Harrogate Town

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Hartlepool United have brought in defender Liam Gibson following the expiry of his contract with Harrogate Town.

Gibson has signed a one-year deal at Victoria Park after three seasons with the Sulphurites, with his new club holding the option of an extra year.

The County Durham-born defender, 29, was on the books at Newcastle United as a youngster.

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Harrogate Town have signed former Morecambe right-back Lewis Payne.

The 22-year-old, who started his career with Southampton, scored four goals in 33 National League appearances for the Shrimps last season.

"We've chased Lewis Payne the whole summer. He's a right-sider that we feel can add quality and expertise in a specialist position," boss Simon Weaver told the club website., external

Town have not disclosed the length of deal he has signed.

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Harrogate Town midfielder George Thomson has signed a new one-year deal.

The 34-year-old's new contract will see him complete a 10th season with the club.

He has made 335 appearances for the Sulphurites and helped them win promotion from National League North up to League Two.

"Obviously the club means a great deal to me. You don't spend this long somewhere and don't care about it," he told the club website., external

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Experienced goalkeeper Rory Watson has agreed a one-year deal to become Harrogate Town's fifth summer signing.

The 30-year-old, who began his professional career with Hull, was a free agent after leaving National League champions York City at the end of the 2025-26 campaign.

"I'm ecstatic," he told the club's website, external. "I've been a part of successful teams in the past and looking at the squad being built here, I think this can be a real success as well."

Watson has previously had three separate spells at Scunthorpe United, where he spent part of last season on loan, as well as stints with Wrexham, Doncaster Rovers and North Ferriby United.

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Harrogate Town midfielder Lucas Barnes has signed a new one-year contract.

The 19-year-old came through the Sulphurites academy and made his first team debut on the final day of the 2024-25 season against Morecambe in League Two.

He signed his first professional contract with the club in the summer of 2025 and made one substitute league appearance last season.

"We think he can push the more experienced players and really stake a claim for a shirt," said Harrogate's head of player recruitment Lloyd Kerry.

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Woking have signed former England youth defender Zico Asare on a two-year deal from Harrogate Town.

The 25-year-old, who represented England at under-15 and under-16 level, spent the past two seasons in League Two with Harrogate, who were relegated to the National League.

He began his career at Fulham and had spells at Oxford City and Maidenhead United before he joined Harrogate in 2024.

Woking director of football Jody Brown told the club website, external: "He brings a great deal of EFL and NL experience.

"He still has potential to improve, but already he has many of the qualities we want from our full-backs.

"I coached against him a few times and saw the problems he caused us, and how he dealt with our play. He always impressed me."