AFC Totton AFC Totton Pitching In - Partners with Southern Football League

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With the 2021/22 season quickly fading into the rear-view mirror, manager Jimmy Ball has wasted no time in bolstering his AFC Totton squad for the upcoming Southern League Div.1 South campaign with the signing of Mike Carter from Gosport Borough.

The 30-year-old central midfielder brings a wealth of experience to a generally young Stags squad that will be looking to do significantly better than last season’s 6th-placed finish.

Carter began his non-league football career with Sholing, winning the FA Vase with the Boatmen at Wembley Stadium in 2014 before moving to Gosport for the first of two spells at Privett Park, during which they lifted the Hampshire Senior Cup and the Russell Cotes Cup, in 2015 and 2016 respectively.

After two-and-a-half seasons with the Boro’, Carter signed for Havant & Waterlooville in January 2017. He won back-to-back promotions with the Hawks, as they were crowned Ryman Premier League (Isthmian Premier) Champions in 2016/17 and then lifted the Conference South title at the first attempt in 2017/18.

Upon his return to Gosport in 2019, he was made captain by manager Lee Molyneaux, and helped them to a top-half finish in the Southern League Premier South last term.

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MIDFIELD SOLIDITY: New AFC Totton midfielder Mike Carter.

An early injury put a premature stop to his involvement in the Hampshire Senior Cup meeting between Gosport and AFC Totton at Privett Park in December, but the combative Carter knows Harry Medway from their time together at the Boro’ and Adam Tomasso from a short period when they were both on-loan at AFC Portchester. He has also played alongside James Taylor, Ethan’s father, who was a firm Stags fans’ favourite.

Prompted to make the comparison, Carter, who is 5’11”, likens his style of play to that of Southampton’s Spanish midfielder Oriel Romeu, who he also partially resembles with his toned physique and shaven head. And having made the move to the Snows Stadium, he’s looking forward to the new challenge.

“It’s a really impressive set-up here, which makes a difference. The Club is obviously ambitious and moving in the right direction and I’m looking forward to being a part of it,” said Carter.

“With several talented young players in the squad, I’ll be looking to add my experience to the mix to help guide them in the right way and, hopefully, achieve positive results on the pitch.”

Having secured the services of mercurial playmaker Ethan Taylor earlier this week, Carter represents Jimmy Ball’s first new signing of the close season.

“Mike brings bags of experience to the team, he’s a natural leader,” said the Stags boss.

“He’s a talented midfielder with all of the attributes I’m looking for, and he’ll bring real character and a level of toughness that we were lacking at times last season. He and I haven’t worked together before but I’ve watched him closely and received nothing but good reports, so getting this deal across the line makes for a good start to our business this summer. And there will be more to follow.”


By Ben Rochey-Adams

Images courtesy of Craig Hobbs Photography

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