Workington Reds have announced the signing of 43-year-old former Portsmouth, Ipswich Town and Leeds United star David Norris.
He has been reunited with his former Lancaster City manager Mark Fell at Borough Park.
The move sees Norris reverse his decision to retire at the end of last season.
The vastly-experienced midfielder now joins Workington's Northern Premier League Premier Division campaign.
Norris had hung up his boots at the end of last season but Fell has persuaded him to resume his non-league career in west Cumbria.
Fell believes Stamford-born Norris will add valuable know-how on and off the pitch at Reds.
"We're crying out for a little bit of guile and experience in certain areas and situations at the moment," Fell told the Reds website.
๐ช๐ฒ๐น๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ ๐๐ผ ๐ช๐ผ๐ฟ๐ธ๐ถ๐ป๐ด๐๐ผ๐ป, ๐ก๐ผ๐๐๐ฎ ๐ซก
โ Workington AFC (@WorkingtonAFC) September 9, 2024
We are delighted to announce the signing of midfielder David Norris who joins the Reds after having enjoyed a distinguished career in the Football League.
๐ https://t.co/410dioYV0v#RichHistoryBrightFuture #RedsRiseAgain pic.twitter.com/U4UY2ymjos
"Someone with David's pedigree is an asset to any dressing room."
Fell described Norris's age as "irrelevant", saying he was "in the top two in terms of his data of physical outputs in every game last season".
"He has absolutely nothing to prove but wants to be back in the football environment and enjoying the buzz of the game again," added Fell.
"Heโs got so much to add to us in so many different ways and Iโm delighted heโs back out of semi-retirement for us.โ
Norris's career started at Stamford before he stepped into the Football League with Boston United in 1999.
He has since played for Bolton Wanderers, Hull City, Plymouth Argyle, Ipswich Town, Portsmouth, Leeds United, Peterborough United, Yeovil Town, Blackpool, Leatherhead, Salford City, Shaw Lane, Boston again and, for the last six years, Lancaster.
His spell at Plymouth from 2002 to 2008 was the longest of his career at a single EFL club while he had three-year stints at Ipswich and Leeds respectively, totting up more than 500 senior appearances in total.
The new Reds signing added:ย โIโve spoken at length with the gaffer, having worked with him for many years previously, and he told me how good the set up is at the club.
"Iโve come in initially for the short term and Iโm excited to join up with the lads.
"Despite retiring at the end of last season, Iโve definitely still got the motivation and hunger to play, win games and score goals, so we will see if the body allows it!โ
Workington, who are 12th in the table, go to Blyth Spartans in their latest league game tonight.
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