Buchanan signs on

Date: Friday 5th February 2010, by Tynesider

Gateshead have agreed a deal until the end of the season with former Northern Ireland under-21 International centre-half Wayne Buchanan.

The 6'1" 27-year-old started his career at Bolton Wanderers, appearing against Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup. Moving back to Northern Ireland in 2003, "Bucky" signed for Irish Premier League side Lisburn Distillery making 226 appearances and captaining the whites.

Leaving Distillery after six years at the end of last season, Buchanan and his fiance moved to Austrailia where he trailed with Gold Coast United winning favourable reviews. However due to A-League teams only being allowed a limited number of visa players, no deal was forthcoming. After playing for Brisbane Olympic in the state league, injuries at Gold Coast saw him offered a 6-week deal at the end of November only to have it reneged on when Gold Coast signed former Scottish International Charlie Miller therefore taking up the final visa player slot. Choosing to move back to the UK, Buchanan had a trail at Scottish 1st Division side Dundee in January, before linking up with Gateshead.

Buchanan appeared for the Tynesiders in a friendly against Northern League Consett last night, the Tynesiders ran out 3-0 winners as new-signings Winn, Ferrell, Heckingbottom, Sinclair and Wake all started. Gateshead's goals came from Ferrell, McDermott and Sinclair.

Gateshead XI: Provett; Bains, Buchanan, Curtis, Heckingbottom; Turnbull, Ferrell, Francis, Winn; Clare, Wake

Buchanan will get another chance to impress next Thursday as another Gateshead XI play a Hartlepool United XI at Billingham Town.

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Buchanan signs on