DARLINGTON’S new signing Rob Youhill is hoping to recreate his partnership with Nathan Cartman after rejoining his former Harrogate RA team-mate in the North-East.

The right-winger was the provider for many of Cartman’s 28 league goals for Railway this season and just as many last season for Harrogate RA, and now he wants to do the same again for Quakers when they start their new adventure in the Evo-Stik Premier Division in August.

Apart from his friendship with Cartman, a factor in the 28-year-old’s decision to take the opportunity to move up a division was the celebrations after Quakers’ two play-off wins over Spennymoor Town and Bamber Bridge.

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“I went to the semi-final against Spennymoor and the final against Bamber Bridge,” he said. “What a game it was against Spennymoor, a real thriller. I couldn’t believe the number of people who came on the pitch at the end of the Bamber Bridge game to celebrate, the atmosphere was terrific.

“The final maybe wasn’t as good as the semi final, but you could still tell that it was a massive game by the atmosphere.

“I felt that I would love to be part of something like that, and when Martin Gray got in touch with me and asked me to join, I said ‘really?’

“It will be great to play in front of a four figure crowd like that every week.”

Youhill, in the youth ranks at Scunthorpe as a teenager, made his Railway debut at 16 before moving to Tadcaster Albion where he was club captain and player of the season in 2006 and then came a move to America to attend Hofstra University.

While in New York he played for New Jersey Express and Ocean City as well as representing Great Britain in the World University Games.

“When I was a young lad, I struggled with confidence in a massive way,” he added. “When other lads maybe went out for a drink, I was happy to go and practice my football skills, I just loved my football. The more I practiced, the more I improved.

“I went to Hofstra University in the States, and played for the University and also for New Jersey Express. They were great times at a decent standard of football. Players over there are very athletic, and will run all day. We trained three times a day, which some players didn’t like, but for me it was great – eating, sleeping and playing football. There can’t be anything better than that!

“I then came back to the UK in 2011 sort out my visa, and didn’t return to the States! Through word of mouth I joined Harrogate Town in Conference North. I left my car and my flat in the States – I told my flat mate that he could have it!

“I had a loan spell at North Ferriby, who won the Evo-Stik Premier while I was there, but I didn’t play much. Their style of play was different to mine, they wanted to play long balls and expect me to pick up the bits, whereas I’m the sort of player who likes to get the ball at my feet, and run at defenders.

“I joined Harrogate RA, and immediately established an understanding with Nathan Cartman. I would go down the right, cross them into the middle, and he would finish them off. We worked well together, and what’s more, we’re great friends off the pitch. There was a mutual benefit in our partnership. Hopefully we can re-create it.”

Youhill scored Harrogate’s goal earlier this season in a 7-1 defeat against Darlington at Heritage Park, the opening goal of the game after he’d used his speed and burst through the Darlington defence to score.

“I didn’t score many goals this season, usually I’m more prolific. Billy Miller, the Harrogate manager, helped me a lot over the last two years. I owe him a lot – he’s also my boss at Askham Bryan College, but there are no hard feelings between us.

“I had a great experience playing for Great Britain in the World University Games, which has been the best of my career so far – I want to better that by winning things now with Darlington.”

It won’t be long until Youhill meets the rest of his Darlington team mates – manager Martin Gray starts pre season training next month.