SCOTT McGowan says the chance to return to 1874 Northwich was “too good to turn down.”

The return of the club’s record goalscorer was confirmed yesterday, less than a year after he left to join Northern Premier League Premier Division side Nantwich Town.

With 1874 having been moved into the NPL themselves as a result of a restructure of the National League System, McGowan and co-managers Wayne Goodison and Paul Bowyer set the wheels in motion for a comeback.

“When I found out the news and spoke to Wayne and Paul it was a no-brainer for me,” McGowan said.

“1874 is where I love to play my football.

“Moving up a league and being a part of it with the lads wasn’t going to be something I would miss so I’m thrilled to be back.”

During the 2019/20 season, McGowan found the net 30 times as 1874 stormed clear at the top of the North West Counties League Premier Division before Covid-19 cruelly denied them promotion.

As a result, he believes that upwards movement is more than merited.

“The promotion is exactly what the club deserves,” he said.

“I’ve seen it first-hand how hard everybody works at the club, and it was extremely rewarding for them too.

“When I left the club the season after it was just to test myself at that higher level and once,I found my feet, I just did what I do best.

“Everybody knows I had such strong ties with the club and there was only one place I was going back too.”

Preparations for the club’s first season in the NPL Division One West are now fully underway, with Greens playing their first pre-season game at Cheadle Town on Saturday.

With the new campaign kicking off on August 14, McGowan said 1874 should have “nothing to fear” about making the step up.

“We’ve got to be dead excited about it and have a go at it this season,” he said.

“There’s a lot of teams in this league that we’ve played and beaten before, so we have to take that confidence into every game we play.

“The main thing for us is to compete at this level and make sure that we keep winning football matches like we know we can do.

“I just can’t wait to see everyone again and I’m back where I belong!”