TOUGH-TACKLING defender Sam Smith has signed up for another season with Workington Reds.

The long-serving centre-back has put pen to paper for his eighth season at Borough Park.

And he says he is determined to help the side as they aim to push for promotion again next year.

Smith, 26, has made 181 starts for the first-team since breaking through to the senior setup in 2013, following over 100 appearances in the reserves as a youngster.

He told the club website: “Obviously, I’m really happy to be signing again. I thoroughly enjoyed working under Danny [Grainger] and Ruddy [Steven Rudd] last year and they’ve got together a great set of lads.

“I think it goes without saying that everyone involved with the club and all the fans deserved a lot more than how the season ended, so I’m really looking forward to being involved in the push to achieve that this year.”

Smith was part of a back line which conceded the second-least amount of league goals during the most recent campaign and is the only member of the squad who has made a century of appearances for both the Reserves and the first team.

Unfortunately that campaign was ended due to coronavirus and Reds are now looking to rebuild their side ready for the new 2020/21 campaign.

Despite not knowing exactly when the new term will get under way, manager Danny Grainger and assistant Steven Rudd have been working on recruitment to build on the last campaign’s table-topping effort.

May Simply Reds winners: £500, J Jackson, Maryport, 1164; £100, Lee Jackson, Seaton, 397; £75, L Rumney, Gt Clifton, 1047; £50, Colin T Bell, Cleator Moor, 751; and £25, Lewis Wright, Moss Bay, 908. The £625 rollover was not won so rises to £750 for June.