England C striker James Walshaw has signed a contract for Guiseley, as has Stalybridge Celtic left back Andy McWilliams.

Walshaw, 28, scored three goals in 15 appearances for cash-strapped Conference side Darlington last season before being loaned to Halifax Town, where he bagged eight goals in seven appearances.

The forward then returned to Nethermoor, from where he had scored 39 goals in 63 matches in 2010-11, and again showed he knows where the net is with 13 goals in 18 starts, plus three games as a substitute, as Guiseley again just failed to earn promotion from Blue Square Bet North.

Along with new signing Josh Wilson from Vauxhall Motors, this means that the Lions have two forwards with experience of playing for their national semi-professional side.

On the signing of McWilliams, Guiseley’s chief executive Adrian Towers explained: “As he is an under-24, we just had to wait for our compensation payment to Stalybridge Celtic to clear.”

The Lions have also confirmed their seven pre-season friendlies, starting with a trip to Nostell Miners’ Welfare on Saturday, July 14 (3pm).

Guiseley then entertain a full-strength Huddersfield Town the following Saturday (3pm) before travelling to Farsley AFC on Saturday, July 28 (3pm).

Bradford City travel to the newly-refurbished Nethermoor on Wednesday, August 1 (7.45pm) before the Lions finish pre-season with three matches against non-league opposition – at AFC Fylde on Saturday, August 4 (3pm), at New Mills on Tuesday, August 7 (7.45pm) and at Ossett Town on Saturday, August 11 (3pm).

The match with North West Counties League New Mills was the last of the seven to be confirmed.