Spartans boss delighted with capture of Tolmie and Townsley

Spartans have bolstered their defence ahead of their 2016-17 Ferrari Packaging Lowland League campaign with the capture of Blair Tolmie and Chris Townsley.

Blair Tolmie has joined Spartans from Newtongrange Star

Townsley returns to Ainslie Park after leaving five years ago for Berwick Rangers and then East Stirlingshire. The 31-year-old was part for the Shire squad that became the first SPFL club to be relegated via the Pyramid Play-Offs following May’s 2-1 aggregate defeat by Edinburgh City.

He hopes returning to his old club will result in a swift return to league football. “I’m just happy to be back at a great club,” he said. “I am looking forward to an important season ahead where we will be out to win the league and give ourselves a chance of getting the club where it needs to be.”

Tolmie makes the switch from the junior ranks, having captained Newtongrange Star for the majority of his time at the club since joining in 2011. The former Scotland under-19 internationalist began his professional career with Hibs before spending a year at Celtic.

“I have known (Spartans manager) Dougie Samuel for some time,” explained Tolmie. “With the cracking set-up at Spartans I am really looking forward to the new season.”

Samuel admitted he’d been attempting to recruit both players for some time. “Chris and Blair are two guys I have been asking to come to Spartans for a number of years and we’re delighted to have added their experience to our squad,” he said.