AFC Fylde have signed Kidderminster Harriers and England C captain Ryan Croasdale on a three-year deal.
The Coasters smashed their previous transfer records agreeing to pay the National League North side £50,000 for the England C skipper.
Croasdale, 23, began his career with Championship side Preston North End, before moving to Sheffield Wednesday.
Things didn’t work out at Hillsborough and he switched to Kidderminster, captaining the side as they reached the play-offs for a second consecutive season.
Croasdale is now hoping to pursue a Football League return and sees Fylde as the perfect destination to realise his dream.
“I’m very pleased to get it all sorted,” he said. “I’m raring to go now and I’m ready for next season.
“You can tell the direction the club are heading with the size of the stadium and the money that is being invested. It’s a very ambitious club.
“I live locally in Lancaster so it’s much closer and that was one of the factors, but the way the club has moved forward over the few season is very impressive and I wanted to be a part on that.
“The transfer fee doesn’t put me under pressure, it fills me with confidence. Football is all about confidence and I want to embrace that and hopefully perform.
“Promotion is the aim this year. The club has had two terrific seasons, getting promoted from the National League North and then going so close last year. Hopefully we can build on that.
“I felt like it was the right time to move on. I had two great years at Kidderminster and I’d like to thank them for everything they did for me, but the move was inevitable because I wanted to make the step up and further my football career.
“Was it a difficult decision to leave… yes and no. Location wise it wasn’t ideal for the family so this is a better fit for a number of reasons.
“Ever since I left Sheffield Wednesday a couple of years ago I have wanted to get back into the League, it has always been my aim. Hopefully I can pursue that with Fylde.”
Croasdale has also made an impression on the international stage, boasting four caps for the England C team and recently captained Paul Fairclough‘s side to a 3-2 win over Wales.
“It is really good to be involved. I have played a few games for England C but to get the armband was a real honour and we won the game too, which was a bonus.”
For all the latest news, interviews, features and match reports from Steps 1 to 6, with exclusive access and behind the scenes news from your club throughout the summer, become a subscriber to The Non-League Paper, here: http://bit.ly/NLP-Sub
