Atherton makes Warrington Town return

Warrington Town can confirm the return of goalkeeper Dan Atherton ahead of the new National League North season.

Atherton, 23, played the full 90 minutes in Tuesday’s pre-season friendly victory away at Prescot Cables.

He spent the 2021/22 season at Cantilever Park, making a total of 49 appearances, playing in every league match, including the two play-off games, famously saving a penalty that saw the Yellows beat South Shields to progress to the final.

In the summer, he departed to Welsh side The New Saints to play in Europe before returning to the Northern Premier League with Hyde United, twice playing against the Yellows last season.

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Now back at Warrington Town, Atherton will provide competition for Tony Thompson between the posts.

Manager Mark Beesley said: “I spoke to him in the summer, and he wants to come in and be around us. He turned down opportunities at other clubs to try and get in our team, which you can only commend.

“Tony is our number one because he was so good last year, but it’s up to the two of them to fight it out and put pressure on each other.

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“It’ll only enhance us as a club to have two goalkeepers of that quality.

“We like to have competition for places, which we feel is important throughout the team, and the goalkeepers are no different.”

Atherton previously came through the academy system at Liverpool, spending pre-season training with the first team squad and even appearing as an outfield player in a friendly match.

He made his Yellows debut in the 2-0 win at home to FC United of Manchester in August 2021, and his last appearance to date was in the play-off final defeat at Scarborough Athletic in May last year.