Cradley a fresh start for James Purchase

Purchase, 28, is to make a competitive comeback to the sport after nine seasons in retirement.

And he's received encouragement from his friend Ward, who is in a wheelchair following a horror crash in Poland.

Purchase is not hiding from his dark past, which saw him jailed for three years in 2007 after being found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving.

He said: "I cannot change what happened in the past, but what I have done is come back a stronger and better person.

"I have grown up. I have my own business, my own home with my girlfriend and things are good right now.

"I am hugely honoured to join Cradley. I've had calls from seven other National League clubs but I took advice from Darcy, a good friend, and he told me to go to Cradley.

"The fan base there is amazing and I'm happy to be at Wolverhampton with them as our home track. I can't wait to get started.

"I'm good friends with Paul Starke, who has also offered to help with me at Cradley meetings whenever he can, he's a legend with the Cradley fans isn't he?

"It's been a while since I rode, but I just felt the time was right to come back to the sport. I realised how much I was missing it, and I can't wait to get started again.

"I realise how lucky I am to have the chance to start racing again, so I'm hoping to make the most of it and get back doing something I love.

"People might wonder why I'm coming back now, but like I say the time just feels right and, to be honest, Darcy Ward has been a big inspiration as well.

"He's an unbelievable talent on a bike and seeing him ride the way he did made me just want to get back into it.

"He's just a real inspiration in the things he could do on a bike and the way he is dealing with things now."