Smythe back at Northolme

The 24-year-old former Worksop Town, Handsworth Parramore and AFC Mansfield player is no stranger to the stadium, where he used to play regularly as part on Scunthorpe United's youth team.

"I had contact with the gaffer in the off-season, we had a little chat and he invited me down to train with the lads," Smythe told the Trinity YouTube channel, discussing how he caught the eye of manager Curtis Woodhouse.

"I've trained with them for the last few weeks and then the gaffer called me up and offered me a deal.

"I would describe my self as an energetic full back-slash-wing back. I've got good quality on the ball.

"I like to get crosses in the box and over the last few seasons I've chipped in with a few goals as well."

Discussing his familiarity with the Northolme, Smythe added: "I know the club's got a really good history and a really proud history, it's got a really good fanbase and the pitch is excellent.

"When I was at Scunthorpe as a youth team player we used to play our home games at Gainsborough, so I know it's always and exellent surface."

Manager Woodhouse has spoken of the important role he believes summer signing Martyn Woolford can have after his move from Boston United.

"Woolly's got bags of ability, we're very, very fortunate to get him," Woodhouse said on the ex-Sheffield United, Bristol City, Millwall and Grimsby Town man.

"He'll be a great player for us. One thing I feel we lacked last season was composure in the middle of the park. I felt at times our games were like basketball matches - we attack, they attack, we attack, they attack.

"We could never seem to put our foot on the ball and put 10-15-20 passes together and take the sting out of the game.

"I was looking for a midfield orchestrator and Woolly will be that man."

Woodhouse added: "I watched him a couple of times last season, against Rochdale in the FA Cup. Woolly was the best player on the park by miles, his passing range is excellent. He'll be the one that sits in front of our back four and gets on the ball and makes us tick."

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper when you do your weekly shop.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper.