STRATFORD Town have announced the signing of former Solihull Moors striker Adam Rooney.
Rooney helped Moors reach the National League Promotion Final last season and scored five goals in 23 appearances before being released at the end of the season.
The 34-year-old also has Football League experience with the likes of Stoke City, Birmingham City, Oldham Athletic and Salford City and also spent four and a half years in Scotland with Aberdeen.
He has made over 600 career appearances scoring 225 goals.
Bards Chairman Jed McCrory said: “This is the probably the biggest signing this football club has ever had.
“The enormity of what we’ve done struck me more when I saw the the reaction of the kids. I’ve never seen anything like that since I’ve been here.
“It’s a credit to everybody at this club and how they make this club feel that we have been able to attract someone of Adam’s professionalism and ability.
“You’ve just got to stand back and say Stratford Town Football Club have just signed Adam Rooney.
“If that is a statement of what this signing is going to do for the community, it continues to show the benefits it is making within the community and that’s a moment (and I’ve had a few) that has put a huge smile on my face.
“What Adam brings to the players and to the changing room, not just the first team but to the Reserves and the F&E kids is demonstrating how to conduct you self as a professional and that will rub off on everyone else.
“He’s also been a charity ambassador at every club he’s been at and hopefully he will continue that here at Stratford Town.”
Rooney added: “I was thinking about going part time and Jed rang me up out of the blue and told me the plans for the club and the initiatives that were taking place here and what they are doing for the community and told me to come down and have a look at the place.
“So I came down and he sold the club to me. I’m local and it’s somewhere I can bring the kids and they can hopefully watch me scoring some goals.
“I know Josh Hawker and I know of the quality within the squad and I expect the league to be tough to be honest. In any league you have to got a prove yourself and hopefully I’ll soon be able to bang in some goals.
“Hopefully the fans get right behind us, I can’t wait to get started now, hopefully getting a few goals will help them get behind me. I’m just looking forward to being here and getting to know the fans and everyone around the club.”
Rooney goes straight into the squad for Saturday’s home game against Hednesford Town which takes place on Staurday, August 20 with kick-off at 3pm at the Arden Garages Stadium.
