GUISELEY made arguably their best summer signing when Steve Drench agreed a new deal with the Lions ahead of the inaugural National League campaign.

The keeper has been one of the best in the Conference North in recent seasons and has his admirers – he was not short of offers.

However, he chose another season at Nethermoor, despite the extra commitment needed for the country’s fifth tier meaning he had to quit his other job at his other club.

Drench said: “I was very pleased to agree terms and sign on again for Guiseley after what we achieved last season.

“It’s been well documented that I had to leave my coaching role at Blackburn Rovers to do it but it was something that I felt was right.

"I’ve been at Guiseley for a few years now and to finally get promotion was a fantastic feeling. To do that and then not be involved this season would have been hard.”

The continuity between the sticks as the Lions look to make an impression in the highest tier of non-league soccer is being mirrored in the defensive unit.

Danny Ellis was unable to commit to the added travelling time but most of last term’s defenders have also re-signed.

Drench feels that is crucial to the Lions consolidating in the higher division.

Another plus for the keeper is that Guiseley boss Mark Bower was quick to replace Ellis with Adam Lockwood, a centre back who had a spell at Guiseley before returning to Oldham Athletic for a second stint.

Drench continued: “Definitely for me, as a keeper, having all of those players I know well and can trust in the back four or five is a good thing. Football is all about confidence and it’s a massive boost for me that (most of) the defenders stayed with us.

“Danny was with us for ages and he will be a huge loss but to get Adam back is brilliant for the club.

"Mark said at the end of last season that he’d had to start ten different centre-back pairings during the season but we ended up with one of the best defensive records in the league.

“We’ve always had a tidy defence in the Conference North, and that’s gone a long way to ensuring the club always finished in the play-offs.

"We need to be even tighter now we’ve gone up, and having the same lads will be a big plus.”