I was on a contract at Guisborough, the manager told me they were struggling financially, but still wanted me there, just not on contract. All I wanted to do was win things so I asked who we were going to sign to be able make a challenge at the top. I was told there would be no signings so I just said I wasn’t happy and would have a look at my options. I don’t know how Bobby Scaife found out but within a couple of days he rang me, we arranged to meet and I would say within an hour I'd agreed to sign for him.

We met in The Seven Stars in Guisborough. I knew Whitby already had a decent side, he just said he was after two or three players and they would be up there challenging for the league. Bearing in mind I loved it at Guisborough and it was going to be my Testimonial year, he did a good job, because whatever he said took under an hour.

I wasn’t sure I'd even get a game at Whitby. There were some very good players all of who I'd been playing against. While I'm on the pitch, I have no friends so I had some big battles against a few who are now my new teammates, but I must say I was quickly made very welcome. I think that’s the beauty of football.

I knew them all having played against them for years, but also knew a few of the Boro lads from Sunday football. Goochy had told me he was going to Norton so I told him to come training with us. I told Bob and he said "yeah no problem" and the rest is history. It was a great move for Goochy.

I wasn’t really sure [we would be title challengers] at the time because the league was a lot stronger back then, but from a personal point of view, I thought maybe I needed a new challenge. I'd been at Guisborough nine years and I'd gone a bit stale.