He had a short spell with Northallerton as a teenager before enjoying service with Shildon, Thornaby and Guisborough. Last season he played alongside Town's new player-coach Dale Hopson at Bishop Auckland in the Northern Premier League East.

James also broadened his experience with an enjoyable period in Spain, where he represented Andalusian side Los Barrios.

The central midfielder has just completed a degree in sports psychology at Loughborough University and is excited about rejoining his home-town club.

"Northallerton is the perfect platform for me to further my experience in Northern League Division One," he says. "It's about buying time for myself to establish a place in the team and hopefully becoming a key player for the club.

"I'm ambitious to go as high and I can in the game and it's exciting to be here at Northallerton under the new management team. I'm the kind of player who works hard and likes to get on the ball and hopefully we can have a very successful season.

"I'm a box-to-box type of player and hopefully I can also contribute more goals as well."

New manager Jamie Poole says: "I'm thrilled that James has agreed to join us. Dale and I are well aware of his qualities and potential.

"He's definitely got all the attributes to play at a higher level but he's keen to establish himself here and show us what he can do at Northallerton. Dale speaks really highly of James as a player and we're absolutely delighted to have him in our squad."