GUISELEY have announced that academy graduate goalkeeper Dec Lambton, has signed a new contract with the club for the 2021/22 season.

After waiting patiently in the wings, Guiseley AFC Academy graduate Dec Lambton hopes to push his claims for the first team goalkeeper’s spot with some good performances in the club’s pre-season friendlies.

Lambton, a 20 year-old from the Wibsey area of Bradford, excelled in Dave Currie’s Academy at Nethermoor with a string of good performances.

The first team management duo of Russ O’Neill and Marcus Bignot kept their eyes on the rising talent and signed him up on a first team contract.

The young ‘keeper was initially sent out on a dual registration to Campion AFC to experience the more physical side of men’s football and his time at the Bradford side was later turned into a loan deal, when Lambton signed a contract on his 18th birthday.

Last season he moved, again on loan, to Albion Sports and once again had a good season. Of his experience Lambton said: “As a young ‘keeper I needed to get games at a higher level than Academy and Campion and Albion fulfilled that need for me. I hope now that I can push on and claim the first team spot at Guiseley. I have worked hard and the management have said it is down to me now to impress in the pre-season games.”

“I am aiming to do just that and have just signed a new one year deal with the club. It is a great place to be and the senior players and management are really encouraging of young players. I had a lot of help and good advice from the Academy management team of Dave Currie and Danny Ellis along with goalkeeper coach Luke. Now is the time for me to step up and impress when the chance comes.”

Lambton progressed through the Bradford City Academy before being released and he then played for North Owram Juniors for two seasons before signing for Guiseley Academy.

“Guiseley Academy allowed you to improve a lot and I was among friends as most of the players knew each other from junior or Sunday League football. It was a collection of all the best players from the junior leagues and we played some good football and enjoyed great success under Dave,” said Lambton.

He added: “Now it is time to play men’s football and Russ and Marcus have introduced a number of Academy players into the first team squad so I am hopeful of making my mark. My target for the season is to cement a first team place as No 1 and play as much football as possible and help Guiseley to achieve something.”

Despite being a Bradford lad the pre-season game Lambton is looking forward to the most is the one against Leeds United and he has his fingers crossed that he will get selected for that one.