South Shields complete signing of goalkeeper Myles Boney

Boney is the club's first summer arrival after making a real impression in a season-long loan spell at Mariners Park in 2019-20.

He joined Shields on a temporary basis from League One Blackpool last summer and went on to appear 37 times as a key part of a side which was 12 points clear at the top of the NPL Premier Division table before the season was curtailed.

Landing Boney on a permanent deal was one of the Mariners' key summer priorities and the 22-year-old was also hugely keen to return to South Tyneside.

He said: "I'm very excited to be a South Shields player again.

"It was a very easy decision for me after the good season I enjoyed here on loan.

"From the moment I joined last summer I felt very welcome and loved the place, the staff and the players.

"The fans also took to me really well and if the fans, players and staff like you, you get a very homely feeling.

"When the opportunity came about to come back on a permanent basis it was a no-brainer, and I'm buzzing to be part of things moving forward."

Shields are on course to be back in competitive action in mid-September, with the NPL Premier Division hoping to be given the green light to resume.

Boney – who could be joined by Jordan Hunter, who was also on loan at Mariners Park last season – is keen to get Shields over the promotion line this time after the frustrations over how the last campaign ended.

Boney added: "We've got massive motivation to do well again.

"Things happen in life that you can't help and that aren't necessarily anyone's fault, and we just have to go again.

"We've got to go back out and do what we were doing last season even better.

"To win promotion this season would feel even sweeter having felt that disappointment, and that's definitely the goal for us."