Wide player Josh Gillies joins Spartans from Pitching In Northern Premier League Premier Division side South Shields.

The 30-year-old had joined Shields in the summer of 2018 from Darlington.

Gillies (pictured), who can play on either flank or behind a main striker, has vast experience at various levels of the game, from his formative years with Sunderland Nissan and Newcastle Blue Star to a spell in the Football League with Carlisle United.

He spent two years starring for Darlington in the National League North, before opting to drop one division to join Shields.

Midfielder Sean Reid returns to Croft Park from rivals Darlington.

The 29-year-old signed for the Quakers in December 2019 from NPL Division One North West outfit Morpeth Town.

He was a May 2019 signing Morpeth Town from Spartans, for whom he had originally joined in the summer of 2015 from Northern League outfit West Allotment Celtic.

He made 186 appearances for Blyth, notching an impressive 66 goals in all competitions.

Formerly with Ryton & Crawcrook Albion, he has also filled in a makeshift centre-back and centre-forward on a number of occasions.

Defender or midfielder Karl Byrne joins from NPL Premier Division side Buxton, where he had been since January 2020.

The 25-year-old earned a deal with Boston United in July 2019 after impressing in pre-season.

The former Frickley Athletic right back, who can also play in midfield, originates from Ireland which is where he played most of his football.

He had been training with League Two side Burton Albion before signing for Frickley in March 2019.

He is the nephew of Irish internationals Stephen and Alan Quinn and previously played with Longford Town and also lined up for Crumlin United's Leinster Senior League side.

He first signed for League of Ireland side Cabinteely in the summer of 2015 and made his league debut from the bench against Finn Harps in July 2015.

In 2016, he made 19 league appearances for Cabinteely and in 2017 he scored once in 21 appearances.

He dual registered with Grantham Town in early 2019/20 before switching to the Gingerbreads league rivals Buxton.

Sunderland-born midfielder Jordan Hickey has put pen-to-paper for Blyth on a one-year contract.

He arrives at Croft Park having left SkyBet League One champions Hull City in February.

During his time at the KCOM Stadium, the 21-year-old appeared in the Checkatrade Trophy and spent time on loan at NPL Premier Division outfit Whitby Town.

Hickey had trained with Blyth earlier this year, impressing manager Michael Nelson and assistant Michael Barron.

Also joining Blyth is former Newcastle United striker Lewis McNall.

The 22-year-old was highly-rated at Newcastle due to his goalscoring exploits in the 2017 FA Youth Cup but was devastatingly released by the St James’ Park club in 2019 following his injury hell.

McNall suffered anterior cruciate ligament damage whilst on loan at Gateshead before being diagnosed with the same problem during a trial at Stoke City.

It meant McNall missed around 30 months of competitive action before gaining valuable minutes at Northern League side Whickham last year.

McNall was asked to prove his fitness by manager Michael Nelson when training with the club – and he has done just that by landing himself a contract in Northumberland.