Notts County manager Neal Ardley admitted his personal relationship with midfielder Jake Reeves was pivotal in being able to convince the midfielder to move to Meadow Lane.
Reeves was outstanding in Saturday's 2-0 friendly win over Ilkeston as he created both goals for Kyle Wootton who led the Magpies to a comfortable victory.
Reeves was wanted by several clubs following his departure from Bradford City who had paid more than £100,000 to secure his signature from AFC Wimbledon when Ardley was manager three years ago.
Now they have been reunited once again, the Notts boss felt that their history proved crucial in his decision to drop out of the Football League.
"First and foremost I have a relationship with Jake, but I thought we needed to get promoted to sign him," he said.
"I managed to convince him to at least come with his agent to the ground to meet me.
"The stadium is a good selling point. Credit to him because he wanted to come here and play for for the club and myself despite the league we're in not being ideal for him.
"Hopefully over the course of the year he will help Notts County get back to the league he wants to play in."
Reeves quickly demonstrated his quality in the victory over Ilkeston picking out Wootton with two exquisite passes which the striker ruthlessly dispatched.
And Ardley said his performance underlined why he was so keen to add him to the squad.
"He created both goals, he didn't give the ball away all game and played with incredible energy," he said.
"I know how good he is as a player and I am very confident he will show that in a Notts County shirt."
