Two more join Gateshead’s squad revamp
GATESHEAD took their summer signings to five by adding Halifax forward Richard Peniket and Macclesfield defender Neill Byrne.
Both opted to turn down deals at their former clubs to move north and are ex-youth internationals, Byrne for the Republic of Ireland and Peniket Wales.
The Tynesiders have changed their transfer focus after three midfield signings in the last two weeks.
Russell Penn from Wrexham, Hartlepool’s Keiran Green and JJ O’Donnell have already signed up but the club need to strengthen elsewhere due to injuries and exits.
Defenders Liam Hogan and George Smith have signed for Salford City and Northampton Town respectively, creating a void which Byrne will look to fill.
He started his career at Nottingham Forest and then had a year at Rochdale, where he went on loan to Barrow and Southport before joining AFC Telford.
After two years in Shropshire, he linked up with Macclesfield in 2015 and went on to make 62 appearances for the Silkmen.
His final game was last weekend in the narrow FA Trophy final defeat against York City at Wembley where he went off injured in the second half.
Peniket, at 24 one year older than Byrne, has spent the last three years at Halifax and was brought to the club by current Gateshead manager Neil Aspin.
He suffered a cruciate knee injury late in his first season at The Shay but recovered to play a full part in Halifax’s promotion back to the National League in 2016/17.
A hard-working striker with a modest goalscoring record, Peniket scored in both legs of Halifax’s play-off semi-final triumph against Salford City.
He also led the Town line in the play-off final win against Chorley at The Shay - his final game for the Yorkshire outfit.
Peniket joins former Halifax team-mates Jordan Burrow, also a striker, and James Bolton at Gateshead, all three playing in the Shaymen’s FA Trophy final win in 2016 at Wembley.
“Peniket did well for me at Halifax before he got injured,” said Aspin, “He’s a player I know well and he will strengthen our forward options.”
Peniket, whose career began at Fulham, and Byrne have both signed one-year deals.