ASTLEY and Tyldesley have strengthened their squad for the 2015 cycle speedway season with the signing of Mark Mulvey from Northumbria Vikings.

The experienced 46-year-old Radcliffe-based rider has linked up with the Gin Pit club after two successful seasons with the Vikings. Mulvey started his racing career with Tameside and was a first-team regular in the 1990s, before taking a break from the sport.

He trained with the A&T squad on occasions last year and is well-versed with the Gin Pit track and squad.

A&T have more signings in the pipeline, as they look to climb up the Northern League table in their 25th anniversary season.

Meanhwile, Former A&T captain and junior team manager George Hughes has announced his retirement from racing.

The vastly experienced 56-year-old rider suffered a heart attack in a match at Northumbria in September and has reluctantly quit the racing scene on medical advice.

Hughes, who started his racing career at Stoke in 1976 and has since raced for CarrsWood, Stockport and East London, as well as three spells with A&T where he is second in the club's all-time appearance list and third in the all-time points list. He was also club captain and junior team manager in the 1990's.