WAYNE Shaw, the man famously dubbed the ‘roly-poly goalie’, will make a surprise appearance for Alresford Town at home to Blackfield & Langley tomorrow evening (Wednesday, 7.45pm).

With the regular stopper Dan Kempson away in Dubai, the Magpies have used their links with Shaw’s club Sutton United to get the big man out of playing retirement for a one-off game.

Shaw, a well-known figure locally from his days with Eastleigh and AFC Totton, now works on the coaching/corporate side at Sutton.

He will relish the thought of facing Blackfield’s 21-goal top scorer Jamie White who had a spell with him at Gander Green Lane.

“Shawy’s looking forward to winding Jamie White up,” laughed Alresford boss Richard Luffman. “No doubt there will be a bit of banter between those two!

“Shawy played for Sutton Common Rovers in the FA Vase last season and I think this is his first game since then. But he’s a big lad and nothing much gets past him.”

While tomorrow's high-flying visitors Blackfield sit second in the Sydenhams Premier, the Magpies are second-to-bottom having lost five out of nine games.

Their league woes are in stark contrast to their cup record which reads played 12, won 8, drawn 2, lost 2.

Luffman is hopeful that John Cole – signed from Blackfield last week – will prove an influential addition.

“He’s a really good footballer,” said the boss. “He's an attacking midfielder, but we played him up top in the Vase on Saturday and all he wants to do is shut down the opposition and press.

“Blackfield were a big help in getting his transfer through."

Alresford went 3-0 down in that Vase game against Lingfield, but hit back to win 5-3 through Steve Hall (2), Aaron Blaxall, Tom Richards and sub Mo Nyang. They travel to Corinthian in the second round on November 12.