Elgin City manager Allan Hale raids former club Huntly to make first signing as full back Lyall Booth completes switch to Borough Briggs
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Elgin City have signed former Aberdeen and Brechin City left back Lyall Booth from Huntly on a two-and-a-half year deal.
The 20-year-old becomes City boss Allan Hale's first signing - he is promising to make more - and comes straight into their squad for Saturday's League 2 match at home to Stranraer.
Hale rated the defender highly and believes he can comfortable make the step-up to SPFL level.
"I don’t think there’s any doubt that he’s capable of playing at a higher level," he said.
"For me, I’ve not seen a more consistent full back in the Highland League than Lyall over the past two years.
"Defensively he is one of the best one-versus-one defenders in the league, he’s got great athleticism where he can cover a lot of ground and get up the pitch. He’s got a fantastic attitude as well to go with those defensive qualities.
"He’s someone who is fully deserving of the opportunity to step up."
Hale was Huntly manager when City first showed an interest in signing Booth at the start of this season.
"There was the opportunity for him in the summer to do so but it never quite materialised. Thankfully we’ve managed to get that over the line now and he will be a very important player for us in terms of what we are trying to achieve moving forward.
"That’s a great signing for us and hopefully the first of a few."
Booth captained Aberdeen's youth team before being freed by the Pittodrie club aged 18, from where he had a short spell at Brechin City.
Injury curtailed his time at Glebe Park and he was recruited by Hale in February, 2022 to sign for Huntly.
After recovering from injury, he starred in the Christie Park club's defence last season and signed a contract extension last October.
