FOREST Green Rovers have signed goalkeeper James Montgomery on a free transfer from Gateshead.

The 24-year-old becomes Rovers' first signing of the summer after he put pen to paper on a two year contract.

Montgomery played 27 times for the National League side last season. He previously played for AFC Telford United and is a product of the Middlesbrough academy.

The keeper is delighted to be stepping up into the EFL and explained how the presence of one of the members of Goalkeeping coach attracted him to the club.

"It was a step in the right direction for my career," said Montgomery. "The club's going in the right direction and I like the mentality behind the club.

"Working with someone like Pat Mountain day in day is something you can't say no to because he's a very good goalkeeping coach.

"You look at where Pat's been working in the last few years. He's been at Hull, he's been at Wolves and has been working with some top goalkeepers like Carl Ikeme and Wayne Hennessey who've had very good careers so it'll be nice to work with Pat.

"I've done a bit with him before but not on a full time basis so to be able to work with him day in day out is something I'm looking forward to. It's nice to have someone who has that confidence in you and believes you're the right fit for the team."

Montgomery has goalkeeping pedigree in his family. His Grandfather is the cousin of legendary stopper Jim Montgomery who won the FA Cup with Sunderland in 1973 but he hasn't always been a keeper and has other attributes to his game.

"I didn't become a goalkeeper until I was 16 so I played outfield pretty much all my life until then," he explained.

"I played in goal for the school once and I had a good game so I thought I'd give it a go. I always held back and always thought I could have made it as an outfield player but when I went in goal I was better at it and thought I had more chance of making a good career out of it so I stuck with it."

"I'd say kicking is my strength, I'm comfortable with the ball at my feet but I'm also quite good at coming for crosses and commanding the area."

The former Telford man is set to make his EFL debut and feels he ready to make the step up.

He said: "Sometimes you have to take one step back to take two steps forward. I made that drop down and ever since the steps have been forward and I feel I'm at the right age and step in my career to push on and perform well for Forest Green and be at the right end of the table."