Newton Aycliffe FC’s summer rebuilding gathered momentum as striker Jamie Owens joined the club having rejected the opportunity to stay with Shildon.
The 23-year-old returns to Moore Lane Park, having played 45 minutes for the club back in 2009 – as a substitute in a 3-0 reverse to North Shields – before joining EvoStik outfit Whitby Town.
A powerful striker, Owens (above, centre) will line up with close friend Danny Earl as the Newtonians look to improve on last season’s disappointing campaign.
Owens scored 30 goals during 2012-13, including a hat-trick as former club Billingham Town routed Allan Oliver’s men 8-0 at Moore Lane in October.
He signed for the Railwaymen shortly after, having spurned the chance to join Darlington as the Quakers romped away with the Northern League title.
Owens becomes the club’s third new face, following former Town players Dan Molyneux and Christian Selby to Aycliffe.
Fred Woodhouse, James Oliver, Danny Lambert and Dan Mellanby join last term’s top marksman Earl, as Aycliffe aim to recover from the departures of Scott Pocklington, Darren Craddock and skipper Sean Tarling.