By Matt Lawton
February 2 2011

The goalscoring options of Leigh Genesis manager Alan Kershaw have been significantly boosted with the signing from Rhyl of former FC United of Manchester hotshot Stuart Rudd.

34 year old Rudd began his career with hometown club Wigan Athletic before dropping in to non-league with Daisy Hill (then named Westhoughton Town) where 30 goals in just 20 outings and later 22 goals in 20 appearances for Burscough brought him to the attention of Skelmersdale United.

It was with Skem that Rudd first worked with Alan Kershaw, with the Genesis boss understandably delighted with his new signing.

"Stuart Rudd will be a valuable player for with his vast experience. He was a player that I worked with whilst at Skelmersdale United for a couple of seasons and he had great potential even then. His arrival will give us different options tactically."

In three years with Skelmersdale, Rudd broke the club goalscoring record that had stood for nearly sixty years with a remarkable 230 goals in just 315 games before joining FC United of Manchester in the summer of 2006. Whilst at Gigg Lane, Rudd continued his impressive goalscoring rate with 55 goals in only 83 games before joining Bradford Park Avenue and later Witton Albion and Salford City.

Rudd spent the latter period of the 2009/2010 season helping Guiseley get promoted to the Blue Square North before joining Rhyl last summer, where he scored 6 goals in 11 starting appearances before a move closer to his Wigan home to sign for Leigh.

With Genesis striker Nathan McDonald due to serve a suspension after his red card in the recent victory over Trafford, Rudd's arrival at Crilly Park comes at the perfect time as Leigh look to maintain their recent resurgence in form.

Also joining the club is 26 year old midfielder Steve Smith, who will begin his second spell with the club having played for Leigh in the Conference National, making his debut in a 4-3 loss away to Tamworth in February 2004. Smith's only Leigh goal came in a 4-3 home defeat to Hereford United in September 2004 before leaving the club in January 2006 to join Lancaster City. Smith later played for FC United of Manchester, Witton Albion, Maine Road, Bacup Borough and most recently Winsford United, who are currently second in the Vodkat League Premier Division.

Both players are in line to appear in Leigh's next fixture which is a trip to Woodley Sports on Saturday for a 3pm kick off before Mossley are the visitors to Crilly Park the following Tuesday (8th February, 7.45pm).