FINN Cousin-Dawson has admitted the Yeovil “project” was what attracted him to his new club, laughing about how he could not have picked somewhere much further away from Bradford.

The right back was released by the Bantams this summer after loan spells in his native North-East with Spennymoor and Blyth, and earlier this week he decided to sign a two-year deal with the Glovers, who have just been promoted to the National League.

Cousin-Dawson came through the City academy, before signing a professional contract with the club in July 2020.

He got his break in the Bantams’ first team later that year under Stuart McCall, then Mark Trueman and Conor Sellars when they took charge in the December.

Mark Trueman had worked with Finn Cousin-Dawson during his time in the Bantams' academy, so had full faith in him when it came to putting him in the first team.Mark Trueman had worked with Finn Cousin-Dawson during his time in the Bantams' academy, so had full faith in him when it came to putting him in the first team. (Image: Thomas Gadd.)

The Northern Ireland Under-21 international made 26 appearances in his debut campaign, but only 14 the following season.

Having been given a chance under Derek Adams in 2021-22, Cousin-Dawson was frozen out once Mark Hughes was appointed in the February, and he never started a competitive game for the club again.

But he has proved himself in non-league over the last couple of season, earning a reputation as a defender comfortable in possession, and he has the chance to start a new chapter in his career now with this permanent move to Yeovil.

The Glovers reached the dizzy heights of the Championship in 2013, but have fallen on hard times since, suffering four relegations in 10 years.

But they look to be upwardly mobile now, and a stylish side impressed on their way to winning National League South last season.

And asked why he had joined the club, Cousin-Dawson told their in-house media team: “The reason was completely about football.

“I couldn’t have really picked somewhere much further away from Bradford, but for me the project of the club itself was something I couldn’t really turn down.

“It’s always good to put yourself in a new environment and meet new people too.”

Cousin-Dawson is highly-regarded in non-league circles as one of the top defenders around when it comes to his passing ability.

He said: “I can bring that to the team, and when I watched Yeovil last year, it was something they were really good at and that was how they won the league.

“It suits me, Yeovil’s style, so hopefully I can fit straight in here.”