stockport Sports, Salford City – where he was a teammate of Jameel Ible, Prestwich Heys, Ramsbottom United, Northwich Victoria and City of Liverpool.

The qualified self-employed gas engineer also works as a personal shopper and has worked for the likes of Anthony Joshua. Prior to the Covid lockdown he jointly owned a cocktail lounge.

He recalls playing against then Conference North side Guiseley for Atherton in an FA Cup tie but admits other than that his knowledge of the club is sketchy but sees joining them as ‘a massive step forward’.

Taberner cannot wait to get started training with his new teammates and is looking forward to meeting the Guiseley fans.

He explained: “I had a really good rapport with the Runcorn fans and I am looking forward to the same at Guiseley. I like to take time out and meet the fans, for me it is a big part of non-league football.”

This will be the first time Taberner has ventured over the Pennines to play for a Yorkshire club and says he is excited by it.

He added: “I look at Guiseley as a massive club and I want to help them to gain promotion. I will be aiming to keep as many clean sheets as possible.”

Of his new manager Paul Phillips Taberner said: “I have never been managed by a former goalkeeper before so it will be interesting.”

Guiseley have also signed a second former Brighouse Town player in defender Aiden Walker, who joins his friend Laurence Sorhaindo at Nethermoor. Aiden Walker pictured holding the Guiseley shirt (Image: Guiseley) 

Walker is primarily a left-back but is versatile also being able to play at centre-back, right-back or centre-midfield.

The 23-year-old Halifax-born player was with Barnsley from Under-14 to Under-16 but then signed as a scholar at League Two club Mansfield Town.

In a five-year spell with The Stags he had loan spells with Leek Town, Grantham Town and Coalville.

He sustained an injury and when his contract was up manager Nigel Clough did not renew it.

He had trials at South Shields and FC Halifax Town but needed knee surgery.

When he recovered, he joined Brighouse Town for the 2022-23 season where he made a big impression.

Walker decided to join Guiseley after hearing good things about the club from other players and is now looking to settling in and starting a new season.

He said: “I am quite a fit lad and I am looking forward to pre-season starting. Personally I am looking to stay fit and play as many games as I can and help to keep as many clean sheets as we can.

“The pre-season games look to be challenging with a number against National North opposition so that will be a good test.”

He added: “As a team the minimum we should be looking at is the play-offs but I am after promotion. This seems to be a good club with good people and they take care of their players.”

And finally, Guiseley will be aiming high in the new season having signed the vastly experienced and well-travelled 6ft 7ins striker, Tom Denton. Striker Tom Denton (left) after joining Guiseley (Image: Guiseley).

The 33 year-old joins Guiseley with vast experience behind him having played for clubs such as Chesterfield, Halifax Town and Alfreton Town.

The plasterer rose to cult hero status with Chesterfield helping to save them from oblivion. He has long been admired as a weapon in both boxes and it says a lot for him that in his four years with The Spireites all five managers – Martin Allen, John Sheridan, John Pemberton, James Rowe and Paul Cook – used him.

Chesterfield narrowly escaped relegation to National League North on a points per game basis prior to the Covid pandemic and he scored some vital goals including five in eight games.

Denton continued his impressive scoring into the next season netting six goals in six games and nine in the first 15 games before a knee injury ended his campaign.

He returned the next pre-season scoring against Alfreton Town but then injured his other knee.

Having been born and raised in Shepley near Huddersfield, where he also plays Huddersfield League cricket, Denton started out playing for Hepworth United Juniors.

He went on to play senior football with Wakefield Emley before attracting the attention of Huddersfield Town.

He was sent out on loan to Woking, Wakefield twice and Cheltenham Town before being released by The Terriers never having played a first team game.

His two loans at Wakefield proved prolific in terms of goals with 12 in 13 games in his first spell and four in six games in his second.

Thus it was no surprise to see him make a permanent move back to Wakefield in 2010.

Denton moved on to Mossley, where he netted 13 goals in 22 games, then joined Alfreton Town in 2012 and found himself loaned to Worksop Town, where he scored 11 goals in 11 games.

By this time Denton had made quite a name for himself as a goalscorer and he made the move to North Ferriby United – a move which brought him 39 goals in 80 games and an FA Trophy winner’s medal.

In 2016 he signed for FC Halifax Town where he again proved a success with 27 goals in 74 games.

A move followed back to Alfreton where he netted six times in nine games before his move to Chesterfield, where four seasons brought 23 goals in 78 games. He returned to Alfreton netting three goals in eight games.

Now he finds himself at Nethermoor and he commented on his move: “I am happy to be here and I have bought into what Paul (Phillips) and Russ (O’Neill) are wanting to do here. We want to at least get to the play-offs and if we do that would be a good season.”

He added: “I don’t really set myself targets but as a team we will want to win as many games as we can. I have played in the Conference, Conference North and this league and I hope to bring all my experience from those leagues to Guiseley and help the younger players.”

Among those experiences was playing against Ashton goalkeeper Paul Phillips, his new manager.

Another was netting a hat-trick for North Ferriby in a 3-1 win over Guiseley at Nethermoor just after Ferriby had won the FA Trophy at Wembley.

Denton had a message for the Guiseley fans saying: “I am looking forward to getting started in the pre-season games and want to see as many of you as possible getting down to these matches. I am looking forward to seeing you all, enjoy your Summer.”