Lancaster snap up second midfielder in Tweedley
Midfielder Matthew Tweedley has returned to Lancaster City and becomes the fifth signing of the summer at the Giant Axe.
The 22-year-old spent last season with fellow Northern Premier League club Warrington Town, making one of his 24 appearances in their 2-1 win over the Dolly Blues in March.
Rochdale-born Tweedley came through the youth ranks at Bolton Wanderers, having first linked up with the club at the age of five.
Tweedley signed his first professional contract in summer 2022, having made his only senior appearance for the Trotters the previous season in an EFL Trophy win over Fleetwood Town.
His first real taste of senior football was on loan at Lancaster, where he made 15 appearances in the closing months of 2022/23.
Tweedley left Bolton in the summer of 2024 and spent the following season at Nantwich Town in NPL West, making 42 appearances and lifting the club's Young Player of the Season award.
Lancaster boss Jimmy Marshall said of his latest recruit: “Another lad who has a good bit of experience at this level and comes from a good schooling at Bolton.
“Technically good, tenacious, good energy, good on the ball and reads the game really well. He has a great range of passing and hopefully will chip in with a few goals. Tweeds was keen to come to the club and we think he will really push us on this season.”
Tweedley's arrival quickly followed that of fellow midfielder Callum Leigh, a former Bamber Bridge 24-year-old who finished last season strongly in the NPL with Leek Town.
Marshall added: “We’ve known we needed to recruit a couple of midfielders this summer. These lads were right at the top of our list and really pleased to get them on board.”
The midfield duo follow defenders Tom Bentley-Waite and Sekouba Sanogo, and striker James Bailey in joining the City squad for 2026/27.
Lancaster's entry dates for next season's FA Cup and FA Trophy have been confirmed.
They will play in the first qualifying round of the Cup on September 5 and the third qualifying round of the Trophy on September 25.
The club has expressed thanks to everyone who took part in Saturday’s Volunteer Day, doing jobs around the ground.