Former Bradford City and Burton Albion man recruited by League Two club after Colchester United exit

The 29-year-old spent three years on the books of the Bantams, racking up 32 appearances between 2019 and 2022. He left West Yorkshire and joined Colchester United but was released by the club at the end of the 2023/24 season.

After stints training with Chesterfield and Southend United, Hornby linked up with Walsall and has shown enough to land a contract with the Saddlers. The stopper has been handed a one-year deal, returning to a club he represented at academy level.

After putting pen to paper, Hornby told Walsall’s website: “I am delighted to be here. There was a conversation between my agent, the head coach and Dan Still and we all put our heads together, found a day where I could come in. I have been in for the last week, all of the staff have had a look at me and they have decided that they want to offer me a contract.

“Football has got a strange way of doing a full circle and I think this is the final line in the circle for me to come back here. I am back in the area that I grew up in and I am really excited for that.

“I have sat in these stands watching the old reserve games and some first team games and you hope one day that you’ll play here and now I have got the opportunity to and it is one that I couldn’t wait to get done when I saw that the contract was in front of me.”

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Hornby saw little action at Colchester last term and will be hoping for more opportunities between the sticks at the Poundland Bescot Stadium.

He said: “The fans here are brilliant, they come here in their numbers week in, week out. They travel up and down the motorways to support the team. I have played against the club at my previous club and when I was running towards the goal, it was quite intimidating because the fans were loud and they gave me a little bit but I think the fans here are brilliant.

“I will give my all when I am out there on the pitch, I will give my all for the badge and I guarantee that I will give everything I have got when I cross that white line come a Saturday or a Tuesday night.”

Hornby has followed former Middlesbrough winger Albert Adomah in joining the Saddlers following a successful trial.

Walsall boss Mat Sadler said: “I’m pleased to get this one over the line. I’ve been really pleased with the way that Sam’s applied himself. He did fantastically well against Tamworth, his training’s been really good and what I like about that department now is that we have that bit of experience.”