AFC Totton have completed the loan signing of Joe Rabbetts from Aldershot Town. The left-back, who can also play further forward or on the right-hand side, comes to the Club for the remainder of the season to help the Stags during the final push for promotion.
Joe, who is a product of the Aldershot Town Academy and signed a two-year contract with the Shots in October 2020, spent the first half of this season on loan at Metropolitan Police in the Southern League Premier South. He comes into the AFC Totton squad to provide extra cover while Ben Jefford continues his rehabilitation from injury.
Although he’s been involved with Aldershot since he was 11-years-old, Joe also had trials with Crystal Palace and AFC Wimbledon, and had a short spell with Dorking Wanderers, currently in the National League South, where he played in two friendlies.
The Snows Stadium may be unfamiliar surroundings to the 19-year-old, but he will recognise at least one familiar face in Woody Angell – another Shots player who has become a Stag for the rest of the campaign. The two players have been friends since their days together in the Aldershot U15s. Woody has settled in well at Totton and already got his name on the scoresheet during the Southampton Senior Cup thrashing of Hedge End Town, as well as setting up Sam Griffin’s spectacular strike against Willand Rovers last weekend. Hopefully, his presence in the squad will help Joe settle in comfortably, too.
Paperwork delayed Joe’s signing for a short while but AFC Totton Head Coach Dan Sackman is pleased to finally have got the deal over the line:
“Joe has trained with us and he looks like a solid, bright young player and with Ben Jefford still needing to ease his way back into competitive football, he gives us another option at left-back that will also enable us to use Jordan Ragguette further forward,” he said. “It’s good to have these options going into the business end of the season, while we’re still competing on three fronts for silverware and promotion.”
Welcome to the Club, Joe.
By Ben Rochey-Adams
Image courtesy of Craig Hobbs Photography