HAMBLE Club may be new to Sydenhams One scene, but there will be no shortage of familiar faces on show.

A fair chunk of their squad are already well-known on the Wessex and even Southern League circuit – and, in Ross Bottomley’s case, the Conference South.

The likes of Matt Troon, Rory Anderson, Liam Crook, PJ McLean and Mike Byrne have all played higher and, even though it looks as if ex-Eastleigh and AFC Totton centre-back Bottomley may be heading back to the Southern League with Winchester City, there are plenty more players with proven Wessex pedigree waiting in the wings.

Jamie Mansell and former Fareham Town wideman Wayne Boud have both put pen to paper and Hamble have this week welcomed ex-Team Solent, Salisbury and Horndean defender Matt Burt into the fold.

Ben Kneller, who is joining ex-Knighton Arms man Scott Marchant as co-manager this season, is thrilled that ex-Sholing striker Doug Rowe is staying put.

Kneller, himself a handy frontman with the likes of Winchester City before a serious knee injury intervened, said: “We’re buzzing to get Doug. Chichester were sniffing round because Doug used to play for their manager Miles Rutherford at Moneyfields.

“We’re lucky to be drafting good players in and we’re all excited for the new season.”

Hamble Club, who finished third in the Hampshire Premier League, are one of four new teams promoted to Sydenhams One along with Baffins Milton Rovers, the HPL champions, and Shaftesbury and Weymouth Reserves from the Dorset Premier League.

They had won the HPL in 2014/15 but, at the time, did not have the facilities to go up.

Since then it's been all hands to the pump getting a stand, pavilion, changing rooms and a hospitality area ready and, excitingly, there is a ready-made youth set-up coming in.

Matt Beckingham’s Soccer 4 All Youth FC, named Hampshire FA's Charter Standard Club of the Year (Southampton), will run teams from under-7s through to under-15s.

“The facilities look good and to have an in-depth youth set-up coming across is great," said Kneller. "We’d like to try and mirror what Sholing have done.

"Winning the FA Vase might be a step too far, but we want to build an infrastructure and give the club an identity.

“We’re always looking for extra people and the door is open to anyone to come along and help out."

Hamble are also looking for new players for the under-7s.”

Kneller can be contacted on 07823 776362.