GUISELEY Academy product Ollie Brown has returned to the club after a season away to kick-start a career that promised much in his last spell with the club.

When he failed to get a regular place at Guiseley in 2021/22 the player looked to play more regularly and signed for Alfreton Town in the summer of 2022.

However, things did not go exactly as he had hoped and after featuring for the Reds throughout pre-season, as he failed to make an appearance for the first team in their opening four Vanarama National League North fixtures.

He went out on an initial one-month loan to Pitching In Northern Premier League side Atherton Collieries. Brown remained there for the rest of the season playing around 30 games and although he went initially as a centre-back he made an impact in midfield when asked to play there.

Brown, now 20, was registered as a first team player with Guiseley AFC for the 2021/22 season after continuing his improvement in first team training and in pre-season games.

The youngster was fired up to create a big impression by the progression of his former Academy teammate Nathan Newall, who progressed from producing some excellent performances for Guiseley’s first team to being signed by Sunderland.

Brown said: “I learned loads from everyone in and around the first team after having such a successful time with the Academy under Dave Currie. The FA Youth Cup run, especially the win over Bolton Wanderers, was an unbelievable experience.”

After being released by Bradford City at the age of 15 Brown joined Dave Currie’s Academy squad at Guiseley and made good progress captaining the side and being called up to train with the first team squad.

This came after a difficult season due to Covid when players didn’t get much game time or full training. At that time Brown played primarily as a right-back but can play anywhere across the back line.

Of his return to Guiseley Brown said: “It is great to be back. I came through the Academy, got a taste of first team football and then decided I needed to try new environments and different clubs. I now have that experience and am very happy to be back at Guiseley.

“It is a great club, as is the community around it. It feels like home, I live locally and work as a car mechanic in Yeadon.”

Of his ambitions for the upcoming season Brown said: “Personally I want to do the very best I can to help the team and play as many games as I can. For the team I want to be there for my fellow players on and off the field as we will hopefully be challenging for promotion.

He added: “I think that we have a very strong squad, especially with Prince back. He is a great player and a really nice person to be around.”

Brown praised the club’s fans saying: “They were really good to me when I was here before but I was not getting as much game time as I would have liked so went off to gain some experience. I am looking forward to having that link with them again. I feel that I have matured as a player and a person in the last 12 months and I am looking forward to the challenge.”