FORMER Darlington midfielder Tom Portas has joined West Auckland.
He was told last week that he would not be offered a new contract by Quakers, with whom he had played since 2014 and made 128 appearances, and tonight West announced he will be playing for them in the Northern League.
West manager Gary Forrest said: “He’s a terrific player with great energy and pace. The lad’s a winner.”
Stockton-born Portas hardly missed a game in his first two seasons with Darlington after joining from Whitby Town, playing a central role as the team won promotion in back-to-back campaigns.
He was player of the year in the ’14-15 campaign that saw Darlington go up through the play-offs and scored the club’s goal of the season, while he was an almost ever-present during the '15-16 title-winning season.
However, '16-17 ended early for him when he was on the end of a poor challenge by Stalybridge Celtic’s Callum Bagshaw in a match at Heritage Park and did not return for 11 months, making his comeback last August.
He also suffered with hamstring and calf problems this season but still played 23 times, sometimes filling in at right-back.
Portas is West’s second signing in as many days having yesterday tempted midfielder Steve Snaith to join from Whitby.
The 24-year-old had made 223 appearances for Whitby, and Forrest said: “He is a player I have tried to sign for the last five years. He will add real quality to our midfield.”
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