Vastly-experienced defender Antony Kay has signed for Runcorn Linnets from JD Cymru Premier League club Bala Town.

He is one of football's most enduring characters and a triple promotion-winning veteran of 595 English Football League games with 49 goals to his credit.

Antony, who will be 41 years old in October, starred in the EFL until the age of 36, operating in midfield as well as defence.

He is a contemporary of our manager Billy Paynter and while they were never team-mates, their paths crossed in opposition.

Anthony played regularly for Bala last season, making 30 appearances and reaching the Welsh Cup final.

In each of his three campaigns with the Gwynedd club, they have played in UEFA competitions - either the Europa League or Europa Conference League.

Antony began his long professional career with hometown club Barnsley, making his senior debut, aged 17, in August 2000.

He accumulated 174 League aearances for the South Yorkshire outfit.

Winning an England Under 18s cap in 2001, Anthony was the Tykes' Player of the Season in 2003-04, scoring the winning penalty of a shootout in the Play-off Final as his hometown club were promoted from League One.

In June 2007, Antony moved to Tranmere Rovers, being named Player of the Year in his second season before a transfer to Huddersfield Town in May 2009 culminated in Antony securing a second-time promotion to the Championship, again through the Play-offs.

A third such feat was achieved as he stayed in the third tier for the following season on joining Milton Keynes Dons, who were promoted as League One runners-up in 2014-15. Antony had 142 League outings for the Buckinghamshire club.

Moving to Bury in June 2016, Antony was Shakers' club skipper before the following year signing for Port Vale.

Again awarded a club csptaincy, he stayed at Vale Park for two years, his next port of call being then Vanarama National League Premier club Chorley in January 2020.

Antony's time in Lancashire was curtailed by Covid and eight months later, he was heading to Bala where league finishes of third, second and fifth were achieved.

We welcome Antony to APEC Taxis Stadium and hope he enjoys his time at Linnets.