Local full-back signs for Gers

Nathan Baird is welcomed to Banbridge Rangers by club chairman John Patterson.

Full-back Nathan Baird has signed for the Cheney Park side after spending last season at Rathfriland Rangers.

Baird follows ex Glentoran and Glenavon winger Neal Gawley, who joined the club last week.

The 22 year-old left sided player is no stranger to Banbridge Rangers, having turned out in pre-season tournaments over the years and playing briefly for the club’s youth teams.

Baird has many friends at the club and would regularly have been seen wtahcing the Gers’ matches.

After coming up through the ranks at Loughgall, Nathan worked his way onto the first team making his debut in the Championship at 17 years old and was named their Young Player of the Year.

Nathan then had a short spell at Rathfriland before a move to Banbridge Town followed. In January 2015, Nathan returned to Rathfriland where he finished last season with a league winners’ medal after topping Division 1A of the Amateur League.

Former Rangers and Linfield forward Lee Feeney, of course, took over as manager of the club earlier this month.