Dan Atherton: It feels good to be back

Warrington Town goalkeeper Dan Atherton admits it is a brilliant feeling re-signing for the club.

Last week, Atherton played the full 90 minutes as a trialist as the Yellows kicked off their pre-season schedule with a 2-0 win at Prescot Cables, and his permanent signing was confirmed in the days following that match.

The 23-year-old then featured against City of Liverpool on Saturday, making several fine saves to help his side to a 2-1 victory at Cantilever Park.

Atherton made 49 appearances and helped the club to the Northern Premier League play-off final during his first spell in 2021/22 before leaving to take up an opportunity in Welsh football.

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Now he has returned to the Yellows and will look to provide competition for Tony Thompson between the sticks.

“This is obviously a club that I love, and I enjoyed the season that I spent here,” Atherton said.

“The majority of the lads are the same, and I loved working with them, the club and playing in front of the fans.

“It felt great against Prescot, to be able to come out and play in front of the travelling supporters. There were a few shocked faces because it’s been kept under wraps.

“It was good to be playing again in a Warrington Town shirt. I’m just really happy to be back and I’m looking forward to the new season.

“Some of the fans at Prescot spent half of the game chanting ‘Trialist A’ which I thought was hilarious!

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“It’s great – I’ve got a really good relationship with the fanbase, and even when I did leave the club, I came back regularly to watch the games.

“Even though we were rivals last season, I still came and watched the play-offs and supported the lads because they’re all good friends of mine.

“I’m a local lad and it’s just great to be back playing in front of the people I’ve played in front of before, and this time we’ve got a few more fans so I’m excited to get to know them as well.”

You can read more from Dan Atherton in our pre-season programme, which will be available to purchase for just £2 at Cantilever Park ahead of our friendlies against Accrington Stanley and Morecambe.