By Brian Bennett

Ashington FC announced the loan signing of James McGeorge from South Shields towards the end of last week.

Woodhorn Lane boss Ian Skinner said: “James is a technically gifted player and he offers us a little bit of something that we haven’t got at the moment in terms of that final pass and the ability to take somebody on. He’s been on loan at Whitey Bay where he’s done particularly well. South Shields wanted him to make the next step up so it is a similar to the situation we had with Oli Thompson. Oli came to us from Gateshead and did really well but they (Gateshead) wanted him to make the next step and he joined Blyth Spartans. South Shields paid us nice compliments in terms of the environment we create and that the way we try and play would benefit James. It’s another player to help us in an area of the pitch where it’s the most difficult – finding that final pass to create and score a goal.”

He continued: “He’s a young lad and we could have put him in against Grimsby Borough today but I thought after how well we played at Belper it was really unfair on him to come into a dressing room where he’s never met anybody before and go into a squad. Now he can train twice this week with us ahead of our home game against Bridlington Town on Saturday.”