Former Manchester United reserve team midfielder Craig Dean will play for Napier City in the new-look national soccer league which begins next week.
Napier City Soccer general manager Eddie Cropley announced Dean's signing on Saturday. During his seven years at Old Trafford from 1991 to '98 Dean played more than 200 reserve team games alongside football stars like David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and the Neville brothers - Phil and Gary.
Napier City head coach Charlie Howe was thrilled with Dean's signing. "Craig is a huge signing. His pedigree is obvious and a player of his quality will be the difference in games," Howe said.
A central midfield player, Dean, 28, boasts an impressive football CV which includes 15 youth internationals for England, FA Youth Cup glory and League and Reserve League honours with Manchester United.
Dean has also played with second division Cambridge United, Norwegian Premier League side Sogndal and Tvorya FC in Iceland, Shelbourne FC, Ireland and more recently with second division Torquay United.
Dean will arrive in Napier this week and have just a few days to prepare with the Bluewater Napier City side as they build up for the October 15 home match against Auckland City.
The Napier side's respectable pre-season form continued at a tournament in Palmerston North at the weekend. They beat Young Heart Manawatu 3-1 with goals from Jimmy Cudd and David Gearey and drew 1-1 with Team Wellington with Jason Hayne getting his name on the scoresheet.
Soccer: Midfielder goes from Old Trafford to Park Island
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