NEW Gainsborough Trinity signing Jamie Clarke could have been lining up against Rangers and Celtic this season.

The 27-year-old defender made his debut for the Blues in the 2-1 win at Worcester in Blue Square Bet North on Saturday, having left York City at the end of last season, after his short-term deal expired.

However, prior to joining Brian Little's revolution, the Sunderland-born defender, who is expected to make his home debut against Guiseley at the Northolme tonight (7.45pm), was on trial with SPL outfit St Johnstone.

"I was training with Gateshead and I had a few offers but then I went up to Scotland and did pre-season with St Johnstone," explained the former Boston United defender.

"I was becoming a bit disillusioned with football in England but, after pre-season, I was hanging about and waiting to see whether they could do anything.

"It would have been nice to play against the likes of Rangers and Celtic, but when it gets to that stage, you start to think whether anything is going to happen.

"I came back down and I had a couple of offers and places to go, but Gainsborough got in contact with me, I played in a pre-season game and it went from there.

"I live in Lincoln and I have for five years since I joined Boston, so I consider it home and it is nice to be able to get a club on my doorstep."

Clarke spent the majority of last season with Grimsby, making 14 appearances in League Two before joining Blue Square Premier side York.

Despite training in Scotland, and having played at a higher standard last season, Clarke had no qualms about stepping down to Blue Square Bet North, a league where he will come up against former club Boston.

"Having lived in Lincoln for the last few years I have always read Gainsborough's reports and seen the calibre of players they have brought in, the likes of Luke Beckett and Phil Barnes," he said.

"I know it is an ambitious club and the lads are a great bunch.

"It's just a different league in name as far as I am concerned and I don't see it as a step down.

"As for Boston, it will be nice to go back.

Despite what happened there, in a strange way, it was one of my fondest times in football.

"We had a great dressing room there and the likes of Simon Rusk, Paul Ellender and Stewart Talbot were all great characters."