AFC Portchester boss Mick Catlin swoops to sign two more former Alresford players

Craig Harding, far right, wheels away after scoring Alresford's winner at Portchester last December. Picture: Keith Woodland

Earlier in the week The News reported that Royals boss Mick Catlin had swooped for Liam Hibberd, Luke Dempsey and Joe Chamberlain.

They were all instrumental in taking Alresford to the top of the Wessex League Premier Division prior to the null and voiding of 2019/20.

Now Catlin has signed former Wessex League winner Mike Gosney and Craig Harding, who between them scored almost 40 goals last season.

New AFC Portchester signing Mike Gosney, left, in action during his time at Gosport Borough

They join a formidable attacking unit which also includes Dan Wooden, Jason Parish, Alex Baldacchino and skipper Steve Ramsey.

‘It’s good to have competition for places,’ said Catlin. ‘We have a strong squad now, and I still have a couple of irons in the fire.

‘It’s not a case of raiding Alresford for all these players. They weren’t Alresford’s players - they were all free agents.

‘I tried to sign Luke Dempsey last season, and I’ve tried to sign Gosney several times.

‘Perseverance has paid off.’

Catlin knows Gosney well from their time together at Gosport Borough. Having signed from AFC Totton in the summer of 2013, Gosney helped Borough reach the FA Trophy final in his first season. Catlin was assistant to boss Alex Pike at the time.

‘Mike is a very good player, he’s got a great left foot, he’s good at set pieces and he generally gets into double figures every season from midfield.

‘He knows the league, he obviously knows the Alresford lads, and he knows we’re an ambitious club and wanted to come.

‘It was an easy signing really.’

Gosney helped AFC Totton win the Wessex League in 2007/08, and three seasons later belted 36 goals as the Stags won the Southern League South & West title.

Returning to Totton for a second stint after leaving Privett Park, Gosney eventually amassed over 400 appearances for the club and over 130 goals prior to signing for Andover Town in the summer of 2017.

He struck 25 league goals when Andover finished runners-up in the Wessex Premier in 2017/18, with new Royals colleagues Hibberd, Dempsey and Chamberlain all in the same team.

Gosney started last season at Lymington, but after five goals in eight appearances moved to Alresford in September. There he netted 11 times in 16 starts plus six sub outings.

Harding, meanwhile, ended last season as the second highest marksman in the Wessex Premier.

He netted 19 times in 28 starts plus one sub appearance - including the only goal when Alresford triumphed at Portchester three days after Christmas.

Only Scott Hills of AFC Stoneham scored more top flight league goals - 20 in 23 starts plus three as a sub

‘I was impressed with Harding last season,’ said Catlin. ‘He can play wide right or up top.

‘Moneyfields and Winchester were interested in him, so I’m pleased to get him on board.

‘He’s 24 - the right age.’

As a result, Catlin now has five players who scored 93 goals between them for Wessex League top flight clubs last term.

Harding netted 22 times in all competition while Wooden was Portchester’s leading scorer with 20. Jason Parish struck 18 goals - 10 for Portchester and eight for Baffins - while Ramsey netted 17 times. Gosney, as previously mentioned, struck 16 for Lymington and Alresford.

In addition, Baldacchino only made eight appearances but still scored five goals.

Reece Colbourne, who made three starts for AFC Portchester last season, has signed for Wessex League Division 1 club US Portsmouth.