Fleetlands boss delighted to sign ‘Mr Paulsgrove’

The ambitious Hampshire Premier League Senior Division club have persuaded Paulsgrove stalwart Jake Warlow to swap Marsden Lane for Lederle Lane.

It was a surprise signing bearing in mind Warlow has made over 250 appearances for the Grove in the last decade.

But he has played under Bessey twice before - in 2013/14 for Hayling United in Division 1 of the Wessex League, and also for Paulsgrove in 2018/19.

‘Jake is a solid defender, I was surprised he was available to be honest. I don’t know why he became available, but I don’t care!

‘He is Mr Paulsgrove, he lives there and I can see him managing the club one day.

‘I’ve always admired his passion.

‘We didn’t really need another centre half, but when a player like that becomes available you have to be interested.

‘It’s a statement of intent from us. Infinity had also contacted him I believe, but he came training earlier this week and signed the day after.’

Bessey is hopeful Warlow will provide some extra steel on the pitch, and some straight talking off it.

‘Jake is a wholehearted player,’ he said. ‘Last season we were able to get ourselves up for the big games - we beat Bush Hill away, we beat Paulsgrove in the cup, we drew with Infinity in the league.

‘But the mentality was wrong in other games where we thought we’d only have to turn up to win - we lost and drew with Hayling, we lost to Winchester Castle.

‘Jake will see every game as hard, there won’t be any slacking off. He’s someone we needed, a big character, a leader - the dressing room was too quiet at times last season.’

Warlow made 19 appearances for Grove last season, including 15 in the HPL.

He made 17 appearances in 2017/18 when Grove won the league, and prior to that made over 30 outings in 2014-15 to 2016/17 inclusive.

Warlow will provide an extra central defensive option in a squad which also boasts Aiden Smallbones, Luke Heard, James Hider and Sean Snelling.

Two other new signings - the returning Matt Ward and Jim Duffin - can also play in that position. The former, an ex-Coptermen skipper, is back after a period at Gosport Borough, while Duffin is returning to the sport after a couple of seasons out.

Bessey has also signed Wymering striker Brad White, last season’s top scorer in the Mid-Solent League.

White struck 41 league and cup goals in 2019/20, including an astonishing 14 in just two league matches against Cowplain - one eight-goal haul and a double hat-trick.

‘I wouldn’t normally look that far down for players,’ said Bessey. ‘But anyone who can score 41 goals in a season at any level knows where the net is.

‘Hopefully by playing with better players he will become a better player as well.

‘He deserves a chance, there could be something there.’

Another new striker is Steve Duffin, who is back in grassroots football after a decade-long suspension.

Duffin was given the massive ban after being found guilty of assaulting a referee while playing for Clymping against Southwick in 2011.

‘He’s a changed person now,’ said Bessey. ‘He’s married, got kids, he’s grown up.

‘He regrets what he did, and I believe everyone deserves a second chance.’

Fleetlands certainly need some goals from somewhere in 2020/21 after losing last season’s 25-goal top scorer Matt Andrews to Baffins Milton.