IT WAS second time lucky when Accrington Stanley captured goalkeeper Ian Dunbavin.
Stanley had expressed an interest in the former Morecambe and Halifax keeper earlier last season when Charlton goalie Darren Randolph's loan was up and before they had confirmed the loan of Rob Elliot.
But it took until the summer for former Liverpool trainee Dunbavin to land at the Fraser Eagle Stadium and sign up to a one-year deal for their first season back in the Football League for 44 years.
"I am just made up it is sorted out," said the 26-year-old who played alongside Michael Owen and Steven Gerrard in the Anfield side's Youth Cup success in 1997 and still keeps in touch with England midfielder Gerrard.
"It was hard as I had been without a club for a couple of weeks and it is not nice going on trial to clubs.
"I was just pleased to come here and get everything sorted.
"Jimmy (Bell) had rung me up when Darren Randolph returned but he got Rob. Then I got someone to ring up in the summer and they said they were looking for a keeper so I came down, played a few games and they said they wanted to sign me.
"I have signed as a No 2 but nobody wants to be a sub or a No 2 and I am prepared to push Rob as far as it goes for a place. Hopefully I can push Rob and Rob can push me and the best player will play on the day."
He says he has had no problem feeling at home at Stanley.
"I don't really like any of the lads," he joked. "No, I have settled in, they are all great lads and so is the gaffer and Jimmy and they all want to do well. They like a laugh and there is a good bond between everyone."
The ex-Scarborough goalie - who moved from an outfield player to keeper when he was 14 and was then spotted by Liverpool - thinks Stanley can go even further.
"The club are back where they belong as they won the Conference and they deserve to be back in the league.
"With the spirit and ability we have here I think we can do well. It is our first season back and obviously the first ambition is to stay in the league and then go on from there. I think with the lads we have here we can push on for the top end of the league and you never know - we could go up again."
