Tonbridge head off on their pre-season trip to Yorkshire with a former Champions League player on the bus.

New signing Jernade Meade began his career at Arsenal, making his first start for the Gunners in a European tie against Olympiakos in 2012.

The 30-year-old arrives at Longmead as the left-back manager Jay Saunders wanted to complete his squad.

The Montserrat international’s career has also included a three-year stint in Scandinavia while, as a non-league player, he’s reached the National South play-offs with Dartford for the past two seasons.

Tonbridge head north today before facing National North side Scarborough Athletic on Saturday.

They travel safe in the knowledge that the one position Saunders was looking to strengthen has been filled.

“I’m pleased to get Jernade,” said Saunders. “He’s a good player who’s played at all different levels and he brings good experience.

“He adds that natural left foot we were after.

“We spoke a few weeks back but, like a lot of players, they want to see if they can go higher, or they’re seeing what’s about, which I totally get.

“We’d been in contact and I think with the season getting closer, it helped make his mind up that he wanted to get something sorted.

“He was offered a new deal at Dartford but they couldn’t agree stuff and that’s enabled me to get something done.

“He’s someone who fits the way we want to do things and I’m delighted to get him on board.”

Meade’s signing further complements a healthy blend of youth and experience in Tonbridge’s new-look squad.

Saunders added: “Last year we lacked experience at times and I felt it was important we brought people in with a bit of know-how.

“That’s why we’ve signed people like Jordan Higgs, Stefan Payne, Kodi Lyons-Foster and Jernade, who have all played this level or above.

“You look at Jernade, he’s been involved in the play-offs the last two years, so he knows the level and what it’s all about.”

Tonbridge are off to Yorkshire for the second year running.

They travel in good shape having beaten Hythe 4-1 last Saturday and a Gillingham XI 4-0 on Tuesday night.

It’s a chance for the squad to get to know each other, while benefiting from a good test against a Scarborough side who are managed by former Middlesbrough midfielder Jonathan Greening.

Saunders said: “It was a bit of a rush last year because we travelled up to play Farsley Celtic on the day and got stuck in traffic.

“When me and Sophie (Purves, chairman) spoke this year, we agreed to try and do Friday and Saturday if we could.

“I’d like to thank the club for putting the trip on - they’ve been fantastic.

“We’re training at York (Purves’ former club) on the way up, we’ll have a meal on Friday night, the game on Saturday and then a team-bonding night before travelling back on Sunday.

“Scarborough will be a good test, with the season coming up.

“They play in the equivalent division to us, they’re a well-supported club and they’ve got a good manager in Jonathan Greening.

“It’s also good experience for the travelling we’re going to have this season, with long trips to the likes of Torquay.

“It’ll be good for some of the boys who’ve never done that.”

One man who won’t be making the trip north is striker Tommy Wood, who has been released.

Wood agreed new terms this summer, having returned to Longmead from Hampton & Richmond towards the end of last season.

But the former AFC Wimbledon man has now left.

Saunders said: “He was travelling a long way and I just felt he wasn’t going to get the game time he wanted.

“I didn’t feel I could get the best out of him with how I want to play, so I had to make a difficult decision.

“He was one of the better-paid players and to be sat on the bench, I couldn’t warrant that.

“I can only judge on what I see and I made a decision.

“It wasn’t easy, because he’s a great lad, but I didn’t want one of our better-paid players on the bench.

“We’ve got options up there and if we feel we need to bring one more in, then we’ll look at it.”