IAN CLARKE Former Norwich City Academy defender Adam Gusterson - who was the second youngest player to appear for the Canaries' reserves - has signed for Ridgeons premier division side Dereham Town.

IAN CLARKE

Former Norwich City Academy defender Adam Gusterson - who was the second youngest player to appear for the Canaries' reserves - has signed for Ridgeons premier division side Dereham Town.

Gusterson, now 18, was a team mate of Rossi Jarvis in City youth teams and appeared for Norwich's second string aged just 15 and was described as the "best two footed scholar at the club."

He was not offered a professional contract by Norwich this year and moved on to King's Lynn but wanted first team football, which Linnets boss Tommy Taylor couldn't guarantee.

Gusterson made his debut for Dereham as a holding midfielder in a friendly against Fakenham on Wednesday night and is set to appear again tomorrow as Dereham entertain Braintree at Aldiss Park, 3pm.

It will be a very tough fixture for Robert Taylor's men as the Essex side are in the Conference South - just two rungs of the ladder away from the Football League.

Before the first team match, Dereham Reserves will play Sprowston at Aldiss Park, 1pm.

Dereham Town spokesman Tim Warner described Gusterson as "a good coup" for the club.

"He is a big strong lad and a classy player."

Other new faces at the Norfolk Senior Cup winners are proven goal scorer Jordan Blyth, who has arrived from Diss and talented ex-Magpie Carl Neale has re-joined Dereham from Wells and looked good against Fakenham in a sweeper role.

Other good news for Magpies fans is that striker Danny Wright is recovering well from a back injury with Taylor expecting him to be ready for first team action by the end of September.

The only first team player to leave Aldiss Park in the summer was Graham Challen, who has again joined Wroxham.