ALRESFORD Town have received a massive boost ahead of one of the biggest games in their history.

New signing Rob Flooks will not be eligible to face Cadbury Heath in the club’s first ever venture into the FA Cup second qualifying round at Arlebury Park tomorrow (Saturday, 3pm).

But the arrival of the highly-rated 24-year-old centre-back from Southern League neighbours Winchester City speaks volumes for the Magpies' ambition.

Former Eastleigh, Fawley AFC and AFC Totton defender Flooks played a big part in City’s push to the Division One South & West play-offs last season but, with a young family and a change in work circumstances, he has decided to drop into the Sydenhams Wessex League.

At Alresford he will be reunited with one of his best friends, former Winchester midfielder Chris Mason.

Magpies' boss Richard Luffman said: “We’ve been after a centre-half since July.

“When Luke Dempsey decided to join Andover, it left a gap in the squad.

“We’ve got Liam Hall and Sam Doswell, both very good centre-halves, and after that it's young Sam Burt who is naturally a full-back.

“We don’t want to stand still, we’re trying to climb the league and do well in all the cups. So when we heard through Chris that Rob wasn’t happy with Southern League travelling, we began conversations with Winchester a couple of weeks ago.

“Winchester have cancelled his contract and we’d like to thank them and their director of football Dave Malone for dealing with it so amicably.

“Rob’s one of our biggest signings. We’ve got a lot of good young players from out of the Hampshire League, but we also need lads like Rob and Chris who are experienced at this level but still young and fit.

“For a club of our size to sign Rob Flooks is a good achievement.”

So too is reaching the FA Cup second qualifying round.

Having already dumped out Wimborne and Fareham, the Magpies now face a Cadbury Heath side lying mid-table in the Toolstation Western Premier.

“Taking away the Hampshire Senior Cup final against AFC Bournemouth (in 2013), this is probably the club’s biggest game. It’s certainly the biggest in the FA Cup,” said Luffman.

“Get past this round and we’re potentially one game away from playing Eastleigh or two from that blue lot down the road!

“Cadbury are quite a good side, so we’re not getting ahead of ourselves, but if we can beat them and get a good draw, who knows?”

Alresford’s sole absentee is Tom Ashton, who will be at a wedding, so 17-year-old Jack Nicholls deputises at right-back. Prolific marksman Tom Sands, back from his summer travels, will be pushing for a starting berth.