YORK City have made goalkeeper Peter Jameson their third summer signing from National League North rivals Blyth Spartans.

Jameson, 26, follows former Croft Park team-mates Dan Maguire and Kieran Green to North Yorkshire, having racked up 93 appearances for last term’s play-off qualifiers during the last two seasons at sixth-tier level.

Prior to joining Blyth in the summer of 2017, Jameson had spent four seasons at Darlington, playing under former City chief Martin Gray.

In that time, he made 131 outings and enjoyed two promotions with the Quakers, including during the Evo-Stik League premier division title-winning campaign when he didn’t miss a match.

Previously, he had played Northern League football for Sunderland RCA and Consett.

City have beaten former club Darlington to Jameson’s signature.

The Minstermen’s ex-Football League foes were hoping new boss Alun Armstrong would convince Jameson to become the sixth player to follow him from Blyth this summer, where he was at the helm last term.

In a Northern Echo interview, meanwhile, Armstrong estimated that the keeper had won his team “25 points” last season.

Jameson has taken a pay cut to go full-time with City, having given up his semi-professional wage at Blyth and day job in the grass-cutting department at Sunderland City Council, with Bootham Crescent assistant-manager Micky Cummins adding: “Peter has matured over the last couple of years being first choice at Blyth.

“He has a good presence, commands his box, is brave and comes for crosses. He also blocks shots really well and his distribution has come on tons, so there are many plusses in terms of how we want to move forward.

“He’ll be coming into full-time football with access to a goalkeeper coach, so he’ll learn a lot too, even though he’s at an age where he’s got lots of games under his belt at this level already and is aware of what’s needed to be successful in this league. When Dan Maguire signed for us, he said he would rather be on the same team as Peter than playing against him and we’ve acquired three very good players from Blyth now, so we’re really pleased with our business so far.

“People think that part-time players are on less than full-time wages, but the reality is Peter would have been on more money staying part-time and working, so it was a big decision for him. But he has recognised this is a massive club with potential and a lot going for us, with the new stadium and fantastic training facilities and he wants to be part of the journey we’re planning.”

Despite Jameson’s pedigree as a regular starter at National League North level over the last two seasons, however, Cummins stressed that the new arrival will need to wrest the gloves from teenager shot-stopper Ryan Whitley, who ended last term between the City sticks.

“Ryan finished last season as first choice and will start pre-season as first choice, but the competition is healthy because we have two good characters who are keen and hungry to be successful, which can only bring out the best in each other,” the former Gateshead midfielder pointed out. “We’ll take advice from Colly (keeper-coach Andy Collett) and look at it ourselves before deciding who gets the nod for the first game on August 3.”

The Minstermen’s transfer-market attentions now switch back to three other targets – a centre back, utility man and attacking midfielder – with Cummins adding: “We’re having some positive conversations, but people are on holiday at the moment.

“The players are considering other offers, but we are quite an attractive proposition at this level, so we are quite hopeful we can get them over the line next week.”