CRAWLEY TOWN'S astonishing summer of spending continued on Tuesday as they secured the signing of York City striker Richard Brodie.

The 23-year-old cost the Reds £275,000, a fee that smashes the Conference record for a transfer between two Non-League clubs.

Crawley boss Steve Evans has had the 2009/10 Blue Square Premier Player of the Year in his sights for some time and is delighted the deal went through before the transfer window slammed shut at 6pm on Tuesday.

Speaking to the club's website, he said: "The deal became live again shortly after lunchtime when I received a call from the Chairman at York City. I immediately spoke with Bruce Winfield, took instruction and we got the deal done.
 
“The lad is a terrific player, he works very hard for the team and gets a goal, our supporters will love him. We are looking forward to working with him and he comes into a football club who are looking to progress over the next few years.

"Brodes was last season's Conference Premier Player of the Year, that was voted for by all the managers and I was one of them, he won that by a landslide. The boy was also joint top goalscorer in The Blue Square Premier with our own Matt Tubbs, I am just delighted, he is a great signing.”

Brodie's arrival takes Crawley's total outlay this summer to almost £500,000, with 17 new players joining the club since May.