GOALKEEPER Daniel Lloyd-Weston has signed a deal with Worcester City after impressing during their pre-season programme.

The 23-year-old former Hereford United stopper put pen to paper after City’s 2-2 friendly draw against Birmingham City’s under 21s at Aggborough.

He will be vying for the jersey with Nathan Vaughan for City’s National League North opener at Gainsborough on Saturday.

Lloyd-Weston, who lives in Crewe, had been considering a career away from football until the opportunity with City arose.

“Worcester offered me a contract which I initially turned down due to living in Crewe and it being a bit too far to travel,” admitted Lloyd-Weston.

“But things have changed a bit since then and I have enrolled at Hartpury College for a degree and I am hoping to move to Cheltenham, so things will become a bit easier.

“They are a good bunch of lads at Worcester and the management take training very seriously and the sessions are detailed and done properly. It seems a great set-up and I have signed a one-year deal on non-contract terms.”

Lloyd-Weston ended last season at Northern Premier Division One South club Newcastle Town.

He had started the term at Vanarama National League Southport.

Lloyd-Weston also had a loan spell at Salford.

“The last couple of seasons haven’t been straightforward,” admitted Lloyd-Weston.

“When I finished at Hereford and I was half-way through at Southport, I remember thinking I could become a regular in the National League and perhaps push on to League Two.

“But after Martin Foyle left Southport things didn’t work out and the financials problems at Hereford United, the previous season, have been well documented.

“Earlier this summer I texted Pete Beadle (manager of Hereford FC) to say I was scrambling for a club and if he heard anything could he get in touch. He rang to tell me Worcester City were looking for a goalkeeper.”

Lloyd-Weston has previously been a professional at Port Vale and Cheltenham Town.

“I have been told by the Worcester City management that whoever plays the best gets the goalkeeper’s shirt,” said Lloyd-Weston.

“Nathan seems to be a really good goalkeeper and it’s probably similar to when I signed with Hereford United and Rhys Evans was firstchoice.

“It’s healthy competition and that’s been the same everywhere I have been. My career is based on hard work and that’s where everything comes from. It’s not about money, it’s about having an opportunity to play football again.”

Evesham United face Herefordbased Westfields at the Jubilee Stadium in their final warm-up game tonight (7.45pm) before Saturday’s Evo-Stik Southern League Division One South and West opener at home to Yate Town.