Tony Thompson & Tom Hannigan

Yellows boss Mark Beesley on double signing

Warrington Town manager Mark Beesley says the signings of Tony Thompson and Tom Hannigan are a real coup for the club ahead of the new season.

Goalkeeper Thompson, 27, became the first new signing of the summer and was shortly followed by his team-mate, defender Hannigan.

The pair were part of the first full pre-season training session last week.

Beesley said: “Once it was clear that Dan (Atherton) was going to move on, we identified Tony quite quickly and we didn’t think we’d have a chance of getting him with him having played so many games in the National League over the last two years.

“It’s a real coup for the club. I went and met him, we had a good conversation for a good couple of hours and we got on really well. We put an offer to him and fortunately for us with Altrincham and other clubs going full time, it opened the door.

“For us to get the calibre of Tony Thompson is an outstanding achievement. He’s been an outstanding keeper two leagues above us so for us to get him was a real coup.

“The pleasing thing with Tony is he’s experienced winning things, winning this league, winning promotion from the league above, he’s a winner, he’s a big personality, he’ll fit in really well, he knows a lot of lads already and he was delighted to come.”

Thompson made 38 appearances for Altrincham last season and played more than 200 games for them, keeping 64 clean sheets.

Hannigan, who turned 34 on June 30, also made more than 200 appearances for Altrincham, including 30 last campaign.

Beesley added: “Signing Tom was a real bonus. We identified him towards the end of last season as someone we would go for. We know through various people that Tom has a really good job and so was going to find it difficult to go full time with Altrincham.

“We spoke to him earlier in the summer. He’s a leader, he’s a winner, he’s a defender that puts his body on the line and he’s comfortable in possession.

“Again it’s us identifying players from leagues above who have got experience of winning, doing well in this league and the league above, and the big thing for us is he knows a lot of the lads already, he fits in really. We were of course disappointed to lose Robbo (Mark Roberts), but we’ve found an able replacement who take that leadership mantle on for us.”

You can show your support for Thompson and Hannigan by buying a 2022/23 WTFC Season Ticket. All fans who purchase a Season Ticket prior to August 1 will be entered in to a prize draw to win some exclusive Yellows money can’t buy prizes!

Leave a Reply