Waters joins Gulls after Cobblers release

Forward Billy Waters has joined National League leaders Torquay United following his release from the Cobblers in the summer.

The 26-year-old made 56 appearances for Northampton but his three years at the club were mostly spent out on loan with Cheltenham, Cambridge and Newport County.

He was released by Keith Curle in the summer and has now been picked up by the Gulls, where he will team up with former manager Gary Johnson. The pair worked together at Cheltenham when Waters scored 16 goals during the 2015/16 campaign.

“I’m delighted to be here and I’m just raring to go and get back playing,” said Waters. “Training and kicking a ball again has been class, I’m really happy to be here. I knew the gaffer from before so I knew he’d have a changing room full of good lads, and they’ve all been very welcoming.

“Obviously I’ve played with a few of them before so that’s helped. They seem like a top group. At the moment, I’m just taking it day by day, but the ultimate goal is promotion. You can tell already with the lads that there is quality there to do that, they’ve had a great start, and hopefully I can contribute to that.

“On a personal level, I’m looking to get back playing and scoring goals, as well as running, trying to be a threat always and giving the back four as many problems as I can throughout the whole game.”

Johnson added: “As ever when I make a signing, I am delighted to welcome Billy Waters, on a short-term deal at the moment. Obviously I know Billy very well, as he was part of my team that got promoted out of the National League.

“I’m delighted to have got him in. He won’t be match fit at this moment in time, but we’ll be working with him over the coming weeks, and I’m sure it won’t be long before we include him in the matchday squad.

“He’s a very hard working, energetic striker who gives us another dimension to what we already have."