Twenty-six-year-old former Colchester United professional Jamie Guy has agreed terms with Heybridge Swifts after being transfer listed and allowed to move on by fellow Ryman One North side Needham Market.

Twenty-six-year-old former Colchester United professional Jamie Guy has agreed terms with Heybridge Swifts after being transfer listed and allowed to move on by fellow Ryman One North side Needham Market.

And the striker, subject to the registration paperwork going through in time, could be included in the squad that travel to Redbridge on Saturday.

Guy progressed through the youth ranks at Layer Road and signed as a professional in 2004 before going on to make 52 first team appearances for the U’s.

Upon being released by Colchester in 2010, Guy then turned out for Grays Athletic before joining Braintree Town.

During his spell at Cressing Road he suffered a horrendous leg break playing in the Conference in February 2011. Guy suffered a double open fractured leg, breaking his tibia and fibula and the injury nearly ended his career.

Following a series of operations and a grueling rehabilitation, Guy was able to make a handful of appearances for Braintree before moving on.

After playing for Maldon and Tiptree last season, Guy penned a two-year deal for Needham Market in August but the striker didn’t suit the club’s style of play and Mark Morsley transfer listed him in December.

Upon mutually agreeing with the club to withdraw from his two-year contract, Heybridge Swifts new boss Jody Brown swooped to grab Guy’s signature.

The pair have already crossed paths three times in football so far with the first meeting being at Layer Road when Guy had only just left school.

“I’ve worked with Jamie at three clubs going back to when he was 16 years old at Colchester United. We have a very good relationship and both I and Jamie himself are confident that we can get the best out of him here at Heybridge,” said Brown.

Needham Market boss Mark Morsley spoke of Jamie’s departure: “It has not really worked out for Jamie, he has been a bit unlucky with injuries and maybe was not suited to our style of play.

“From a personal point of view I really liked the lad and I am sure he will be good for the ‘Jody Brown’ revolution taking place at Scraley Road.”

Having lost their previous deadly strikeforce of Luke Callander and Michael Cheek to Chelmsford City, where former Swifts boss Mark Hawkes persuaded them to re-unite, Guy fits the bill at Heybridge perfectly as Brown looks to further boost his attacking options.

“I feel that bringing in Jamie could be key to our rebuilding plans,” Brown concluded.

Essentially, Heybridge and Needham have completed a swap following Russell Malton’s move to Needham Market last month.