JOSH'S SET FOR NEXT SHINN-DIG

JOSH COULSON promised Newmarket Town boss Michael Shinn he would sign for him one day - and now the two-time promoted defender has done just that!

- Matt Badcock

Coulson won the National League play-offs and FA Trophy with Cambridge before later becoming a title winner at Leyton Orient in a career that saw him live out his full-time football dream and even pull on his country’s shirt with England C.

The 36-year-old has spent the past three-and-a-half years at King’s Lynn Town, where they reached the play-offs last season under Adam Lakeland.

Coulson admits his preference had initially been to stay with the Linnets but, following the former Curzon Ashton boss’ departure, he has decided it’s time for a new beginning too.

And that is with his local club Newmarket Town — and good mate Shinn.

Blessed

“I’ve known Shinny, the gaffer, for a long time now,” Coulson tells The NLP. “Newmarket have always been good to me. In the off season I’ve used the pitch, they go back early some-times so I've trained with them before I go back to my pre-season.

“So I always bantered with him that, ‘Shinny, I will play for you one day, I promise’. And here we are.

“I spoke to a lot of clubs. It has been really nice to make those connections because I’ve spoken to some really good people. They’ve all been top notch and I had some good options.