Welcome Ross Fitzsimons

[Ragdoll Cobbler]

Welcome Ross,

Proper experienced competition for Burge... Lovely!

Couple of links below...

On the first link, you have to correct spelling of Sc***horpe! 

https://www.sc***horpe-united.co.uk/news/2025/june/ross-fitzsimons-leaves-the-iron-to-join-northampton-town/

https://www.thenonleaguefootballpaper.com/features/national-game-awards/576296/for-ross-top-award-fitz-like-a-glove/

His spell at Meadow Lane included him playing a full season under Cobblers boss Kevin Nolan when he was in charge of the Magpies.

[tcobb]

Just back up ? 31 year old from the National League North ? Not sure about this one.

[Mysterious Curle]

I’ve never seen a player that looks more like he’s just been plucked from the crowd than this guy!

General Sc***horpe feedback is positive but lots of questions about it potentially being a step too far up the leagues.

Fingers crossed he turns out to be an untested but an experienced gem!

[west stand oap]

He’s played over 40 games in division 2 and Nolan rates him from when he played for him before. I am not too concerned.

[tcobb]

40 odd games over 6 years ago !!! That's his entire Football League career since 2011 

[guest3732]

Welcome to NTFC, enjoy your time here 👍

[guest3732]

He is here to challenge, support and work with Lee Burge and James Dadge and to be part of a strong goalkeeping unit and he is another good character to add to the dressing room which is important.”
From the official site.

[Lizard68]

Played for Chesterfield when we played them in the FA Cup the season we were promoted. We lost the game 1-0.

Welcome Ross.

[Tabasco Kid]

In what possible way, (apart from cheaper) is this an improvement on the one that we let go?
I am disappointed that Nolan appears to have settled upon Burge as his number one, and disappointed in his choice of back up. I hope to be proven wrong, but this lad has been around a bit, and thats not always a good sign.

Years   Team   Apps   (Gls)
2011–2014   Crystal Palace   0   (0)
2013   → Harrow Borough (loan)      
2013–2014   → Hendon (loan)   8   (0)
2013   → Havant & Waterlooville (loan)   4   (0)
2014   → Farnborough (loan)   10   (0)
2014–2016   Bolton Wanderers   0   (0)
2015–2016   → Bishop's Stortford (loan)   8   (0)
2016   Braintree Town   1   (0)
2016–2017   Chelmsford City   40   (0)
2017–2020   Notts County   49   (0)
2020   → Chesterfield (loan)   1   (0)
2020–2021   Boston United   13   (0)
2021   Stockport County   0   (0)
2021–2022   Weymouth   43   (0)
2022   St Joseph's   0   (0)
2022–2023   Chesterfield   33   (0)
2023–   Sc***horpe United   91   (0)

[Worthless Recluse]

When we getting the first team keeper?

[tcobb]

I've been quite happy with Nolans signings so far , but this is a strange one, 31 year old with hardly any Football League experience , how is he an improvement on the keeper we let go ?

[Glastonbury Cobbler]

Amazing, how many people can form an opinion without actually ever seeing the bloke ever!!!!

Nolan had a season coaching him and i trust his judgement over many on here, plus let's face it he can't be any worse than Tsanev, who was a very average lg2 keeper.

[Mysterious Curle]

Amazing, how many people can form an opinion without actually ever seeing the bloke ever!!!!

Nolan had a season coaching him and i trust his judgement over many on here, plus let's face it he can't be any worse than Tsanev, who was a very average lg2 keeper.

I guess it could be worse….

Some may question why in 5 years he hasn’t been picked up by a league club.

[NTFC87]

In what possible way, (apart from cheaper) is this an improvement on the one that we let go?
I am disappointed that Nolan appears to have settled upon Burge as his number one, and disappointed in his choice of back up. I hope to be proven wrong, but this lad has been around a bit, and thats not always a good sign.

Years   Team   Apps   (Gls)
2011–2014   Crystal Palace   0   (0)
2013   → Harrow Borough (loan)      
2013–2014   → Hendon (loan)   8   (0)
2013   → Havant & Waterlooville (loan)   4   (0)
2014   → Farnborough (loan)   10   (0)
2014–2016   Bolton Wanderers   0   (0)
2015–2016   → Bishop's Stortford (loan)   8   (0)
2016   Braintree Town   1   (0)
2016–2017   Chelmsford City   40   (0)
2017–2020   Notts County   49   (0)
2020   → Chesterfield (loan)   1   (0)
2020–2021   Boston United   13   (0)
2021   Stockport County   0   (0)
2021–2022   Weymouth   43   (0)
2022   St Joseph's   0   (0)
2022–2023   Chesterfield   33   (0)
2023–   Sc***horpe United   91   (0)

not filling me with much confidence,but we'll see, hopefully. Any stats on goals conceded?

[Ragdoll Cobbler]

not filling me with much confidence,but we'll see, hopefully. Any stats on goals conceded?

https://www.thenonleaguefootballpaper.com/features/national-game-awards/576296/for-ross-top-award-fitz-like-a-glove/

[Tabasco Kid]

not filling me with much confidence,but we'll see, hopefully. Any stats on goals conceded?

Nope. That was just a bit of copy n paste from his Wiki page. And Im assuming that the St Josephs entry is from the football hotspot known as Gibraltar.

[west stand oap]

It doesn't concern me that he has been playing in the National League for the past few seasons but it would if we were signing a 31 year old out field player. Apart from his distribution a GK cannot effect very much of the play in front of him. I hope he is a GK who commands his box and comes out to take crosses as we have recently had too many who stay on their line.

[Lizard68]

It would be good if we gave him some games before making any judgements. This happens every summer and similar things were said about Tzanev last summer if I remember correctly.

[Rjsntfc]

Little stat i saw earlier

[Tabasco Kid]

It doesn't concern me that he has been playing in the National League for the past few seasons but it would if we were signing a 31 year old out field player. Apart from his distribution a GK cannot effect very much of the play in front of him. I hope he is a GK who commands his box and comes out to take crosses as we have recently had too many who stay on their line.

Still got one. And very injury prone to boot.
And to keep him on his toes, we now have a 31 year old fresh from playing the last five years in non-league. And if he is here to support and work with Burge / Dadge, where does that leave James Alger?  Im not impressed with this signing at all.