Former Hawks and Gosport midfielder George Barker signs for Moneyfields

He has bolstered his attacking midfield options by signing two players who were at higher division Gosport Borough last season.

George Barker has EFL pedigree, while Marley Ridge - like Barker, a former Hawks midfielder as well - has made a permanent switch to Dover Road after four previous loan spells.

In addition, defender Jack Barker has also returned to Moneyfields after a season-long loan at Wessex Leaguers AFC Portchester.

The signing of George Barker, 28, is something of a coup for the club given the player’s pedigree.

The Portsmouth-born talent worked his way through the youth system at Brighton & Hove Albion, signing a professional deal back in 2010 and went on to make four first team appearances as a sub.

When he made his home debut in a Championship game against Leicester in 2013, former England internationals Wayne Bridge and Matt Upson were among his team-mates.

After a loan spell at Newport, Barker then switched to Swindon Town, making 16 appearances in 2013/14 and 2014/15 - just three were starts - with a loan spell at Tranmere Rovers (four starts) in the latter campaign.

Released by the Robins in 2015, Barker returned to his native south coast to sign for Gosport Borough.

The following summer he joined Hawks, helping the club to promotion from the Isthmian Premier Division in 2016/17.

He made a handful of appearances for in the National League South the following season but left by mutual consent in early 2018.

He joined Worthing two months later and in the summer moved onto Staines Town. From there, he was back at Privett Park in Decemer 2018.

Barker hit the headlines two months later when he scored an outrageous goal in a 4-0 Southern League win at Hendon.

After the home goalkeeper had raced out of his area to head clear, the ball bounced just inside the Borough half.

Barker, spotting the keeper stranded off his line, smashed a first-time volley over his head and into the net.

Gosport boss Craig McAllister said at the time: ‘‘It is probably the best (goal) I've seen.

‘If anyone is going to score a goal like that then it will be George.

‘He has great technique and certainly has that kind of goal in his locker.’

Ridge is no stranger to Moneyfields, having had four loan spells under Carter’s management - including two in the 2016/17 season when Moneys won promotion to the Southern League.

He had first appeared for Hawks in 2014/15, including a starting spot in the Portsmouth Senior Cup final against Petersfield.

He spent most of the following season on loan to Fareham Town before four loan spells in 2016/17 - at AFC Totton and Winchester in the Southern League as well as two stints at Dover Road.

Ridge made two National League appearances for Hawks in 2018/19 before joining Gosport last summer. He was loaned out to the club’s Southern League Premier South rivals Hartley Wintney earlier this year.

‘Both George and Marley can give us goals from midfield,’ said Carter. ‘That is something we lacked last season.

‘George has got great experience and great ability.

‘I heard he was available so I spoke to him and sold him the vision of the club.’

Jack Barker was signed by Carter from AFC Totton, where he had made his Southern League debut aged just 17, in November 2018.

Loaned out to Fareham that same season, Barker was on loan again in 2019/20 to Portchester. Under former Moneyfields coach Mick Catlin he made 22 starts in all competitions for the Royals and another 10 off the bench.

‘Jack’s got a bit more experience now,’ said Carter. ‘He’s only 20, he’s good enough but he just needs a bit more confidence.’

Carter hasn’t finished his summer rebuilding yet, and is keen to add another striker.

Forward Ryan Pennery will miss the first few months of 2020/21 with the serious knee injury he suffered earlier this year.

His absence left Steve Hutchings to carry a lot of the goalscoring burden alone.

Carter is delighted to have kept goalkeepers Jake Hallett and Max Flintoff.

Hallett, who played for Southampton and Norwich at youth team level, was signed from Salisbury last summer.

He had established himself as the first choice keeper prior to picking up a groin injury which kept him out for several weeks.

‘We had enough injuries to last us three seasons last year,’ quipped Carter.

When Hallett was sidelined, Carter dual-signed Flintoff from US Portsmouth.

‘Max has a great attitude,’ said the boss. ‘He knows Jake is the first choice at the moment but he was happy to sign.’

The only member of the squad that ended 2019/20 who has definitely left Moneyfields is full back Zak Sharp.

The former Gosport and Blackfield defender has joined Shaun Wilkinson’s revamped Baffins Milton Rovers.

In addition, Brett Poate will be concentrating on his new head coach duties.

Another experienced former Gosport defender, Sam Pearce, has signed a new deal.