Although mainly a centre-back, he is also able to play at right-back or in the centre of midfield.

He progressed through Middlesbrough’s academy, remaining with his home-town club until 2006.

During his time with Boro, he won he FA Youth Cup in 2003/04 as they beat Aston Villa in the final.

Liddle’s first spell at Hartlepool began in 2006, with the defender making his senior debut for the club.

He made an immediate impression, winning the club’s players’ player of the year award in his first season.

A mainstay in the team for six seasons, he made 238 appearances for Pools in his first stint with the club and helped them win promotion from League Two in 2006/07.

Liddle moved to Notts County in 2012 and spent two years at Meadow Lane.

He played every minute of County’s league campaign in 2012/13 and won a host of individual club awards at the end of that season.

A further League One switch followed in 2014, with Liddle going on to have a one-and-a-half-year stint with Bradford City.

His next club was Chesterfield, who he was quickly appointed captain of after signing in February 2016.

A year later, he signed for Carlisle United, where he remained for 18 months.

Former Hartlepool team-mate Darrell Clarke brought Liddle to Walsall in July 2019, but Pools lured him back to Victoria Park, initially on loan, in the 2019/20 season.

That move was quickly made permanent, and Liddle was part of the Pools team which earned promotion to League Two via the Vanarama National League play-offs in 2020/21.

Liddle made almost 40 appearances in all competitions last season as Hartlepool re-established themselves in the Football League.

He captained the club in the historic 2021/22 Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round tie away to Crystal Palace but after deciding not to extend his spell with Pools, Liddle leaves with 364 Hartlepool appearances to his name and over 700 senior appearances overall.

South Shields manager Kevin Phillips told https://southshieldsfc.co.uk: “Gary is another huge signing for the club.

“The arrivals are coming thick and fast, which is brilliant from my point of view because we want to get our business done as early as possible to give us the best preparation time for next season.

“We’re delighted to have Gary on board, and everyone connected with the club should be excited about this addition.

“He brings outstanding leadership qualities and experience from a high level and comes in off the back of playing almost 40 games for Hartlepool last season.

“This is a huge addition to the dressing room and Gary will only benefit the players around him.

“He will have had offers from clubs higher up the pyramid, but the fact he has joined us demonstrates the ambition of the club and where we’re going.

“We’re very pleased with the four players we’ve brought in so far and with another two or three arrivals, the squad will be looking in really good shape for next season”.