AFC Fylde sign winger Junior Mondal and release keeper James Montgomery

AFC Fylde have signed winger Junior Mondal on a one-year contract wih the option of a further 12 months.
New Fylde signing Junior Mondal played 48 times for Forest Green Rovers
Picture: AFC FyldeNew Fylde signing Junior Mondal played 48 times for Forest Green Rovers
Picture: AFC Fylde
New Fylde signing Junior Mondal played 48 times for Forest Green Rovers Picture: AFC Fylde
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The 23-year-old flyer is equally at home on either flank and arrives at Mill Farm after making 48 appearances for League Two Forest Green Rovers, scoring five goals.

A product of the Middlesbrough youth set-up, Yorkshireman Mondal played for Spennymoor Town and Whitby Town before stepping up to the EFL in January last year.

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Mondal was released by Forest Green at the end of last season and has been on trial at Carlisle United this summer.

He is relishing the challenge back in non-league and told the AFC Fylde website: “The manager is ambitious and he said he has been looking at me for a while.

"It’s always nice in football to be wanted and feel appreciated - that usually brings the best out of you. I came down last week to speak with him and it was clear that the club has ambition.

“I’ve got experience of non-league. I know it’s physical, aggressive and the pitches won’t be carpets every week, so I know what to expect when we get going.

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"The way the manager wants to play sounds great. The way he helps to develop players and the plans for the club absolutely sealed the deal for me.”

Fylde boss Jim Bentley was delighted to land one of his top summer targets and said: “Junior is a player I’ve admired for some time now. I tracked him last season when he was out the side at Forest Green.

"He has a good pedigree, potential and is very eager to improve even further. Hopefully he can do that now with us.

"He is quick, technically good and is an exciting forward I’m sure will entertain and excite our fans. We are very much looking forward to working with him.”

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Meanwhile, Mondal's former Forest Green team-mate James Montgomery has been released from his contract at Fylde.

The 26-year-old goalkeeper joined the Coasters last summer, having played in League Two the previous season.

Montgomery played for 14 times for Fylde, though Bradford loanee Sam Hornby was preferred from November on.

Fylde’s National League North fixtures will be released next Tuesday.

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Their season will begin on Saturday October 3 with the second qualifying round of the FA Cup. The league campaign starts a few days later with a midweek match and will finish on May 29, with play-offs in June.