Flame Continues to Burn at Swindon Wildcats

Former Wildcats player Neil Liddiard will be returning to the Swindon Ice Arena to wear a white and red jersey for the 2015-16 season.

The 36-year old, who has spent the last twelve seasons in the Guildford Flames D-line began his career with the 'Cats in 1993 and has also featured for the Billingham Bombers, Oxford City Stars, Peterborough Pirates, Basingstoke Bison and the Adelaide Avalanche on the opposite side of the earth, during his twenty-two year career.

"I'm really excited to be going back to my home town team," the player said after signing the deal.

"I always thought that one day I would love to go back and I have lots of good memories from my junior days in Swindon."

Along with the vast experience picked up in the league, Liddiard also featured for the GB U18s, U20s and Senior side and has over 900 appearances under his belt to date and is only one of seven players ever to ice 700 times or more for the Surrey outfit.

"As soon as the season had finished I thought about the defence side of the team and Neil was high on my wish list," player-coach Stevie Lyle said after the signing was confirmed.

"He comes to play every game and is physical in and around the net which I feel was our week point last season.

"He has a great attitude both on and off the ice, and his experience will only help the team and I expect him to be a leader in our own zone.

"I know he is looking forward to the move and I'm just grateful he chose Swindon next season."

Concluding, Liddiard added: "It was a big decision for me to leave Guildford after twelve successful years there but I felt it was time for me to move on.

"I have a point to prove this year and I am looking forward to being a Wildcat again and helping them to achieve their goals."

Despite finishing as league runners-up, the Flames had a disappointing campaign by their standards last season, but Liddiard still managed to ice 47 times for the side, made three assists and recorded 73 penalty minutes.