BRADFORD (Park Avenue) have continued their summer rebuild with two new signings.

Lewis Rathbone and Elliot Holmes have joined Garry Thompson's side.

Midfielder Rathbone, who has followed a similar pathway to Horsfall Stadium via the American university system as Lewis Knight and others, arrived late in the 2018-2019 season campaign and eventually was granted international clearance.

Rathbone hails from Manchester and was a member of the Manchester City Academy as a youngster, and was named a Scholar All American in 2017.

In 2018 supporters of the Nebraska Bugeaters, who compete in the Great Plains Premier League in the USASA, voted Rathbone the clubs most valuable player.

On Rathbone, Thompson said: "Lewis is a fantastic lad who has demonstrated the positive culture and approach to everything we are building here.

"He came to the club at Christmas for a trial and then had to wait for his international clearance late last season which limited his opportunities to show his wares.

"Lewis has shown great commitment to the pre-season and now he has the chance to take this opportunity with both hands."

He joins Hull academy product Holmes at Avenue.

Attacking midfielder Holmes, 19, was released from Hull City in May having spent the last 10 years with their Academy and was rewarded with promotion to the Under-23s set-up by Nigel Atkins and John Beale in 2018.

Holmes said: “I’ve enjoyed meeting Garry and Shaun (Gardner) and the squad during pre-season training and I was so pleased to finalise a contract.

“ I talked to Garry and Shaun and while I had some Under-23 interest from good quality EFL clubs, it’s time for me to play men’s football.

"Avenue have great history and there is such a good buzz around training and plenty of opportunity to make a position my own."

On Holmes, Thompson added: “We’ve taken a very thorough approach to our recruitment and Elliot showed us the right attitude and character right from our initial discussions.

"The club has a close relationship with Hull City who have loaned our club some of their best talent recently and they know what we want and need in this league both in terms of character and ability. Elliot arrives with excellent references."