They say good things come to those who wait and if that prophecy is indeed true then Blyth Spartans and new addition Sean Reid can look forward to a bright future together.
Reid, who completed a move to Croft Park over the weekend, came close to joining Spartans earlier this year, however stayed loyal to his former club West Allotment Celtic, who were in the midst of what was to be a successful battle against relegation in the EBAC Northern League First Division.
However, with that battle won, Reid turned his attentions to joining Spartans and was grateful for the persistence of manager Tom Wade and looked forward to a “new chapter in his life” after swapping green and white hoops for green and white stripes.
“When I was playing for West Allotment and having a good run of goals and performances, you hear people talking and it comes to attention that the likes of Blyth Spartans, Darlington and Spennymoor are interested.
Blyth pushed for my signing half way through last season but I knew the situation at West Allotment. I knew that they needed me to fight relegation. So I stayed loyal to the club and my friends.
Luckily Tom Wade was still very keen on me signing, so I knew my next season had to be a new challenge. A new chapter in my life, which led to me signing for Blyth”
And the versatile Reid has set his sights on impressing not only the Green Army but also the men who carry their hopes and dreams, his new team mates.
“I’m very pleased that I have put pen to paper to become a Blyth Spartans player. It’s a great feeling and I’m ready for the challenge to not only show the players what I’m capable of but also the fans”
Reid paid tribute to the part played by Spartans boss Tom Wade in his ultimate decision to move to Northumberland, admitting that Wade made it impossible to turn down the move.
I had great advice from people that Blyth Spartans is a great club and a step in the right direction. I had a sit down meeting with Tom Wade, he painted a picture in my head of how Spartans is ran. From matchday, to training, the players, facilities, the chairman and the fans. Everything he was saying was ticking the boxes from then on I knew I’d be a Spartan”
The former Newcastle United and Barnsley academy man will meet up with his new Spartans team mates for the first time in late June when they return for the start of pre-season training. He admitted that he has two targets, to score goals and to help his new club achieve promotion after learning about how Spartans just missed out on the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League play-offs last season.
“My targets for the season are simple. I was told that last season Blyth Spartans just missed out on the play-offs and the year before it was close too. It’s simply put that my target this season is to give the fans what they want. Goals n promotion”
With that sort of ambition, it looks like it could be worth the wait to see Reid in the green and white stripes, for player and for his new supporters.