EASTLEIGH are ready to make Andrew Boyce their seventh signing of the summer.

Subject to FA approval, they are bringing in the experienced defender from Grimsby Town on a free transfer.

The 27-year-old spent last season in League Two with the Mariners, where he has made over 25 appearances in three spells.

A central defender who can also play at right-back, he started his career as a trainee with his hometown club Doncaster Rovers.

Boyce signed for non-League outfit Kings Lynn in 2009 before working his way back up the football pyramid.

He helped Gainsborough Trinity to the Conference North play-off final in 2011/12 and earned a move to Lincoln City that summer.

Scunthorpe United was his next port of call from where he spent time on loan with Grimsby, Hartlepool United and Notts County.

Boyce will join up with Richard Hill’s National League squad tomorrow and has been handed the No22 shirt.

He follows in Paul McCallum, Danny Hollands, Ross Flitney, Chris Zebroski, Mark Yeates and Sam Wood through the Silverlake Stadium door.

Eastleigh are expected to take a strong squad to Gang Warily tomorrow to face Sydenhams Premier Division outfit Blackfield & Langley (Tuesday, 7pm kick-off).

The Watersiders have announced a significant new signing of their own, welcoming in former Poole Town full-back Lewis Tallack.

Also new in at Blackfield are Sam Griffin, Connor Doe, Joe Butcher, Liam Triggs, Franklyn Clarke and Adam Costello, who is currently injured.

Eastleigh will be pleased to know that the Blackfield pitch is in fine fettle with joint assistant boss Chris Farrell describing it as "like a bowling green."