GUISELEY have announced the signing of midfielder Liam Tongue after his departure from Hyde United - making him the first new arrival of the campaign for the Nethermoor side.

Tongue is looking forward to renewing his association with The Lions after a one match dalliance in 2021 when he signed on dual registration whilst with Hyde United.

As he explained: “It was January 2021 during Covid 19 and our league had already been stopped from playing so Hyde let some of us go out to get match action. I came to Guiseley and my one game was a long trek from my home to Gateshead as due to the pandemic there was no team bus. After that game the National League North was also suspended.”

By day Tongue is a college tutor at Sheffield United running the degree programme for the Academy players.

He said of his job: “It is fantastic to have this role as I always wanted to be a teacher and university lecturer. I enjoy every day of the week combining my work and my football.”

Always keen to get an education as well as being a footballer Tongue gained a BA (Hons) degree at Liverpool John Moores University and later added a PGCE.

He was one of six John Moores students to be awarded the ‘Vice Scholarship’ based on both academic and sporting achievement.

The player managed the university football team from 2015 to 2018 and in that time they became BUCS 1A champions and reached the play-off finals of the Premier Division.

He also played for and captained the English Universities side for three years and they won the Home Nations tournament.

Tongue remained on board the set up and is currently involved in running the English Universities side which this season included young Guiseley player Lewis Hey.

Tongue said:”Lewis did fantastic for us this season. It is a great experience for young players representing their country at any level.”

Tongue has wide experience of coaching having been involved in the academies at Manchester City, Liverpool, Burnley and Oldham. He has also been involved in after school clubs and holiday camps for young people.

After representing Tameside Boys and Greater Manchester Boys his football career started at Stockport Georgians. He then joined Cheadle Town, where he won Players’ Player-of-the-Year. Spells followed with Mossley, Marine and Stalybridge Celtic before he landed at Hyde United in September 2019.

Tongue became a big crowd favourite at Hyde for whom he scored some vital goals. He was sorely missed when he suffered an ankle injury late in the 2021-22 season.

A keen all-round sportsman Tongue plays cricket as a wicketkeeper-batsman and has also represented the North West at badminton and table tennis.

Of his move to Guiseley Tongue said: “I had come across Russ O’Neill and Phillo and the rest of the management team at Guiseley and know them well and have a good relationship with them. I also know of Guiseley as a club and its history so it was a no brainer for me to join them.

“It made a lot of sense to come here to Guiseley and show people what I can bring to this club, not only on the field but off it as well. I am a great believer in having a good link with the fans and that is something I know they have at Guiseley.

“If you can stop and spend five minutes with a fan or a young mascot then you can make their day. It is vital to have that connection between players and fans as they play such a big part in a club. They spend their money every week following the team and it is good for the players to have that relationship with them. I am looking forward to meeting them all.”

He added: “A good relationship between fans and players is vital to a club. Their support can make a huge difference to you when times are hard.”

Of his experience in the leagues Tongue said: “I have been around the leagues for a while so my experience should bring added value to the team. The club has a lot of potential and it is essential to get it back to where it needs to be. We need to show our intentions from the outset and I am excited to be somewhere fresh but somewhere where I will feel comfortable with the people around me.”