Widnes Football Club is delighted to announce the signing of experienced goalkeeper Mark Halstead.

The 33-year-old has spent the last three seasons at Torquay United and has penned terms at the DCBL Stadium after moving back to the North West.

Halstead came through the ranks at Blackpool and enjoyed loan spells at Burscough, Hyde United, Barrow and Kettering Town during his formative years.

He made his Seasiders debut in a Premier League fixture against Chelsea at Bloomfield Road in 2011, coming on a second half substitute in a 3-1 defeat.

Mark would go out on loan again, playing four games during a brief spell at Stockport County in 2011 before making a further two appearances for Blackpool in the Championship.

He moved to Shrewsbury Town on a free transfer in 2014, featuring 20 times in League One and Two in three seasons at New Meadow.

Halstead spent the 2017-18 campaign at Southport before spending the ensuing three years at Morecambe.

He played 47 games in League Two for the Shrimps and was an unused substitute in the 2021 play-off final victory over Newport County at Wembley.

Gary Johnson brought Halstead to Torquay in 2021 and Mark would feature 91 times across the National League and National League South before departing earlier this summer.

Mark is in contention to start Saturday’s FA Cup tie away at Ossett United.

Welcome to Widnes, Mark!