FORMER Forest Green goalkeeper Sam Russell has penned a deal at Vanarama National League rivals Gateshead on undisclosed terms.
A popular figure at the New Lawn, Russell,32, spent the last three years at Forest Green, making 144 consecutive appearances before he surprisingly lost his place in February to former Stevenage keeper Steve Arnold.
Boss Ady Pennock released the former Middlesbrough and Darlington keeper at the end of the season and new Gateshead boss Malcolm Crosby swooped to beat Hartlepool to his signature.
And the former Sunderland boss revealed his delight at bringing Middlesbrough- born Russell back to the region and believes he has signed one of the best keeper’s outside the Football League.
Delighted to put pen to paper for Gateshead F.C. To my next journey and promotion push #heedarmy
— sam russell (@russla23) June 11, 2015
“It’s a good signing because we’ve got an experienced goalkeeper. He comes from the area, so obviously he’s happy to be back home.
“Good goalkeepers are very hard to find, so we are very pleased to have got him.
“Sam left Middlesbrough the year I joined, but I’ve seen him play quite a lot at Forest Green.”
After leaving Conference club Forest Green, he said: “I had a fantastic time there [at Forest Green], I wouldn’t have changed it for the world. I’ve got a lot of memories and made a lot of friends. I have left with my head held high.”
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