Spalding United have pulled off a huge transfer coup as they were confirmed in the new Pitching In Northern Premier League Midlands Division.
The Tulips have signed former Peterborough United attacking midfielder Marcus Maddison.
The 27-year-old scored 52 goals in 212 for Posh between 2014 and 2019.
A former Newcastle United youth player, he got the move to Peterborough after impressing for Gateshead in the Conference where he earned two caps for the England C team made up of the best non-league footballers.
Last year he was on League One side Charlton Athletic’s books and made ten appearances out on loan as part of Bolton Wanderers’ promotion winning season from League Two.
He cut short that loan spell due to suffering with mental health issues and looked set to quit the game entirely.
Instead he’ll be turning out at the Sir Halley Stewart come the season’s start in August.
Manager Gabriel Zakuani said: “I reached out to Marcus at a time of need.
“I’ve played with him, I’ve captained him, I understand him.
“The boy just wants to enjoy his football without constant judgement.
“He’s a human being first of all.
“I’m able to provide what he needs right now. (He is the) perfect fit for Spalding United.”
Maddison said: “When Gaby reached out and offered me the opportunity to get involved with what he’s trying to build at Spalding, I felt like it was something I wanted to be part of. I look forward to getting fit and showing the gaffer what I can do.”
Zakuani has already announced the signing of defender Nathan Stainfield and striker Gregg Smith, who both return to the Tulips after previous impressive spells.
The manager has also said that many of the signings he made before last season was null and voided, such as striker Chris Assombalonga, 6ft 7in centre back Jordan Foster and the talented Glenn Yala Bolasie, will return.
After the incomings, they’re likely to be one of the most fancied sides in the new Midlands division they’ll be playing in next season which the FA officially announced its reorganisation throughout the country on Tuesday.
It’ll see the Tulips take on 11 new opponents in the 20-team division.
As expected they’re staying put at step four and will continue to have local derbies against Stamford and Wisbech Town.
A number of Cambridgeshire and Warwickshire sides have been moved into their division including Bedworth United, Cambridge City, Coleshill Town, Corby Town, Daventry Town, Halesowen Town, Histon, Soham Town Rangers and Yaxley.
Two sides have been promoted, with Shepshed Dynamo returning to step four after leading the United Counties League Premier Division and the Black Country-based Sporting Khalsa coming up from the Midland Alliance.
Also remaining in the same league with the Tulips is Belper Town, Carlton Town, Chasetown, Ilkeston Town, Loughborough Dynamo and Sutton Coldfield Town.
Tulips chief executive officer Leigh Porter was happy with the FA’s proposal and said Zakuani was already studying the new opponents the Tulips will face in the 2021/22 campaign.
“I think it’s a bit more central and we’ve lost a few of the bigger trips which is good for both the players and those supporters,” he said. “The reorganisation of the leagues is a positive step and anything to be done to make running a football club more achievable should be welcomed.
“There’s still some very good teams in there, great teams who we aspire to be like such as Stamford and Wisbech.
“It’s a mixture and there’s not too much travelling but also teams likely to generate interest for local supporters.
“Local football is about good local clubs coming together in a competitive game and generating revenue so you can continue to do what you’re trying to do.
“Gaby is very much looking at each of the clubs and learning what they’re about and seeing if there’s anything else we might need.
“Now we’re waiting for the fixtures to come out and we’ll be ready for the start of the season.
“We’ve had a quick look at it and like any league at the start of the season you have your own goals and obviously you try to do as much as you can in preparation. We started planning for the next season as soon as the last one was null and voided.”
