Spalding United shock the non league football world again as Nile Ranger signs on at the Sir Halley Stewart Field

Ranger who experienced a chequered Football League career with moments of rich on-field promise mixed with unsavoury off-field behaviour. His last Football League club was Southend United who he left in July, 2018.

But he’s still only 29 and has agreed to join former Posh star Gaby Zakuani’s Spalding revolution. Zakuani was appointed manager of the Northern Premier League Tulips earlier this week.

Zakuani told the Spalding United media team: “I’ve known Nile for many years and we grew up in the same area. He has all the talent in the world and knows he has a point to prove! In the conversations we have had, he wants an opportunity to get himself back on the map.

“I believe he can easily play for any team in League One and most Championship clubs. He has promised me he will get his head down and prove to everyone that the penny has dropped. This opportunity will allow people to see he still has the hunger to succeed.”

Ranger could make his debut in Saturday’s (October 31) South East Division game at Belper when Spalding will hope to snap a five-game losing streak.

Zakuani has also signed Chris Assombalonga - the brother of former Posh star Britt Assombalonga, Glenn Yala Bolasie - the brother of Zakuan’s DR Congo international teammate Yannick Bolasie - and giant centre-back Jordan Foster. Assombalonga is a former Dagenham & Redbridge player.

Cameron Johnson has left Spalding after a brief spell at the club to join Stamford AFC who are in FA Trophy action at Stourbridge on Saturday.