GUISELEY have more good news for their supporters as their club captain has decided to stay on for another year.

Hamza Bencherif has been a popular figure at Nethermoor since signing in 2019, and was joint winner of the Supporters’ Player-of-the-Year award last term, having played 36 times and scoring four goals.

The former Algerian under-20 international was made captain following Scott Garner’s move to Boston United. midway through the 2019-20 campaign.

The Paris-born centre back started his career at French club Guingamp before joining Nottingham Forest's youth system. He went on to play for Lincoln City, Macclesfield Town, Notts County and Plymouth Argyle in the Football League, moving to Algerian side JS Kabylie in 2014.

He returned to England to play in the Conference Premier with Lincoln and then Halifax Town. He left Yorkshire in 2016 for Wrexham but came back shortly after on-loan at York City, later making it a permanent deal which expired last season.

The highlight from his time at City, where he played 81 games, must go down as the FA Trophy final 2017 at Wembley, in which his side walked out 3-2 winners against Macclesfield Town.

It is thought that Bencherif is set to form a centre half partnership with Dan Cowan after he became Guiseley's seventh signing on Friday.

The defender has used his vast experience to already help improve several young players at Guiseley and he is looking forward to doing the same in the upcoming National League North campaign.

He said: “I have enjoyed every minute of it. I discovered a convivial club with great supporters and an amazing young squad full of talent that I have been privileged to see grow during the season.

"I have a feeling of unfinished business as I truly believe with our energy we could have made a late run for a play-off spot.

“Just before Christmas we had a period hit by suspensions and injuries with a bad spell of results, but we managed to re-group coming into the festive period and went on a great spell which revived our season.

"The managerial staff has created a strong group of honest players with a bond all around the team as our core strength.

“Taking the role as captain of the club was an honour. I happily took the pressure onto myself to leave the rest of the squad to express themselves on the pitch and we went on to get results in what was a tough run of games.

"The energy and hunger of the young players is infectious. What they have in common is their honesty, energy and talent and, not only have they given me a boost, but they also have the hunger for more success.”